by Gary Pritts | Jan 17, 2014 | HIPAA
That’s right, even a refrigerator can now fall victim to hackers. According to security firm Proofpoint, more than 750,000 malicious emails were sent between Dec. 23, 2013 and Jan. 6, 2014, when hackers gained access to smart devices, such as common appliances, left...
by Gary Pritts | Jan 2, 2014 | HIPAA
2014 is here and that means the long-delayed U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) random audit HIPAA audits may be starting soon. As we shared in another recent post (“Rodriguez of OCR discusses HIPAA Enforcement, other topics,”) the Director of the HHS...
by Gary Pritts | Dec 26, 2013 | HIPAA
Adult & Pediatric Dermatology, P.C. (APD), a 12 physician dermatology practice with offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, has become the first covered entity to settle “potential” HIPAA violations, involving the lack of breach notification policies. The...
by Gary Pritts | Oct 1, 2013 | HIPAA
Healthcare organizations have good reason to adjust their threat assessments when updating their HIPAA Security risk analysis as required for HIPAA and meaningful use compliance. Based on a number of recent events, we know more about the capabilities and activities of...
by Gary Pritts | Sep 23, 2013 | HIPAA
Leon Rodriguez, Director of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, celebrated September 23, 2013, the first day for enforcement of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule, by addressing the HIMSS Health Privacy Forum in Boston. Rodriguez...
by Gary Pritts | Sep 19, 2013 | HIPAA
HIPAA Covered entities across the country are updating their policies in advance of the September 23, 2013 compliance deadline for the HIPAA Omnibus rule changes. Covered entities – hospitals, physician practices and other providers – can reduce their risks with a...
by Gary Pritts | Sep 17, 2013 | HIPAA
Yesterday the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR), the agency responsible for enforcing the HIPAA regulations, released model notices of privacy practices. Eight versions were released, 4 for health providers and 4 for insurers. These...
by Gary Pritts | Sep 13, 2013 | HIPAA
Medical Identity Theft is on the rise according to the latest Ponemon Institute research released yesterday. Ponemon estimates that 1.8 million people, just under 1% (0.8%) of U.S. adults, were affected in 2013, a 19% increase over 2012. Based on survey data from...
by Gary Pritts | Aug 23, 2013 | CMS Quality Payment Programs
The meaningful use audits are in full swing and both hospitals and physicians are being audited. For most hospital or physician practice that retained careful documentation prior to submission, these audits are relatively painless. Unfortunately, some organizations,...
by Gary Pritts | Aug 22, 2013 | HIPAA
More and more organizations are using cloud providers for computer backup. Internet upload speeds have increased, and the technology of cloud providers to provide incremental backup has become more sophisticated. And, very importantly, using cloud backup provides the...
