Data breach at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and subsequent penalty stands an example of the financial fallout from poor healthcare IT security practices By Ericka Chickowski, Dark Reading Contributing Writer Enforcement actions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) just reached a new level of reality last [...]
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), also known as the stimulus bill, contains the HITECH Act that amends the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was enacted in 1996. “When HIPAA was first enacted, the health care industry was paper driven,” says Jeff Porter, a director with Kegler, Brown, Hill [...]
There are plenty of reasons to put HIPAA back on your radar, including an audit program and record-setting fines for violations.
Risk assessments are are critical part of regulatory compliance, but many organizations don’t implement them well. Risk assessments, as part of a risk management program, help ensure that the right controls are in place to secure data and comply with regulations.
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights hit Cignet Health with a $4.3 million civil penalty for violating the HIPAA Privacy Rule and failing to cooperate during the subsequent probe even after a federal subpoena was issued, according to an HHS announcement. This marks the first time the feds have imposed [...]
When it comes to video games and apps, what’s a parent to do? On one hand, we’re bombarded with messages about the perils of letting kids play with computer games and gadgets. On the other, we’re seduced by games and apps marketed to us as “educational.” It’s a tricky line to navigate. The spectrum of [...]
When it comes to the new HIPAA privacy and security standards, it seems like everybody has an opinion. Quite a few organizations are spreading the word about the comments they’ve filed in response to the changes HHS proposed in July. The American Health Information Management Association wants the HHS Office for Civil Rights to add [...]
This short video is simply awesome.
The new amendment to HIPAA Privacy and Security rule recently passed by Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) and which came into effect from February 17, 2010 makes it mandatory for all the Covered entities to revise their Business Associate Contract. The covered entity should enter into a written contract [...]
The increased use of the social media, especially Twitter, is a cause for concern for many people, keeping in the mind, the strict HIPAA compliance norms pertaining to patient health information. Twitter, is turning out to be the most favored communication tool, for healthcare professionals who want to maintain, quick and easy, connectivity with their [...]
