Help Me With HIPAA

OCR recently announced a jaw-dropping settlement that should have every healthcare professional on high alert. An insider breach that had staggering repercussions, leading to a monumental $4,750,000 settlement and a two year CAP. HHS has also released new cybersecurity resources and guidance and more is to come. There is no excuse anymore folks. Cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility and OCR's enforcement of privacy and security failures is picking up.

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Imagine your cybersecurity measures as the immune system of your body. Just like our bodies are constantly exposed to germs and viruses, your business is exposed to a barrage of cyber threats. Cyber insurance is like health insurance for your company's digital health. We are joined today by John Miller of Sterling Seacrest Pritchard, exploring the crucial intersections of healthcare, cyber coverage, and the corporate responsibility of protecting sensitive data.

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HHS has adapted CISA's Cybersecurity Performance Goals, released in March 2023, for healthcare entities to better protect those in the healthcare sector from cyberattacks. These voluntary goals aim to strengthen cyber preparedness, improve cyber resiliency, and protect patient health information and safety. In this episode, we will review the HPH CPGs as they will be the basis of the proposed HIPAA Security Rule changes slated to be released later this year.

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It's no secret that small businesses face challenges in understanding and keeping up with the rapidly changing cyber threat landscape. Today we'll discuss some of those challenges and review new free resources from NIST and CISA coming out in 2024 that can help SMBs manage and improve their cybersecurity programs. Buckle up, it's going to be a busy year.

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We all know that OCR is the HHS department that oversees and enforces HIPAA to ensure the protection of individuals' healthcare information. However, more and more states around the country are also making efforts to protect their constituents' personal information and hold companies accountable for their poor data security practices. Today, we discuss recent HIPAA enforcement actions taken on businesses by the NY State Attorney General's Office.

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The number of ransomware attacks impacting critical services, compromising personal information and attackers requesting higher and higher ransoms continue to rise. Today, we discuss this pressing issue, implications of ransomware attacks, the ethical considerations of paying ransoms, and the urgent need for preventative measures.

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In today's world, it's essential to recognize the importance of safeguarding your personal information. From the moment you wake up and check your smartphone to the minute you stream your favorite show or make an online purchase, your every digital move leaves a trail of data breadcrumbs. But, you have the power to take charge of your data privacy. You can start by taking part in Data Privacy Week, sponsored by the National Cybersecurity Alliance.

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It's time to recap Donna and David's 2023 HIPAA and cybersecurity predictions and hear what their crystal ball says about what to look out for in 2024. And, since AI exploded in 2023, we asked ChatGPT for predictions for 2024 too.

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It's no secret that healthcare is vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and patient privacy and safety are at risk. Good news! HHS recently announced a plan to enhance cybersecurity in the healthcare and public health sectors. Through various initiatives, including 405(d) and other HHS efforts, plans are starting to come together like pieces of a puzzle to help practices stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity. It's time to get informed and take action to protect your practice, business, and patients.

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It's time of year again where we take some time off and let Bojan create a Help Me with HIPAA bloopers show of our mishaps and outtakes. Stick around to the end - we have a little surprise for you.

Thanks to Bojan for his skill in making us sound so good every week.

Thanks to all our listeners who have been with us and share our podcast with others. We are here because of you.

As always, remember, HIPAA is not about compliance, it is about patient care.