Understand Your New Obligations Under HIPAA

Pullman & Comley Health Care Department chair Collin P. Baron and Health Care attorney Bonnie L. Heiple authored an article on the effects of a recent expansion of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) on business associates of HIPAA-covered entities.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), passed as part of last year's federal stimulus bill, extends the reach of privacy and security regulations so that business associates who have access to protected health information "are now subject to many of the same requirements as the covered entity itself," they write.

"In light of [the Department of Health and Human Services'] expanded oversight authority and the penalties that can be imposed, a company providing administrative-type services to health care organizations that has not yet developed and implemented a compliance plan should do so without delay."

For more information or a copy of the article, please contact info@pullcom.com