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The 2021 calendar year reports from HHS OCR describe OCR’s efforts that calendar year and are instructive tools for all parties who need to comply with HIPAA to understand macro-level trends. ​What You Need to Know: OCR continues to receive tens of thousands HIPAA complaints each year. “Large”...

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care, and specifically, as the utilization of software in medical devices continues to increase. Machine learning (ML) is a branch of AI in which computer systems automatically adapt, improve, and make predictions by applying algorithms to analyze...

On December 2, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (“ OCR ”) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“ SAMHSA ”) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“ HHS ”) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“ NPRM ”) to revise the Confidentiality of Substance Use...

Neither shots nor pills will immunize smaller medical, dental, chiropractic, and physical therapy practices, surgery centers, and other healthcare concerns from compliance with the looming (and burdensome) reporting obligations imposed on them if they are “reporting companies” under the federal...

Effective November 16, 2022, New Jersey will impose additional requirements when a ‘health care entity’ is sold or undergoes a change in control. The changes are the result of the enactment of S-315 , on August 18, 2021. What You Need to Know: New Jersey enacted a statute that will impose additional...

The No Surprises Act (“NSA”) is a federal law that went into effect January 1, 2022. The NSA statute was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and has been implemented by three interim rule s jointly announced by the Office of Personnel Management within the Department of the...

​October was National Cybersecurity Month. As part of its ongoing focus on HIPAA Security Rule awareness and compliance, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) within the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), published its HIPAA Security Rule Incident Procedures newsletter (the “Newsletter”)...

On August 23, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a $300,640 settlement and a Corrective Action Plan ("CAP") with New England Dermatology P.C., d/b/a New England Dermatology and Laser Center ("NEDLC") to resolve allegations...

On July 15, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the resolution of eleven investigations as part of its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Right of Access Initiative (the "Initiative"). OCR created...

On June 29, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights released two guidance documents addressing (1) disclosures under the HIPAA Privacy Rule relating to reproductive health care (“Disclosure Guidance”), and (2) the privacy and security of reproductive health...

As we have just passed the half-way point of 2022, many health systems are thinking about acquisitions they would like to complete before the end of the calendar year. In addition to the necessary due diligence, contracting considerations and licensure and regulatory issues, acquiring and selling...

On June 13, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights issued guidance (the “Guidance”) for covered health care providers and health plans relating to the use of remote communication technologies to provide audio-only telehealth services in a manner that is...