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Mergers and HIPAA

Tshedimoso Makhene: Jan 8, 2025 6:59:16 PM

Mergers in the healthcare industry can significantly impact compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). While...

2 min read

How does an emergency access procedure work?

Kirsten Peremore: Jan 8, 2025 11:53:40 AM

Emergency access procedures are protocols that take place during unforeseen circumstances threatening the availability of electronic protected health...

3 min read

Exploring how HIPAA affects new communication technologies

Farah Amod: Jan 8, 2025 9:10:42 AM

New communication tools are changing healthcare but bring risks if patient privacy isn’t protected. Providers must ensure these technologies align...

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The difference between civil and criminal HIPAA penalties

Tshedimoso Makhene: Jan 8, 2025 8:55:39 AM

While both civil and criminal penalties aim to uphold the integrity of HIPAA, the primary difference lies in intent and enforcement. Civil penalties...

3 min read

How the updated HIPAA Privacy Rule supports reproductive healthcare privacy

In its 2024 Year in Review, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) stressed its commitment to enhancing...

3 min read

Releasing information in healthcare: Who, what, when, where & why

Tshedimoso Makhene: Jan 8, 2025 6:53:36 AM

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) imposes stringent confidentiality regulations on medical professionals. However,...

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HHS OCR's 2024 year in review

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) enforces HIPAA regulations, with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) leading these efforts. The OCR...

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Top 5 cybersecurity lessons from the largest HIPAA settlements

Farah Amod: Jan 6, 2025 4:10:33 PM

Massive HIPAA settlements reveal common missteps in healthcare cybersecurity and offer valuable lessons for protecting sensitive patient data.

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Understanding the protections against disability-based discrimination

In 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) reinforced protections against disability-based...

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Understanding criminal penalties for HIPAA violations

Tshedimoso Makhene: Jan 6, 2025 3:03:28 PM

While the civil penalties for HIPAA violations often get the spotlight, the law also enforces serious criminal penalties for individuals or entities...

3 min read

Confidentiality for substance use disorder records

This year, the HHS Office for Civil Rights began reinforcing regulations outlined in 42 CFR Part 2, which strengthens the protection of substance use...

4 min read

The use of ChatGPT in healthcare

Kirsten Peremore: Jan 6, 2025 11:00:36 AM

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Are healthcare lawyers considered business associates under HIPAA?

Tshedimoso Makhene: Jan 6, 2025 3:27:03 AM

Determining whether a healthcare lawyer is a business associate under HIPAA is context-dependent. The key consideration is whether their services...