HHS, Medscape Unveil New HIPAA Guidance and Education Courses

The Department of Health and Human Services has published seven pages of guidance on the basics of the HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification rules.

HHS in collaboration with education vendor Medscape also is offering six HIPAA educational programs with continuing medical education credits for physicians and continuing education credits for healthcare professionals.

Also See: How Your Business Partners Put Your Data at Risk

The HIPAA guidance from HHS briefly explains each rule, details the types of covered entities and business associates who must comply, and explains enforcement of the rules that can be as severe as entering into a corrective action plan and payment of a fine or even imprisonment, with examples of both actions having been taken. The guidance also includes multiple resources for additional information.

The Medscape educational programs cover maintaining privacy and security of electronic health records and mobile devices, understanding the basics of HIPAA security risk analysis and risk management, a patient privacy guide, examining compliance with the privacy rule, and building a culture of compliance.

HHS guidance on the basics of HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification is here, and the Medscape programs are here.