Proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule could weaken patient data privacy protections, say Rita Bowen and Zachary Perry of the Association of Health Information Outsourcing Services.
A notice of proposed rulemaking from the Department of Health and Human Services was published in the Federal Register in January (see: HHS Reveals Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule). On Tuesday, HHS’ Office for Civil Rights announced an extension of the deadline for the public to submit comments on the proposed changes to May 6. The changes will be finalized once comments have been reviewed.