HIPPA Compliance Mandatory in September

Optometrists and other health care entities have until Sept. 23 to comply with newly revised Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. The updated HIPAA rules formally took effect March 26, 2013, but in most cases practitioners have 180 days to bring practices into compliance. That’s the word from the American Optometric Assn. (AOA). The require most optometric practices to review privacy and security policies, update Notices of Privacy Practices (NPPs), and take a few additional measures. Read more.

Feds to Start Audit HIPPA Compliance

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has announced details of a new audit program designed to check health care entities for compliance with federal rules on the privacy of patient information, the security of health information technology systems, and the notification of patients and regulators when the privacy of patient information is breached. That's the word from the American Optometric Assn. (AOA). Read more.