The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is expected to release a proposal next month to strengthen HIPAA privacy and security rules mandated under the HITECH Act. Government Health IT reports the proposed rule will strengthen "privacy, security and enforcement requirements for organizations that handle patients' health information." The focus will be on the liability of business associates, limitations on the sale of protected health information and strengthening individual rights to access electronic medical records and restrict disclosure, the report states. The department's semi-annual regulatory agenda, released Monday, identifies actions the department plans to take during the year ahead.
Full Story