The OIG, the nation’s leader in fighting fraud, waste and abuse of Medicare, Medicaid and other HHS programs, periodically publishes reports on how federal healthcare programs could improve....more
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently published an executive summary (Report) outlining key enforcement activities of the Health Insurance Portability and...more
Nearly two months after settlement was reached, the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (HHS OCR) announced on Feb. 6 that it obtained a resolution agreement with Montefiore Medical Center over...more
The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak are being felt globally as countries and communities around the world ramp up efforts to contain and limit the spread of the virus. Information gathering and sharing are crucial steps in...more
There was unfortunately some bleak news out of the Department of Health & Human Services, (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently. The OIG recently released the results of a performance audit of the HHS’...more
As a result of ongoing efforts under the Cybersecurity Act of 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has partnered with public and private sector entities to develop guidance for healthcare entities seeking...more
It is a strange combination of events today, but two different agencies released reports on cybersecurity issues that all companies should consider when looking at their systems, controls and checks. The U.S. Department of...more
HHS OCR issues checklist, iterative guidance in wake of WannaCry and Petya attacks; Anthem breach settlement provides additional lessons. Key Points: ..Healthcare organizations are particularly vulnerable to ransomware...more
If your organization operates in the healthcare industry, particularly if it qualifies as a covered entity or business associate under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), you may have noticed the...more
If your organization is a business associate of a HIPAA covered entity (such as a health care provider or employee health benefit plan), you should know that the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Civil Rights...more
In September, 2015, OCR and HHS issued a press release announcing a Resolution Agreement with the Cancer Care Group, P.C., which included entry into the agreement, the adoption of a robust compliance plan, and the payment of...more
On September 2, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a substantial settlement with an Indiana-based oncology group, Cancer Care Group, P.C. (CCG). Under the terms of...more
In this issue of The WSGR Data Advisor, we examine the FCC’s recent TCPA declaratory ruling and order addressing issues regarding calling and texting consumers, and discuss the new privacy, data security, and transparency...more
The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently released Version 2.0 of its Guide to Privacy and Security of Electronic Health Information (Guide)....more
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) sets forth rules to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ health information that is held by “covered entities,” such as group health plans....more