HIPAA News and Advice

Muskogee City County Enhanced 911 Trust Authority (MCC911) based in Oklahoma confirmed a data breach due to a ransomware attack that...

Ransomware attackers are currently exploiting a critical vulnerability in SonicWall firewalls to gain preliminary access to victims'...

The 2023 MOVEit Transfer data breach at Welltok, a patient engagement firm based in Denver, has now impacted over 14.7 million people....

Rite Aid is the U.S. fourth-biggest pharmacy chain. A class action lawsuit was filed against Rite Aid over a June 2024 data breach that...

Two employees of Mass General Brigham located in Boston, MA were terminated because of a privacy breach discovered on April 4, 2024. The...

Healthcare provider CRG Lynwood, LLC based in Adrian, MI, which manages the Lynwood Manor skilled nursing and rehabilitation center, sent...

A settlement has been agreed upon between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and Saint...

Common examples of HIPAA violations in medical practice include unauthorized access to patient records, sharing patient information...

Yes, under HIPAA, patients have the right to access and obtain copies of their health data held by covered entities, including medical...

No, not all healthcare providers are considered HIPAA-covered entities; specifically, only healthcare providers who transmit health...

Patients can ensure that their HIPAA PHI is being stored and managed correctly by regularly reviewing their medical records, asking...

The process to obtain HIPAA certification for your clinic involves several key steps, including conducting a risk assessment, developing...

Overseas healthcare service providers can apply for HIPAA certification by first ensuring their compliance with HIPAA requirements,...

Non-profit organizations providing medical services are generally subject to the privacy and security requirements of HIPAA if they...

The cloud computing revolution has transformed the storage of HIPAA Protected Health Information (PHI) by providing healthcare...

To increase transparency in the handling of HIPAA PHI by healthcare institutions, key initiatives include implementing privacy training...

Yes, wearable health devices can potentially compromise the security of HIPAA Protected Health Information if they collect, transmit, or...

Third-party vendors interact with HIPAA-covered entities by providing services, products, or support that involve the use, access, or...

HIPAA does not provide for a formal "certification" process for healthcare institutions, but they can face severe penalties, fines, and...

No, mental health records are subject to the same regulations under HIPAA Protected Health Information standards as other medical records,...

An entity covered by HIPAA is obligated to ensure the security and confidentiality of patient data by implementing appropriate...

Telehealth services ensure the confidentiality of HIPAA PHI during sessions by employing secure and encrypted video conferencing...

Cybersecurity plays an important role in obtaining and maintaining HIPAA certification by ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and...

HIPAA-covered entities handle minor patient information by following the same privacy and security standards mandated by HIPAA, ensuring...

Yes, there are guidelines for physically storing documents containing HIPAA PHI securely, which include using locked file cabinets or...

In the event of a data exposure, a HIPAA-covered entity is obligated under HIPAA to promptly notify affected individuals, the U.S....

HIPAA certifications do not have a standardized or fixed duration of validity, as it depends on the specific training or compliance...

Elder care facilities ensure compliance with HIPAA certification standards by implementing strict administrative, technical, and physical...

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) handles HIPAA violations by conducting investigations, enforcing compliance through corrective action...

Federal and state laws concerning patient privacy, including those specific to HIPAA-covered entities, establish a complex framework in...

Healthcare mergers can impact the management of HIPAA Protected Health Information (PHI) by necessitating a careful assessment and...

Healthcare organizations can prevent potential HIPAA violations by implementing robust privacy policies, conducting regular staff training...

Firewalls and VPNs safeguard HIPAA PHI in hospitals by establishing a secure network infrastructure: firewalls act as a protective barrier...

HIPAA-covered entities are audited for compliance through various methods, including random audits conducted by the Office for Civil...

Patient rights are safeguarded through HIPAA compliance by ensuring that healthcare providers, health plans, and relevant entities adhere...

State-specific laws can impact the handling of HIPAA Protected Health Information by either adding additional privacy and security...

An organization determines if it is a HIPAA-covered entity by assessing whether it engages in certain healthcare-related activities, such...

Patients benefit from choosing a HIPAA-certified healthcare provider because it ensures the protection of their sensitive medical...

Mergers and acquisitions can impact the status of a HIPAA-covered entity by necessitating careful analysis and adjustments to ensure...

Recovering from a HIPAA violation requires healthcare organizations to promptly address the breach by conducting a thorough internal...

Patients provide consent for the use of their Protected Health Information (PHI) in research by typically signing a specific research...

Healthcare organizations can prepare for HIPAA compliance inspections by conducting regular internal audits of their privacy and security...

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) plays an important role in enforcing HIPAA in the United States, particularly in relation to breaches of...

To utilize cloud services while maintaining HIPAA compliance, organizations must ensure that the chosen cloud provider offers robust...

The primary objective of HIPAA training is to ensure that healthcare professionals and employees understand and comply with HIPAA...

HIPAA-covered entities are not explicitly required to adhere to specific encryption standards, but the HIPAA Security Rule requires them...

Third-party vendors play an important role in ensuring the safety of HIPAA PHI by providing services and solutions such as secure data...

If a healthcare worker or their workplace does not follow HIPAA laws, they could face consequences, including fines, legal penalties, loss...

Yes, a patient can potentially sue a HIPAA-covered entity for a data breach if the breach results from the entity's failure to adequately...

Yes, mental health professionals are generally bound by the same rules as other HIPAA-covered entities, which include maintaining the...

A HIPAA-covered entity refers to a healthcare provider, health plan, or healthcare clearinghouse that transmits, receives, or maintains...

Social media use in healthcare can lead to potential HIPAA violations by enabling the unauthorized sharing of patients' PHI due to...

HIPAA training is typically required for healthcare professionals, employees, and organizations that handle protected health information...

The Health Information Exchange (HIE) network impacts HIPAA-covered entities by facilitating secure electronic sharing of patient health...

Falsely claiming to be HIPAA certified can result in serious penalties, including civil fines of up to $50,000 per violation, criminal...

Yes, there are numerous refresher HIPAA training courses available for professionals, offered by various accredited organizations and...

Ethical concerns associated with HIPAA violations include breaches of patient privacy, loss of trust between healthcare providers and...

International medical tourism practices can intersect with HIPAA-covered entities through scenarios where patients from countries without...

Healthcare providers should regularly audit their storage of Protected Health Information (PHI) on an ongoing basis, with the frequency of...

Yes, it can be considered a potential HIPAA violation to disclose someone as your patient without their explicit consent or a legitimate...

Yes, there are challenges in the cross-border transfer of HIPAA Protected Health Information (PHI), primarily stemming from differing...

Yes, dental practices are considered HIPAA-covered entities, as they transmit and maintain PHI in the course of providing dental care and...

HIPAA violations are specific breaches of the HIPAA that pertain exclusively to the mishandling of protected health information within the...

Yes, there are certifications for software platforms handling HIPAA Protected Health Information, such as the Health IT Certification for...

Encryption plays a role in preventing HIPAA violations by safeguarding sensitive patient health information during storage, transmission,...