covered entity

New HIPAA Exception Allows Covered Entities to Report Behavioral Health Considerations Applicable to Possessing a Firearm

Margaret Young Levi Privacy & Security , , , , , , , , ,

gun rangeAs of February 5, 2016, a change in the law allows certain health care providers to report the identity of an individual who is prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”).  The Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) amended the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rule to allow such reporting by health care providers who are a “covered entity” under HIPAA and who are: state agencies; designated by the state with lawful authority to make the adjudications or commitment decisions that make individuals subject to a “mental health prohibitor”; or serve as repositories of information for NICS reporting purposes.  The Final Rule that makes this amendment to HIPAA was published in the Federal Register on January 6, 2016: click here.

Before this amendment, health care providers who are “covered entities” under HIPAA could report information to the NICS only if:

(1) the health care provider had designated itself as a “hybrid entity” where the Privacy Rule would apply only to the entity’s functions that are subject to Continue reading →

September 22, 2014 Deadline for Business Associate Agreements

Margaret Young Levi Health Information Technology, HITECH Law, Privacy & Security, Uncategorized , , , , , , , ,
September 22nd Deadline Fast Approaching
September 22nd Deadline Fast Approaching

The final HIPAA Omnibus Rule (Omnibus Rule), published in the Federal Register on January 25, 2013, substantially increased the privacy and security responsibilities of a “business associate” of a “covered entity”, as those terms are defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)(see discussion later in this post regarding the expansion of the “business associate” definition).  Among other changes, the Omnibus Rule requires a covered entity and business associate to revise their business associate agreement (BAA) to reflect the business associate’s new obligations.  All BAAs signed after January 24, 2013 should already include new language necessary to comply with the Omnibus Rule.  BAAs that were signed on or before January 24, 2013 were deemed compliant until September 22, 2014; however, if renewed or modified before that date then they must be brought into actual compliance at that time.  Covered entities and business associates must ensure that all BAAs are compliant with the Omnibus Rule before the September 22, 2014 deadline. Continue reading →

HIPAA BAA Deadline is Monday, September 23, 2013

Margaret Young Levi Federal Law Resources, Health Information Technology, Privacy & Security , ,
Calendar
Calendar

by Margaret Young Levi

Reminder: the clock is ticking for covered entities and business associates to come into compliance with new requirements under HITECH-HIPAA Omnibus Rule.  Monday, September 23, 2013 is the deadline for covered entities and business associates to put into place new Business Associate Agreements (“BAAs”).  As we blogged on March 4th, any new BAAs signed after January 24, 2013 should comply with added requirements under the Omnibus Rule.  These new agreements must be signed and in place by September 23, 2013.

Current BAAs (those signed on or before January 24, 2013) will be grandfathered and deemed HIPAA compliant through September 23, 2014, at which time the BAA will need to have been amended for compliance with the Omnibus Rule. 

As a first step, covered entities should verify that they have identified all of their business associates, particularly in light of the revised definition of “business associate” in the Omnibus Rule.  Covered entities should enter into compliant BAAs with any newly identified Business Associates or with existing business associates if the agreements are renewed after January 24th (excluding those BAAs that automatically renewed). 

Business associates will now be directly liable for their actions under HIPAA and should take steps to identify their downstream business associates, called “subcontractors” and enter into BAAs with those subcontractors. 

See our March 4, 2013 post for additional details.

Office of Civil Rights Launches Privacy and Security Audits

Margaret Young Levi Federal Law Resources, Health Information Technology, HITECH Law, Privacy & Security , , , , , ,

Section 13411 of the the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) requires United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) to provide for periodic audits to ensure covered entities and business associates are complying with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules and Breach Notification standards.   The HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced yesterday, November 8, 2011, the launch of long-expected privacy and security audits.

In our blog on July 13, 2011, we posted information concerning OCR’s hiring of contractors to conduct new periodic audits of covered entities and business associates to ensure compliance with the Privacy and Security Standards found in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as amended by the HITECH Act. Yesterday, OCR announced a pilot program to perform up to 150 audits to assess privacy and security compliance. Audits conducted during the pilot phase will begin in November 2011 and conclude by December 2012.

The initial 150 audits will focus on covered entities, and the audits will begin this month and end by December 2012. Business Associates may have a brief respite but should expect to be the target of future audits.

OCR’s stated goals of the audits are to “examine mechanisms for compliance, identify best practices and discover risks and vulnerabilities that may not have come to light through OCR’s ongoing complaint investigations and compliance reviews.” OCR will “share best practices gleaned through the audit process and guidance targeted to observed compliance challenges.”

Covered entities will be notified in writing if selected for an audit and should be on the lookout for these notices because selected entities have only a short period of time, 10 business days, in which to respond and provide any requested information. After the initial request for information, auditors may conduct onsite audits at an organization. Covered entities will receive 30 to 90 days advance notice of an onsite visit, and auditors expect to spend three to ten days onsite reviewing records, policies and practices. Prior to an auditor’s submission of a final report to OCR, the covered entity will have an opportunity to provide written comments on the auditor’s findings.

Click here to link to OCR’s website with additional details concerning the OCR HIPAA Audit Program.