The final rule issued by the Biden administration aimed to bolster the privacy of reproductive healthcare data under HIPAA, a significant move following the Supreme Court’s overturning. Health and Human Services (HHS) officials hoped this rule would alleviate the “chilling effect” on individuals seeking or providing legal reproductive healthcare, stemming from both legal challenges and […]
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at strengthening the HIPAA Security Rule. If finalized, these HIPAA Security Rule updates will significantly impact the healthcare sector. HHS has highlighted that healthcare breaches pose far greater risks than breaches in other industries. In announcing the […]
Over 1,500 hospitals reviewed in the report were noncompliant with at least one requirement of the price transparency rule between December 2022 and January 2023. Less than a quarter of hospitals are complying with the hospital price transparency rule over two years after the regulation went into effect, according to a report from PatientRightsAdvocate.org. The […]
As expected, the COVID-19 PHE (Public Health Emergency) was extended for the 11th time, on October 13th, 2022, another 90-days, which will extend many of the CARES Act 1135 Waivers through January 11th, 2023. This extension confuses many healthcare professionals because in a 60-Minutes news interview, President Joe Biden, stated, that the “pandemic is over.” […]
Surprise billing occurs when patients receive care from out-of-network providers without their knowledge. On July 1, the Biden Administration passed an interim final rule: the first portion of the “Requirements Related to the Surprise Billing Act,” in an attempt to curb excessive costs patients are required to pay in relation to surprise billing. The rule […]
The first thing you should know about HIPAA is that it’s HIPAA, not HIPPA, as is commonly seen. There is only one “P,” and that “P” doesn’t stand for “privacy.” If you have heard the acronym “HIPAA” (referring to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) thrown around a lot lately, you may […]
The interim rule is in response to the No Surprises Act, which directed multiple US departments to issue a rule that would quell surprise billing in commercial health plans. The Biden administration has issued an interim rule that regulates surprise billing in commercial health plans and employer-sponsored health plans, CMS announced. “No patient should forgo […]
HHS recently extended the deadline to use COVID-19 relief funds to the end of the month, but some providers say they still need more time. The American Hospital Association (AHA) is seeking more time for healthcare providers with unspent COVID-19 relief funds. The deadline to use COVID-19 relief funds is approaching for many providers. According […]
The Supreme Court’s decision in California v Texas ended one lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act but may have left room for future legal action. Since the Supreme Court dismissed California v Texas on June 17, payers and healthcare leaders have vocalized their support for the decision, their readiness to continue building on the Affordable […]
At first glance, it appeared that hospitals were complying with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) price transparency requirement, which became effective January 1, 2021. Upon a closer look; however, multiple deficiencies were found. CMS previously advised that it would begin auditing compliance with the rule this past January. Interestingly, it was the […]










