HHS creates new enforcement office for health privacy
By 
Adrianne Appel2023-02-28T20:20:00
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its office responsible for enforcing health privacy reorganized so it can sharpen enforcement of cybersecurity and data breaches.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the HHS enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), conducts compliance reviews, investigates complaints, and issues new rules. It also safeguards civil rights and religious freedom related to health.
The office reorganized into three divisions: enforcement, policy, and strategic planning, the HHS announced Monday. The enforcement division will be led by Luis Perez, previously the deputy director for conscience and religious freedom at the OCR.
Related articles
-
News BriefFTC, HHS warn hospitals over use of online tracking tech
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services sent letters to approximately 130 hospital systems and telehealth providers regarding potential patient privacy violations and security risks stemming from online tracking technologies.
-
News BriefHHS 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.
-
PremiumHHS 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.
More from Regulatory Enforcement
-
News BriefFTC fines telehealth firm over deceptive weight-loss claims and fake reviews
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said it has settled with telemedicine service Southern Health Solutions, Inc. over allegations the company used deceptive pricing and weight-loss claims, along with fake reviews and testimonials, to sell its weight-loss programs.
-
ArticleU.K. extends bullying and harassment rules to 37,000 financial services firms
Serious bullying and harassment count as misconduct in regulated financial services firms, per a July 1 clarification by the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, which said non-financial misconduct rules now applied only to banks will extend to 37,000 more firms starting September 1, 2026.
-
News BriefDOJ clears $4.4 Billion T‑Mobile acquisition of UScellular
The U.S. Department of Justice arppoved T-Mobile’s acquisition of competitor UScellular. The move came a day after T-Mobile announced it had dropped its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, a frequent target for Trump’s administration.