By Firestone & Associates on Monday, 04 January 2021
Category: Blogs

Proposed HIPAA Modifications

On December 10, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposed modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. HIPAA is the set of laws that protect the use and/or disclosure of individual health information. Part of the HIPAA modification process includes solicitation of public comments on the proposed changes. Public comment is solicited through a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).

The proposed changes to HIPAA generally include, “strengthening individuals’ rights to access their own health information, including electronic information; improving information sharing for care coordination and case management for individuals; facilitating greater family and caregiver involvement in the care of individuals experiencing emergencies or health crises; enhancing flexibilities for disclosures in emergency or threatening circumstances, such as the Opioid and COVID-19 public health emergencies; and reducing administrative burdens on HIPAA covered health care providers and health plans, while continuing to protect individuals’ health information privacy interests.” The HHS has announced that the purpose of the proposed HIPAA changes is to reduce burdens on providers, empower patients to secure better health, and promote coordinate, value-based healthcare.

More specifically, some of the proposed HIPAA changes include:

For a more detailed explanation of the proposed changes, visit the HHS’s Fact Sheet.

Sources:

HHS Proposes Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Empower Patients, Improve Coordinated Care, and Reduce Regulatory Burdens | HHS.gov

Fact Sheet on Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Empower Individuals, Improve Coordinated Care, and Reduce Regulatory Burdens (hhs.gov)