Government & Policy

Despite offering certain clarifications, the final rule on HIPAA privacy and security leaves some areas open to interpretation, data breach notification among those.

Eleven states have received $1.5 billion more in grants from the Health and Human Services Department to support their creation of health insurance exchanges, which must be ready in October for enrollment season.

The final rule, released Jan. 17, fills in gaps and finalizes some changes to safeguard the privacy, security, and enforcement of patient information.

Rule no longer about proving harm but, instead, places burden on covered entities to prove that improperly disclosed information has not been compromised.

The most eagerly awaited -- if not anxiety-laden -- set of regulations in the healthcare spectrum arrived January 17: HHS issued modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement and Breach Notification Rules. The man charged with enforcing the rules said they represent "sweeping changes."

mHealth Alliance executive director says that doctor's "role will change and be systematically refined" as they increasingly interact with patients via mobile devices.

The document is nearly 600 pages, but early on HHS explains that there are four rules within the omnibus final HIPAA Privacy and Security rule. Here they are, straight from the source.

"In addition to being a law enforcement challenge, gun violence is also a serious public health issue that affects thousands of individuals, families and communities across the nation," President Barack Obama wrote in his memorandum to the Centers for Disease Control Jan. 16, when he charged the agency with conducting research into the matter.

There are well-known ways that thieves make use of medical data and then there are some surprises, such as marketing ploys.

More than 100 ACOs officially started in January, and amid perennial concerns over Medicare spending, federal health officials are hoping to show that ACOs can improve the program and reform care systems.