All Department of Health and Human Services articles
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News Brief
HHS teases policy changes stemming from cyber resiliency analysis
Some U.S. hospitals are falling short in protecting themselves from cyberattacks, with 29 percent of facilities recently surveyed lacking a documented GRC system, a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services found.
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News Brief
HHS creates new enforcement office for health privacy
The Department of Health and Human Services and its office responsible for enforcing health privacy reorganized so it can sharpen enforcement of cybersecurity and data breaches.
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Premium
HHS proposal aims to ‘shine a light’ on nursing home ownership
It is still too early in the rulemaking process to know what will be included in the Biden administration’s final rule on transparency of nursing home ownership, but there are some steps facilities can take to prepare, according to experts.
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News Brief
HHS reports: Compliance reviews, health data breaches up
The number of compliance reviews by the Department of Health and Human Services of health organizations increased between 2017 and 2021, according to the agency’s latest reports to Congress.
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News Brief
Banner Health to pay $1.25M over HIPAA Security Rule lapses
Banner Health agreed to pay $1.25 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Health and Human Services addressing violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Security Rule regarding a 2016 data breach.
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Article
ModMed settles FCA, kickback allegations with DOJ for $45M
Modernizing Medicine paid $45 million to settle false claims allegations levied by the Department of Justice it received kickbacks and made improper payments to providers to increase its business.
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Article
Dems seek stronger HIPAA privacy for abortion patients
Democratic senators are urging the Department of Health and Human Services to strengthen federal health privacy protections for abortion patients by updating the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
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Article
Compliance implications of drugmakers’ $447M False Claims Act settlements
Three pharmaceutical manufacturers—Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Sandoz, and Apotex Corp.—will pay a total of $447.2 million for alleged violations of the False Claims Act related to price-fixing.
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Article
Excellus Health Plan fined $5.1M for 2015 data breach
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights fined Excellus Health Plan $5.1 million for failures relating to a 2015 data breach that exposed the personal information of 9.3 million individuals.
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Article
Rare OIG Special Fraud Alert cautions the use of speaker programs
In a rare move, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General issued a Special Fraud Alert warning of inherent fraud and abuse risks associated with speaker programs.
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Article
Merit Medical fined $18M after ignoring CCO’s kickback warnings
The former chief compliance officer for Merit Medical Systems will be paid $2.65 million for his role in uncovering a six-year kickback scheme that paid hospitals and doctors to purchase company products.
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Article
Breach costs Premera Blue Cross $6.85M; second-largest HIPAA fine
Premera Blue Cross has agreed to pay $6.85 million in a settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding a 2014 data breach that affected the personal and health plan information of over 10.4 million people.
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Article
Google, Ascension defend partnership amid federal inquiry
Criticism from lawmakers in addition to a federal inquiry regarding Google’s controversial partnership with Ascension has both the tech giant and the non-profit healthcare provider firing back.
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Article
New rule: Companies must reveal drug costs in TV ads
Under a new rule enacted by the Department of Health and Human Services, pharmaceutical companies will soon be required to disclose in television commercials the price of their prescription drugs that cost more than $35 per month.
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Blog
Business associate to pay $650K for HIPAA violation
The Department of Health and Human Services reached its first-ever enforcement action with a “business associate” of a HIPAA-covered entity. Compliance officers in the healthcare industry looking to minimize risk of future HIPAA violations will want to take a look at the resulting corrective action plan for lessons learned. Jaclyn ...