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The HIPAA Security Rule was first introduced in 2003 as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. A major update to the HIPAA Security Rule then occurred in 2013, as part of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. Despite the fact that that was 12 years ago, and that technology has changed significantly since then, this still stands as the most recent update.

Being HIPAA-compliant means that a healthcare provider has adequate measures in place to protect patient data. In recent years, there has been an alarming growth in the number of data breaches targeting the healthcare industry, and more breaches have meant more (and more serious) consequences for the affected provider.

Consider this—you’re going on an epic trip to Peru to see Machu Picchu. You have plans for incredible food, hikes, and photos, and then someone offers an extra ziplining excursion while you’re in the country. You’ve already paid so much for what will already be an amazing trip, so do you really need to make the extra investment?

When the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe in 2020, the need for social distancing and isolation impacted the availability of in-person, non-emergency healthcare appointments. As a result, telehealth became a common way for healthcare providers to serve their patients without seeing them in-person, and with its rise came related HIPAA compliance concerns.

These days, with recent ransomware attacks disrupting healthcare providers and affecting millions of Americans, it’s become painfully clear that cybersecurity in this sector is no longer just an IT issue—it’s a patient safety issue, and the stakes are higher than ever. The proposed Health Infrastructure Security and Accountability Act of 2024 (HISAA), spearheaded by Senators Ron Wyden and Mark Warner, aims to address these vulnerabilities head-on.

In the healthcare industry, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to save lives—using data sets, these systems are being trained to examine imaging and successfully detect potential health risks, like cancer. However, as with every technological development and shift in its use, new risks have also emerged related to the use of AI, as have measures to help mitigate them—one of which is the HITRUST AI Risk Management Assessment.

Ever been to a water park and gone down one of those enormous slides? If so, you likely remember there being a park lifeguard at the top of the slide and near the bottom to ensure your continued safety. But imagine if those employees weren’t trained in safety and first aid—of course, the ride was likely designed well and with other safeguards, but it would make for a serious oversight by the park to do all that while not also ensuring their employees keep guests safe.

Source: Pharmaceutical Compliance Monitor On March 31, 2010 the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) rule, “Electronic Prescriptions for Controlled Substances” has revised its regulations to give physicians the choice of writing prescriptions for controlled substances the traditional method or through the electronic system. Originally, the regulation restricted physicians and practitioners from writing electronic prescriptions for controlled substances (EPCS).