Mobile health apps must follow FTC breach notice rule after update

FTC seal

Mobile health applications and similar technologies must notify customers following a data breach or risk violating the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) health breach notification rule (HBNR), part of a broad update approved by the agency.

Many providers of direct health services, such as hospitals and doctors, are required to protect personal information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The HBNR pertains to health entities not beholden to HIPAA, such as certain vendors of health records, and requires them to notify individuals about data incidents.

The FTC has applied the HBNR to mobile health applications, as its recent enforcement actions against GoodRx and Easy Healthcare show.

lock iconTHIS IS MEMBERS-ONLY CONTENT. To continue reading, choose one of the options below.