In the last year, two significant HIPAA regulations were issued, impacting employer group health plans. This article summarizes the new rules – one under the privacy rule provisions and one under the security rule provisions – and what employers need to know about the current legal status of these rules and how to prepare for […]
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Timely Responses Required for Requests under HIPAA’s Right of Access Rule
READ TIME: 4 MINUTES On December 15, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), announced a settlement under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) Right of Access Rule. This penalty illustrates that the Right of Access Rule remains a focus of HHS and that health […]
Read moreOffice for Civil Rights Reiterates HIPAA Requirements and Responses to Cybersecurity Incidents
READ TIME: 7 MINUTES The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently reported that a national cybersecurity firm observed a 42% increase in cyber-attacks for 2022 compared to 2021, and a 69% increase in cyberattacks specifically targeting the healthcare sector. Further, breaches of unsecured protected health information (PHI), including ePHI, affecting 500 or more individuals […]
Read moreInto the Breach: Identifying and Addressing a HIPAA Security Breach
READ TIME: 4 MINUTES Cybercrimes and attacks on personal data continue to escalate, and threats to sensitive employee data maintained by employee benefit plans are at an all-time high. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently disclosed that hacking and information technology incidents remain the largest category of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of […]
Read moreWebinar: HIPAA Privacy & Security | What Employers Need to Know
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 1:00PM CST Register Now HIPAA Privacy and Security can often be a complicated topic for employers sponsoring group health plans. Navigating the obligations of covered entities and business associates can be a challenge while still maintaining efficiency and security. With constant changes in technology, it is essential that group health plan […]
Read moreHHS Hikes the Price for HIPAA and Medicare Secondary Payer Violations
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published its annual inflation-adjusted civil monetary penalty amounts. The higher amounts will apply to penalties assessed after March 17, 2022, for any violations occurring on or after November 2, 2015. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA). HIPAA contains provisions that ensure portability of health coverage […]
Read moreHHS FAQ regarding the HIPAA and Vaccination Status
The HHS released guidance to help understand when the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule applies to disclosures and requests for information about whether a person has received a COVID-19 vaccine. As a reminder, the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to employers or employment records. It does apply to […]
Read moreWebinar: What Employers Need to Know About Retiree Coverage
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT Register Now This webinar will help plan sponsors to understand the compliance issues surrounding retiree health plan coverage. This webinar will: Discuss which health care reform mandates and HIPAA portability rules retiree-only coverage is exempted from Discuss whether retirees that are included in a […]
Read moreWebinar: What Employers Need to Know about HIPAA and HITECH
Tuesday, March 10, 2020 2:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. PT Register Now The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), its administrative simplification regulations, and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) provide administrative, privacy, and security standards for health plans and their business associates. The extent to which HIPAA […]
Read moreCompliance Recap: January 2020
January was a busy month in the employee benefits world. The U.S. Supreme Court (Supreme Court) denied expedited review of a court case challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The Supreme Court also granted review of a nationwide preliminary injunction of the November 2018 contraceptive coverage exemptions final rules. […]
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