HIPAA enforcement will be strengthened by an interim final rule posted today by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The new rule increases significantly the penalties that may be imposed for HIPAA violations under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. HHS believes that the higher penalties will increase compliance with the privacy protections of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
You can view the Department of HHS’s press release here, and the text of the new rules here.
For more information, view the Health Law Partners’ page on Compliance with HIPAA, or contact HLP lawyers Abby Pendleton, Esq. or Jessica Gustafson, Esq at (248) 996-8510.