What's up Wednesday - HIPAA Updates - 4

Special Topics in Health Information Privacy

The OCR announced these 2 HIPAA Priorities for 2024. 1. Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records under 42 CFR part 2 (“Part 2”) Final Rule issued on February 8, 2024

• Modifies Part 2 to increase coordination among providers treating patients for substance use disorders, strengthens confidentiality protections through civil enforcement, and enhances integration of behavioral health information with other medical records to improve patient health outcomes.

2. Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy

• Proposes to strengthen privacy protections by prohibiting the use or disclosure of PHI by a regulated entity for either of the following purposes:

  • A criminal, civil, or administrative investigation into or proceeding against any person in connection with seeking, obtaining, providing, or facilitating reproductive health care, where such health care is lawful under the circumstances in which it is provided.

  • The identification of any person for the purpose of initiating such investigations or proceedings.

Contact one of our team members if you want to discuss these and other changes in the HIPAA landscape and how they may affect your business.

-The VanRein Team