Healthcare covered entities continue to have trouble getting patients their medical records. Since 2019, when the Office for Civil Rights began its Right of Access initiative, the HIPAA privacy and security enforcer has settled 45 cases related to patient requests for medical records.
A recent settlement between the Office for Civil Rights and UnitedHealthcare serves as a stark reminder of the importance of HIPAA compliance and the right of patients to access their medical records in a timely manner.
Robust authentication processes are often the first line of defense against cyberthreats. A recent Office for Civil Rights Cybersecurity newsletter emphasizes the importance of strong authentication in safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI).
Government regulators that enforce HIPAA privacy and security compliance are doubling down this year on risk analysis and risk management as a primary avenue to safeguard protected health information.
In an era where digital transformation is reshaping industries, healthcare finds itself at the crossroads of innovation and privacy. Telehealth, a symbol of this transformation, promises unparalleled convenience and accessibility. Yet it also brings forth a myriad of challenges, especially concerning the protection of patient data.
Every click, swipe, and keystroke can lead to a breach in today’s digital healthcare landscape. Robust data protection procedures have never been more critical.
The conclusion of the COVID-19 public health emergency has led to the termination of the Office for Civil Rights’ relaxed enforcement and providers are in the midst of a 90-day transition period back to full compliance with the HIPAA rules for telehealth.
