Just over one year ago, I wrote about the Department of Health and Human Service’s (“HHS”) $105 million award to support 1,333 federally qualified health centers (“Health Centers”) across the United States improve the quality of comprehensive care provided to patients. It seems like déjà vu, as it was announced last month that HHS set aside $125 million in
Continue Reading Community Health Centers Receive Quality Improvement Grants

Filefax, Inc. (“Filefax”), an Illinois company that intimately handled sensitive Personal Health Information (“PHI”), paid $100,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”). The payment stemmed from, when still in business, Filefax allegedly improperly disclosing the PHI of approximately 2,150 people when not properly securing
Continue Reading Healthcare Business Owners—HIPAA Still Applies After Closing Down Your Business

On January 5, 2018, the United States Department of Health and Human Services released for public comment a draft Trusted Exchange Framework, which seeks to accomplish interoperability with respect to patients’ Electronic Health Information (“EHI”) through the creation of Health Information Networks (“HINs”). The 21st Century Cures Act, which Congress enacted in 2016, has the goal of creating
Continue Reading What are Your Thoughts on the Draft Trusted Exchange Framework?

In the wake of some of the worst storms our country has ever faced, as seen in the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, Hurricane Irma in Florida, and now Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it is important to understand some of the actions the United States federal government can take to assist victims
Continue Reading Public Health Emergencies and Mother Nature

On August 15, 2017, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tom Price, issued a press release reporting that almost $105 million dollars will be bestowed upon 1,333 health centers across the United States, including its territories; and Washington D.C. Secretary Price stated “Americans deserve a healthcare system that’s affordable, accessible, of the highest quality, with ample choices, driven by
Continue Reading Health Centers: The Federal Government Delivers a Big Win

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued final rule stating the future health insurance exchange (“Exchange”) and insurance issuer standards related to coverage of essential health benefits (EHB) and actuarial value. The final rule further establishes a timeline for when qualified health plans (QHPs) should be accredited in federally facilitated Exchanges.

Beginning January 1, 2014, non-grandfathered

Continue Reading Essential Health Coverage Benefits – The ACA Final Rule

laptop_data_breach_iStock_000015066702XSmall_400x300The US Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) released final rules on January 17, 2013 governing the privacy and security of protected health information under HIPAA and the HITECH Act.  The new rules take effect March 26, 2013; compliance is expected by September 23, 2013. This post will focus on the changes to the

Continue Reading New Breach Notification Requirements Released

On January 2, 2013, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a $50,000 settlement with Hospice of North Idaho for a data breach involving the theft of a lost, unencrypted laptop computer containing the health information of 441 patients.

This settlement is the first for a reported breach affecting fewer than 500 individuals.   HHS Office of Civil Rights

Continue Reading First HHS Settlement for Small HIPAA Breach

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released a final rule concerning Health Insurance Exchanges (“HIE”) on March 12, 2012.  The final rule will be published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2012.  In late March, 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments concerning the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act (“PPACA”), which
Continue Reading Health Insurance Exchanges: Final Regulations; Legal Challenges