Where have I been? Why no recent posts? Well, I am back on duty following three months of scrambling to keep up with job requirements while gimping around with a broken leg. Thanks to P.T. I am now pretty mobile and getting caught up on other projects, like this website. This injury also put me … Read more
Feb. 11, 2019 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced a proposed new rule to require “seamless and secure access, exchange, and use of electronic health information” (EHI). The proposed rule is designed to increase innovation and competition by giving patients and their healthcare providers secure access to health information … Read more
Dec. 12, 2018 — Pagosa Springs Medical Center (PSMC) has agreed to pay $111,400 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and to adopt a substantial corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. … Read more
Advanced Care Hospitalists PL (ACH) has agreed to pay $500,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a substantial corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. ACH … Read more
In the aftermath of an active shooter incident in a Chicago area hospital that left four people, including a physician, pharmacist, and police officer dead, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response encouraged all providers to review its planning and response guide [<download link] for active shooter incidents, as well as other resources … Read more
Allergy Associates of Hartford, P.C. (Allergy Associates), has agreed to pay $125,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. Allergy Associates is a … Read more
Anthem, Inc. has agreed to pay $16 million to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and take substantial corrective action to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules after a series of cyberattacks led to the largest U.S. health … Read more
September 20, 2018– Today, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has reached separate settlements with Boston Medical Center (BMC), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for compromising the privacy of patients’ protected health information (PHI) by inviting film crews on premises to … Read more
OCR Issues Guidance to Help Ensure Appropriate Sharing of Medical Information During Hurricane Florence September 12, 2018 As Hurricane Florence makes landfall, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and its federal partners remain in close coordination as part of disaster response. As part of his declaration of a Public Health Emergency (PHE), HHS Secretary … Read more
The S.C. Governor has issued mandatory evacuation orders for the S.C. seaboard counties. He said schools and county offices in 26 of the state’s 46 counties will be closed starting Tuesday. A total of 177 health-care facilities, including 19 hospitals, also are being evacuated. Fleets of ambulances are being deployed to evacuate these facilities. See … Read more