As connected health adoption grows, privacy rules like HIPAA are still broadly misunderstood
At a HIMSS Digital presentation, former ONC Chief Privacy Officer Joy Pritts and Connected Health Initiative Senior Counsel Brian Scarpelli discussed some common misconceptions about the law. (Source: mobihealthnews)
Source: mobihealthnews - April 9, 2020 Category: Information Technology Source Type: news
HHS: Enforcement Discretion under HIPAA to Allow Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information by Business Associates for Public Health and Health Oversight Activities in Response to COVID-19
Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating that it will exercise its discretion in how it applies the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and will not impose potential penalties for violations of certain provisions of HIPAA during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This enforcement discretion is effective until the public health emergency declaration expires. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 7, 2020 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
Public Inspection: HHS: Enforcement Discretion under HIPAA to Allow Uses and Disclosures of Protected Health Information by Business Associates for Public Health and Health Oversight Activities in Response to COVID-19
Pre-publication notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stating that it will exercise its discretion in how it applies the Privacy Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 and will not impose potential penalties for violations of certain provisions of HIPAA during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This enforcement discretion is effective until the public health emergency declaration expires. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - April 3, 2020 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
COVID-19 and HIPAA: Disclosures to Law Enforcement, Paramedics, Other First Responders and Public Health Authorities
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Published: 3/24/2020.
This four-page document provides guidance on how covered entities may disclose protected health information (PHI) about an individual who has been infected with or exposed to COVID-19 to law enforcement, paramedics, other first responders, and public health authorities in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.
(PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - March 24, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Emergency Situations: Preparedness, Planning, and Response
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Published: 3/20/2020.
This web page, updated on March 20, 2020, addresses the release of protected health information for planning or response activities in emergency situations, and discusses the Privacy Rule, which protects individually identifiable health information from uses and disclosures that unnecessarily compromise the privacy of an individual. It provides additional information about planning, response, and waivers, including the waiving of potential HIPAA penalties for good faith use of telehealth during the nationwide public health emergency due to C...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - March 20, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
OCR Announces Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications During the COVID-19 Nationwide Public Health Emergency
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it will waive potential penalties for HIPAA violations against healthcare providers that utilize communication platforms, i.e. Skype, for telehealth services during the COVID-19 outbreak. Includes further guidance for healthcare providers on responsibly offering telehealth to patients. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center - March 17, 2020 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
COVID-19 and HIPAA Bulletin: Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions and Penalties During a Nationwide Public Health Emergency
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Published: 3/2020.
In response to the nationwide emergency concerning COVID-19 (coronavirus), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has exercised the authority to waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule detailed in this five-page memorandum. The waiver became effective on March 15, 2020.
(PDF) (Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health)
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - March 1, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Medical Devices and the Ransomware Menace
The first ransomware attack on a medical device was reported on a precision appliance during the 2017 WannaCry attacks. Since then, cybercriminals haven’t slowed down. Over the past 12 months, ransomware perpetuators have been relentless in their efforts to solicit payments from unsuspecting victims, even going as far as threatening to publish data if the ransom is not paid.
This new tactic, in addition to the emergence of newer and prolific ransomware variants like Ryuk and Sodinokibi, has proven to be successful, too. In Q4 2019, the average ransomware payment increased by 104 percent from the previous ...
Source: MDDI - February 24, 2020 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Sam Roguine Tags: Software Source Type: news
MouthWatch Debuts Significant Upgrades to TeleDent ™ its Provider-Focused Teledentistry Platform During CDS 2020
Newest Enhancements Designed to Keep the Dentist in TeledentistryWhile Delivering Improved Case Acceptance and Patient ConvenienceMetuchen, NJ – February 17, 2020 – MouthWatch, LLC a leader in innovative teledentistry solutions, digital case presentation tools and intraoral imaging devices, will debut the latest upgrades to its TeleDent™ all-in-one teledentistry platform at booth #4318 during the 2020 Chicago Midwinter Meeting.According to MouthWatch Founder and CEO Brant Herman, “Our latest upgrades firmly establish TeleDent as the clinician-focused teledentistry platform that also provides the convenience a...
Source: Dental Technology Blog - February 20, 2020 Category: Dentistry Source Type: news
IncludeHealth launches equipment-agnostic digital musculoskeletal platform
(CincyTech) IncludeHealth, an internationally awarded digital health and performance company, announces the launch of IncludeConnect, a revolutionary musculoskeletal technology that brings digital capabilities to any equipment used for rehabilitation, performance training or general health. The platform connects, digitizes and integrates any piece of strength or cardio equipment into a HIPAA compliant, medical-grade software called the IncludeCloud , allowing quantitative and qualitative measurement with feedback to drive better outcomes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - February 13, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) Privacy and Novel Coronavirus
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Published: 2/2020.
In light of the 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) outbreak, the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing this four-page bulletin to ensure that Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities and their business associates are aware of the ways that patient information may be shared under the HIPAA Privacy Rule in an outbreak of infectious disease or other emergency situation, and to serve as a reminder that the protections of the Privacy Rule are not set aside during ...
Source: Disaster Lit: Resource Guide for Disaster Medicine and Public Health - February 1, 2020 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
MobiHealthNews' predictions for 2020: Big tech's here to stay, digital health moves through Gardner hype cycle and more
The MobiHealthNews staff shares its thoughts on how HIPAA, investor funding, digital health commercialization and other focus areas will be changing over the course of the new year. (Source: mobihealthnews)
Source: mobihealthnews - January 28, 2020 Category: Information Technology Source Type: news
MobiHealthNews' predictions for 2020: Big tech's here to stay, digital health moves through Gartner hype cycle and more
The MobiHealthNews staff shares its thoughts on how HIPAA, investor funding, digital health commercialization and other focus areas will be changing over the course of the new year. (Source: mobihealthnews)
Source: mobihealthnews - January 28, 2020 Category: Information Technology Source Type: news
HHS: Administrative Simplification: Modification of the Requirements for the Use of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) D.0 Standard
Notice of final rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to adopt a modification to the requirements of the Telecommunication Standard Implementation Guide, Version D, Release 0 (Version D.0), August 2007. This modification allows covered entities to clearly distinguish whether a prescription is a partial fill, or a refill in the HIPAA transactions and may help prevent impermissible refills of Schedule II drugs. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - January 24, 2020 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
CMS: Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is seeking comment on the following items: 1) Medicaid Managed Care Regulations; 2) Testing Experience and Functional Tools: Functional Assessment Standardized Items (FASI) Based on the CARE Tool; 3) Review and Approval Process for Waivers for State Innovation; 4) Medicaid Program Face-to-Face Requirements for Home Health Services and Supporting Regulations; 5) Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN); and 6) Administrative Simplification HIPAA Compliance Review. Comments are due by January 17, 2020. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)
Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center - December 18, 2019 Category: Rural Health Source Type: news
