HHS Office for Civil Rights Director Melanie Fontes Rainer on Progress and News at OCR
ERISA Blog | Changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rules A Primer for Self-Insured Group Health Plans
Podcast - Data Privacy and Tracking Technology Compliance
Patient Data and Privacy
2022 DSIR Deeper Dive: OCR’s Right of Access Initiative
HIPAA Tips With Williams Mullen - Telehealth After the Pandemic
Relaxed HIPAA Restrictions For Providers Using Telehealth
Webinar: Investigating and Resolving Sexual Assaults on Campus
As the healthcare sector continues to be a top target for cyber criminals, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued proposed updates to the HIPAA Security Rule (scheduled to be published in the Federal Register January 6). It...more
Announcing its fourth ransomware cybersecurity investigation and settlement, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) also observed there has been a 264% increase in large ransomware breaches since 2018....more
On June 28, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement (resolution agreement and corrective action plan) with iHealth Solutions (also known as Advantum Health)...more
The recent settlement between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and a community hospital is a reminder of the importance of HIPAA compliance for all healthcare organizations. The...more
On June 15, 2023, OCR announced a settlement with Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital (Yakima) after completing a HIPAA investigation regarding allegations that hospital security guards accessed medical records of 419 patients....more
Given the choice between credit card data and digital health records, cybercriminals prefer the latter. A stolen credit card can be canceled. Electronic protected health information (ePHI) with its treasure-trove of...more
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) last month provided guidance and a reminder to HIPAA covered entities and their business associates regarding the sharing of patient health information (PHI) under the Health Insurance...more
Recent guidance from the Office for Civil Rights and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reiterates that existing privacy laws and emergency preparedness standards provide an effective framework for providers...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: With coronavirus infections continuing to spread both in the US and abroad, fears of a pandemic with serious disruptions to the economy and everyday life continue to grow. Concerns are compounded for...more
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a statement yesterday reminding schools, colleges, and universities of their responsibilities to address discrimination and harassment based on race and...more
In a recent blog post, colleagues in our Employment, Labor & Workforce Management practice addressed the legal framework pertaining to coronavirus (COVID-19) risks in the workplace. As the number of cases continues to the...more
Since the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) was first detected in December, the death toll has continued to rise as the virus quickly spreads. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials have stated that while the immediate...more
Health care providers, health plans and others monitoring the recent coronavirus outbreak should be aware of how patient information can and cannot be shared and used under applicable laws, including the HIPAA privacy rule,...more
As the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases (COVID-19) continues to grow, we recommend health care providers take time now to review and update their policies and procedures relating to public health emergencies and...more
The University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) entered into a $3 million no-fault settlement agreement and two year corrective...more
Most health care providers are aware that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) and its accompanying negotiations provide for the privacy and security of patients’ health care...more
Another government settlement demonstrates that not having a HIPAA compliance program can be costly. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)'s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced, on Dec. 4, 2018, that Advanced...more
Many are aware of the alarming rise in the number of student sexual assaults on college campuses across the country. The May 2015 issue of JAMA Pediatrics reported that one in five women will be the victim of a sexual assault...more
On April 27, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a resolution agreement with Cornell Prescription Pharmacy (CPP) pursuant to which CPP paid a $125,000...more