Regulatory Updates

Date Announced for HHS Secretary Confirmation Senate Hearing. The Senate Committee on Finance announced that a hearing entitled “Hearing to consider the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., of California, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services” has been scheduled for 10 am ET on January 29. Go here to review the statements from…

OCR Settles HIPAA Phishing Cybersecurity Investigation for $3M. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with a supplier and direct-to-patient distributor of continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and other supplies to diabetics, concerning potential violations of the HIPAA Security Rule and Breach Notification Rule following a breach of electronic protected health information (ePHI)…

OCR Settles 8th Ransomware Investigation. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced an $80,000 settlement with a Massachusetts company that provides electronic medical record and billing support services to HIPAA covered entities. The settlement resolves an investigation concerning a ransomware attack on the vendor’s information system.  On March 25, 2023, an unknown actor gained access to…

OCR Releases New HIPAA Proposed Rule Focused on Cybersecurity. The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released a proposed rule that seeks to improve cybersecurity and better protect the health care system from cyberattacks. The proposed rule would modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security Rule to require HIPAA covered…

CMS Proposal Includes Changes to MA Plan HIT Policy. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care…

President-Elect Trump Taps Dr. Mehmet Oz to head CMS. President-Elect Donald Trump has nominated Mehmet Oz, M.D. to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Dr. Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon, television personality, and Professor Emeritus at Columbia University. Dr. Oz is expected to go before the U.S. Senate for confirmation.   OCR Imposes…

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Tapped to Head HHS. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has been named by President-Elect Donald Trump to be Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Kennedy would oversee the nation’s health policy, including Medicare and Medicaid, Health IT, and other areas of health…