Tag: HHS
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HHS Lowers Annual Limits of Penalties for HIPAA Violations
Published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS“) issued a notification to inform the public that HHS is exercising its discretion in how it applies regulations concerning the assessment of civil money penalties (“CMPs“) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA“), as…
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Record Year for HIPAA Enforcement
In the current environment of regulation reduction, it is notable that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) received a record $28.6 million dollars in publicized settlements and judgments for HIPAA violations in 2018. These numbers surpass previous years with the closest year on record being 2016 in which HHS collected $23.5 million dollars.…
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Speak Up! HHS Wants to Hear from YOU!
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights wants to hear from health care providers, business associates and members of the public about how they can best modify HIPAA regulations. On Dec. 12, 2018, OCR issued a Request for Information, asking the public for comments on how the regulations can best facilitate…
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HHS Seeks Comments on Easing Stark Law Burdens
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has requested public input on how the physician self-referral law, or Stark Law, may be interfering with care coordination. To help accelerate the transformation to a value-based system that includes care coordination, HHS has launched a Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care. The Regulatory Sprint is focused on identifying…
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The HIPAA Horizon: What Changes Can We Look Forward to in the Near Future?
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) oversees compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Specifically, this entity is charged with ensuring that HIPAA-covered entities adhere to the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Breach Notification Rules. On Jan. 30, 2017, Pres. Trump issued an order referred to…
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Medical Association Chooses PCIHIPAA to Help Benefit and Protect Its Members
MONTGOMERY – The Medical Association of the State of Alabama has partnered with PCIHIPAA to help protect its members from the onslaught of ransomware attacks, HIPAA violations and data breaches impacting Alabama physicians. Under HIPAA’s Security and Privacy Rules, health care providers are required to take proactive steps to protect sensitive patient information. “The Medical Association services more…
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Medical Association Applauds U.S. Rep. Tom Price, M.D., for HHS Secretary
MONTGOMERY – The Medical Association of the State of Alabama applauds the nomination of U.S. Rep. Tom Price for secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Congressman Price is a strong advocate for preserving the patient-physician relationship, which includes fighting for patients’ rights as well as preserving physician autonomy,” said Medical Association…