HIPAA

The HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule is now in effect and audits will continue in 2014. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights has stated several times that both Covered Entities and Business Associates will be audited.  And the scope of Business Associates has greatly ex…

Discovering a breach where ePHI has been stolen certainly falls into the ‘not a good day at work’ category.  It can be catastrophic for some, especially if the compromise occurred months ago and wasn’t detected.  Or if a 3rd party discovered the breach for you, which occurs more often than we think,…

The HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule is now in effect and audits will continue in 2014. At the HIMSS Privacy and Security Forum in Boston on Sept. 23, Leon Rodriguez, director of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights said to those who are wondering how the new rule will…

This marks the 32nd year I’ve worked in healthcare. It doesn’t seem like very long ago that I worked as a registered nurse, caring for critically ill patients. Although I’m no longer working at a patient’s bedside, today’s healthcare organizations continue to put patient care first – starting…

The HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule, released January 2013, goes into effect this month – Sept 23, 2013. Over the last several weeks, I’ve been posting a blog series around nine HIPAA network considerations. HIPAA Audits will continue The HIPAA Audit Protocol and NIST 800-66 are your best preparation Know…

Over the last several weeks, I’ve been posting a blog series around nine HIPAA network considerations. HIPAA Audits will continue The HIPAA Audit Protocol and NIST 800-66 are your best preparation Knowledge is a powerful weapon―know where your PHI is Ignorance is not bliss Risk Assessment drives yo…

The fourth consideration in this 9 HIPAA Network Considerations blog series, we look at whether ‘not knowing’ is a valid defense post-breach. Is Ignorance Bliss, or will that get you into trouble? Remember, the HIPAA Omnibus Rule was released January 23, 2013, became effective March 26, 2013 with co…

Next in this 9 HIPAA Network Considerations blog series, I cover the third network consideration focusing on knowing where your PHI is.  Remember, the HIPAA Omnibus Rule was released January 23, 2013, became effective March 26, 2013 with compliance to the updates se for September 23, 2013.  Audits w…

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Omnibus Final Rule, released January 2013, introduced some significant changes and updates. At the same time, over 100 HIPAA audits concluded in 2012. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released initial analysis of these audits in…