HIPAANews

Patrick Kennedy is a highly accomplished journalist and editor with nearly two decades of experience in the field. With expertise in writing and editing content, Patrick has made significant contributions to various publications and organizations. Over the course of his career, Patrick has successfully managed teams of writers, overseeing the production of high-quality content and ensuring its adherence to professional standards. His exceptional leadership skills, combined with his deep understanding of journalistic principles, have allowed him to create cohesive and engaging narratives that resonate with readers. A notable area of specialization for Patrick lies in compliance, particularly in relation to HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). He has authored numerous articles delving into the complexities of compliance and its implications for various industries. Patrick's comprehensive understanding of HIPAA regulations has positioned him as a go-to expert, sought after for his insights and expertise in this field. Patrick's bachelors degree is from the University of Limerick and his master's degree in journalism is from Dublin City University. You can contact Patrick through his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pkkennedy/

HIPAA Training for Student Nurses

HIPAA Training for Student Nurses

HIPAA training for student nurses holds substantial importance in preparing these future healthcare professionals to effectively navigate the complex landscape of patient information privacy and security, offering them a comprehensive understanding of the legal and...
Who Can Sue for A HIPAA Violation?

Who Can Sue for A HIPAA Violation?

Who can sue for a HIPAA violation? Unlike the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), there is no private cause of action in HIPAA, so that means a patient cannot sue for a HIPAA breach even if their protected health information has been impermissibly disclosed or...
HIPAA Certification Explained

HIPAA Certification Explained

Many suppliers would like HIPAA certification to confirm they are fully compliant with HIPAA Rules and are knowledgeable with all parts of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but can HIPAA certification be achieved in order to confirm...
HIPAA Breaches & Healthcare Students

HIPAA Breaches & Healthcare Students

The value of providing healthcare students with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training cannot be underestimated as it can prevent serious data breaches from occurring while also increasing the employability of the individuals who...

HR Managers & HIPAA Compliance

Most HR managers will be aware that if the organization operates a self-funded health insurance plan which is also self-administered, employees with access to protected health information (PHI) are required to undergo HIPAA training. HIPAA training should be provided...
Who Enforces HIPAA?

Who Enforces HIPAA?

Trying to come up with a definitive answer to the question ‘Who Enforces HIPAA?’ can bring up two very different answers. On one hand there are the official bodies and agencies that are charged with ensuring compliance and sanctioning penalties against any...
HIPAA & Telehealth Types Explained

HIPAA & Telehealth Types Explained

Telehealth is an area that is very important to pay particular attention to when addressing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance so it is important to be aware of the many different types of telehealth that have been created to...
Data Breach Leads to Massive Carrefour Fine

Data Breach Leads to Massive Carrefour Fine

In France the data protection regulator, Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertés (CNIL), has penalised French retail giant Carrefour more than €3m ($3.7m) in relation to a number of breaches of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation....
HIPAA Breach Cases 2020

HIPAA Breach Cases 2020

Listed here is a summary of some of the most significant HIPAA breach cases that have lead to settlement agreements with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). We have also listed some cases that have been pursued by OCR after a...
1 Million Impacted in Blackbaud Data Breach

1 Million Impacted in Blackbaud Data Breach

Another four healthcare suppliers have broadcast HIPAA breach alerts  in relation to the Blackbaud ransomware attack and data breach. Just after the Northwestern Memorial HealthCare group revealed that the personal information of 55,983 clients had been impacted, an...
HIPAA Social Media Rules

HIPAA Social Media Rules

Because HIPAA was enacted a number of years prior to the evolution of social media platforms, there are no provisions specifically addressing social media networks and PHI in the HIPAA text. However, this does not mean HIPAA does not apply to social media networks. In...
HIPAA Compliance Guide

HIPAA Compliance Guide

Using a HIPAA compliance guide will put you in a position to ally your group and your business associates to gain a proper understanding of  the requirements associated with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). It is vital that all...
GDPR & COVID-19 Coronavirus

GDPR & COVID-19 Coronavirus

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began everything has been moving at breakneck pace and there has been little time to consider how it impacts the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is understandable, and perfectly reasonable, to expect...
CCPA & COVID-19 Pandemic

CCPA & COVID-19 Pandemic

It is important to remember that, despite the wide-reaching and deep impact the the COVID-19 pandemic, the rights of individuals to have their protection respected are as important and relevant as ever. In recent weeks we have see a relaxing on the policing of HIPAA...
HIPAA Compliance and the Use of Technology

HIPAA Compliance and the Use of Technology

As the number of medical professionals using personal mobile devices to communicate and collaborate on patient concerns increases it becomes more and more important to ensure that healthcare groups address the use of technology and HIPAA compliance. Many forms of...
Healthcare Cybersecurity

Healthcare Cybersecurity

Healthcare cybersecurity is an increasing problem for organizations. Recent years have seen hacking and IT security incidents steadily increase and many healthcare organizations have struggled to secure their network perimeter and keep cybercriminals away. 2015 was...
Upgrading Windows 7 Devices Coming Quickly

Upgrading Windows 7 Devices Coming Quickly

Healthcare groups still deploying Windows 7 and Windows 2008 have a very short amount of time left to upgrade the operating systems before Microsoft support will be discontinued. Support for both operating systems will cease on January 14, 2019. As of January 14,...
Who is Exempt from GDPR Requirements?

Who is Exempt from GDPR Requirements?

The General Data Protection Regulation became enforceable on May 25, 2018 and from that date companies that gather or use the personal data of EU residents were obligated to require with the GDPR, although there are restricted GDPR exemptions and derogations. Who Must...
HIPAA Telemedicine Guidelines

HIPAA Telemedicine Guidelines

The HIPAA guidelines on telemedicine are relevant for all medical professional or healthcare groups that provide a remote service to patients in their homes or in community centers. Many people wrongly think that communicating ePHI at distance is allowable when the...
CCPA vs GDPR Comparison

CCPA vs GDPR Comparison

In the last few years cybersecurity has evolved massively on a global basis as greater efforts are invested in protecting individuals, businesses and organizations from the threat of hacking. New legislation has been introduced in relation to the way that personal...
What to do Following an Accidental HIPAA Violation

HIPAA History

Our review of HIPAA history begins on August 21, 1996, when the Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted into law, but why was the HIPAA Act formulated? The HIPAA Act was formulated to “improve the portability and accountability of...
Does GDPR Apply to EU Citizens Living Abroad?

Does GDPR Apply to EU Citizens Living Abroad?

The term ‘European Union citizen’ is often referenced when trying to describe General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) legal obligations, but what happens when an EU citizen leaves the EU? Does GDPR apply to EU citizens living abroad? Using the term European Union...