Posts Tagged ‘OCR’
OCR Right of Access Initiative Heats up
More and more healthcare providers who fail to make it easy for patients to access their medical records are finding themselves in hot water with the HHS Office of Civil Rights. In just the last few weeks, OCR announced it had settled two more investigations into violations of the HIPAA requirement that patients be given…
Read MoreOCR Settles With Five Providers Over HIPAA Right of Access Claims
The HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced the settlement of five more investigations into violations of the HIPAA requirement that patients be given access to their electronic medical records in a timely manner and at a reasonable cost. As we first wrote about last year, OCR launched its Right of Access Initiative in…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About OCR's HIPAA Privacy Audits
Have you received a request from HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) asking that you provide the name of your privacy official along with any additional criteria? If you have, then you likely are aware that you may be the focus of a HIPAA privacy audit. This is part of the Phase 2 HIPAA Audit…
Read MoreHIPAA Compliance Crackdown Requires Increased Vigilance
Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced two big settlements involving alleged violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Those cases brought to six the number of HIPAA-related cases settled since the start of 2016. It also underscores the need for healthcare providers…
Read MoreOCR launches Phase 2 HIPAA Audits
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights has launched Phase 2 of its long-awaited HIPAA Audit Program. OCR has already begun sending out address verification letters, which will be followed by a questionnaire. The new round of privacy and security audits will focus on the business associates of healthcare providers,…
Read MoreWith the new year comes greater HIPAA oversight
HIPAA-regulated entities can expect 2016 to be the year of increased oversight. That’s when the Health and Human Services Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) begins Phase II of its audit program. The program is expected to focus on common areas of noncompliance and will include HIPAA-covered entities as well as business associates. Phase 2…
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