Tag: privacy
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What Are the Top Three Concerns When Negotiating Business Associate Agreements?
Business Associate Agreements (“BAAs”) are a necessary tool for ensuring HIPAA compliance, and the negotiated terms of BAAs are becoming more and more important as we venture into an era of mass cyber attacks and related HIPAA breaches. Covered entities, such a physician practices, are required to enter into a BAA anytime they hire a…
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The Delivery and Confidentiality Challenges in Rural Health Care Explained
Medical practices in rural settings face a host of concerns, such as how emergency protocols may differ from urban areas, difficulty in finding nurses (according to a recent Friday Letter from the Alabama Hospital Association, registered nurses are the third most in-demand jobs), and difficulty in finding appropriate training for staff. In small towns/rural settings,…
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How Are HIPAA Breaches Impacting Alabama?
HIPAA enforcement reached an all-time high in 2018, with financial settlements ranging from $100,000 to $16,000,000. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is responsible for providing oversight and ensuring HIPAA compliance. Last year alone, OCR resolved a total of 25,089 complaints of HIPAA violations and required at least…
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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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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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HIPAA Guidance for Mass Shootings and Other Tragic and Emergency Situations
In the aftermath of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history, many health care organizations are revisiting their HIPAA policies and procedures to determine exactly what information they are allowed to share and to whom they may share information. FAMILY AND FRIENDS A health care entity may share a patient’s location, general condition…
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Social Media & HIPAA: When Sharing is Not Caring
Social media is an increasingly common presence within the health care industry – among providers and consumers alike – but despite the potential benefits it can offer both parties, it introduces many risks. Paging Dr. Google It’s no exaggeration to say that the internet has completely transformed the way people seek medical information, and social…
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HIPAA and the Holidays
As the holiday season builds momentum we are faced with numerous distractions like holiday decorations, taking advantage of online sales and soaking in the traditions that we look forward to each year. But this season of joy and giving should also be met with a heightened sense of awareness and adherence to HIPAA policies and…