HIPAA Advice

What is the Purpose of HIPAA?

HIPAA was enacted in 1996. In its initial form, the legislation assisting in making sure that workers would go on receiving health insurance coverage when they were moving between jobs. The legislation also required healthcare […]

HIPAA Advice

HIPAA Compliance and Skype

Skype Text and messaging platforms like it are a very convenient way of quickly sending data however there is still some discussion around how HIPAA compliant Skype actually is. The Skype service incorporates security measures […]

Amazon Facing EU Antitrust Investigation
Cybersecurity

Amazon Facing EU Antitrust Investigation

The European Union’s Competition Commission has initiated an official antitrust investigation to ascertain if Amazon is using sensitive data, gathered from independent retailers who use its marketplace, in breach of EU competition legislation. The Commission […]

HIPAA Advice

HITECH Act Explained

The HITECH Act – or Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act – forms a portion of an economic stimulus program introduced prior to President Trump taking office: The American Recovery and Reinvestment […]

GDPR Advice

GDPR and Medical Devices

The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) became enforceable on May 25, 2018, as did financial penalties for breaching the legislation. Mainly, GDPR is applicable to the back end workings of medical devices there is also […]

HIPAA Updates

25,148 Patients Impacted in Ransomware Attack on the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence

A ransomware attack has resulted in widespread file encryption at the Southeastern Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SCADD) in Lebanon, CT. The attack was discovered on February 18, 2019 when problems started to be […]

Cybersecurity

Healthcare Associations ask for Leniency for Breached Entities that Implement Cybersecurity Best Practices

Several healthcare groups have asked for leniency to be shown for healthcare organizations that would mean avoiding financial penalties for breaches of protected health information if the breached entity that has implemented certain standards for […]

HIPAA Advice

How to Manage Your HIPAA Password Requirements

HIPAA password requirements state that procedures must be implemented for creating, changing and securing passwords unless a different, equally-effective security measure is chosen. The password requirements under HIPAA are available the Administrative Safeguards of the […]

CCPA News

Are you ready for CCPA?

The California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) is due to become enforceable on January 1, 2020. Corporations, government agencies and other groups will be using 2019 to prepare for the new legislation. The proposed legislation allows […]

HIPAA Updates

Several Employees of Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center Sacked due to Inappropriate PHI Access

A not-for-profit 115-bed community hospital in Ogdensburg, NY, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center has sacked several employees for accessing patient health records without official permission.The PHI breaches were identified during an internal review. It is not yet obvious […]

Cybersecurity

Uber Settles Data Breach by Paying $148m

Uber, the peer-to-peer ridesharing, taxi cab, food delivery, bicycle-sharing and transportation network company has settled a fine in relation to a 2016 cyber-attack that exposed data from 57 million customers and drivers for $148m. The payment […]

HIPAA Advice

Who Polices HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) brought in many new regulations for healthcare groups, but who polices HIPAA? Which federal departments are charged with making sure HIPAA Rules are adhered to by covered […]

HIPAA Advice

The Significance of HIPAA

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a landmark piece of data protection legislation in the USA. What is it that makes HIPAA so significant? What reform did HIPAA bring in and what […]

HIPAA Advice

HIPAA Compliance and Microsoft Azure

Does Azure comply with HIPAA? Can Microsoft’s cloud services be implemented by HIPAA covered bodies without breaching HIPAA Rules? Many healthcare groups are considering shifting some of their services to the cloud, and a large […]

HIPAA Advice

HIPAA and Patient Telephone Calls

The Federal Communication Commission has released a Declaratory Ruling and Order to clarify TCPA rules in relation to HIPAA and patient telephone calls. Some healthcare suppliers have had difficulty understanding TCPA rules in relation to […]

HIPAA Updates

44,600 Patients Affected by Ransomware Attack at Golden Heart Administrative Professionals

AK-based billing company, Golden Heart Administrative Professionals, a Fairbanks is alerting 44,600 people that some of their protected health information has potentially been obtained by unauthorized people due a recent ransomware attack. The ransomware was […]

HIPAA Updates

Potential Theft of 4,500 Patients’ PHI BY Former Arkansas Children’s Hospital Employee Being Reviewed

A former staff member of Arkansas Children’s Hospital is being investigated by law authorities in relation to the theft and misuse of patients’ protected health information. The breach notice submitted to the Department of Health […]