On February 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) took action pursuant to President Trump’s Executive Order 14187 (“EO 14187”), which is aimed at ending gender affirming care for minors. EO 14187...more
2/21/2025
/ Data Privacy ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Executive Orders ,
Gender Expression ,
Gender Identity ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
LGBTQ ,
Patient Access ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
PHI ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
Transgender ,
Trump Administration
It took some time, but we officially have the first complaint filed alleging violations of the Washington My Health, My Data Act (“MHMDA”). The complaint, filed February 10 in the U.S. District Court Western District of...more
2/14/2025
/ Amazon Marketplace ,
Biometric Information ,
Class Action ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Healthcare ,
PHI ,
Prior Express Consent ,
State Privacy Laws ,
Statutory Violations ,
Targeted Digital Advertising ,
Washington ,
Wiretapping
‘Tis the season for holiday baking and the elves at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), have been diligently crafting their own holiday treat. On December 27,...more
1/2/2025
/ Cybersecurity ,
Data Breach ,
Data Protection ,
Data Security ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
HIPAA Breach ,
HIPAA Security Rule ,
HIPAA Violations ,
Life Sciences ,
NPRM ,
OCR ,
PHI ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Rulemaking Process
December 23, 2024, was the compliance deadline for HIPAA covered entities and business associates to apply the protections of the HIPAA Privacy Rule to support Reproductive Health Care Privacy Final Rule—that is all covered...more
As we settle into spooky season, let’s take a minute to consider a recent development in health care privacy as we ask ourselves, is this a trick or a treat?...more
10/11/2024
/ Data Management ,
Data Privacy ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
HIPAA Privacy Rule ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
PHI ,
Reproductive Healthcare Issues ,
State Attorneys General ,
Statutory Authority ,
Texas
On Thursday, June 20, 2024, a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“HHS”) overstepped its authority to act when issuing its December 2022 bulletin...more
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released its anticipated Final Rule last week. The Final Rule revises...more
2/26/2024
/ CARES Act ,
Confidential Information ,
Consent ,
Data Management ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Electronic Medical Records ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Mental Health ,
New Regulations ,
OCR ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
PHI ,
SAMHSA ,
Substance Abuse
On February 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published a notice in the Federal Register regarding reinstatement of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”)...more
2/16/2024
/ Covered Entities ,
Data Protection ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Federal Register ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
HIPAA Audits ,
HIPAA Breach ,
HITECH Act ,
OCR ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
PHI
Why is everyone talking about provider disclosures to law enforcement of late? The Senate Finance Committee authored a letter to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), outlining...more
1/12/2024
/ Data-Sharing ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Information Requests ,
Law Enforcement ,
Life Sciences ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
PHI ,
Roe v Wade
This is Part Twelve, the final installment of our series of legal updates on the Washington My Health My Data Act (“WMHMDA”). We are thrilled that you came along as we dove into the intricacies of WMHMDA that are creating...more
8/30/2023
/ Cybersecurity ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
Personal Data ,
PHI ,
Washington
This is Part Eleven in a series of legal updates on the Washington My Health My Data (“WMHMDA”), where Quarles continues its deep dive into the various factors and intricacies of WMHMDA that are creating waves in the privacy...more
8/23/2023
/ Cybersecurity ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) ,
Healthcare ,
Patient Privacy Rights ,
Personal Data ,
PHI ,
Washington
This is Part Seven in a series of legal updates on the Washington My Health My Data (“WMHMDA”), where Quarles continues its deep dive into the various factors and intricacies of WMHMDA that are creating waves in the privacy...more
7/18/2023
/ Biometric Information ,
Biometric Information Privacy Act ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Data Protection ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
Health Information Technologies ,
Life Sciences ,
Personal Data ,
PHI ,
Washington
This is Part Six in a series of legal updates on the Washington My Health My Data Act (“WMHMDA”) in which Quarles continues its deep dive into the various factors and intricacies of WMHMDA that are creating waves in the...more
Oh say, can you see, Part 5 in our Washington My Health My Data Act series? This is the fifth installment in our series on the Washington My Health My Data Act (“WMHMDA”)....more
Effects to consumer health data collection and processing will be felt in Washington and beyond with new consumer rights and consent requirements as well as a private right of action....more
On April 12, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), aimed at strengthening the Health Insurance Portability and...more
Does HIPAA prevent businesses from asking whether customers or clients are vaccinated? (No). Does HIPAA prevent an employer from requiring an employee to disclose vaccination status? (No). Does HIPAA prohibit doctors from...more