HHS Issues Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth
HHS Issues Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth
Today,
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its
Office for Civil Rights (OCR), is issuing guidance on how covered health
care providers and health plans can use remote communication
technologies to provide audio-only telehealth services when such
communications are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the
applicable requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach
Notification Rules, including when OCR’s Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth - PDF is no longer in effect.
This guidance will help individuals to continue to benefit from
audio-only telehealth by clarifying how covered entities can provide
these services in compliance with the HIPAA Rules and by improving
public confidence that covered entities are protecting the privacy and
security of their health information.
While telehealth can significantly expand access to health care,
certain populations may have difficulty accessing or be unable to access
technologies used for audio-video telehealth because of various
factors, including financial resources, limited English proficiency,
disability, internet access, availability of sufficient broadband, and
cell coverage in the geographic area. Audio-only telehealth, especially
using technologies that do not require broadband availability, can help
address the needs of some of these individuals.
“Audio telehealth is an important tool to reach patients in rural
communities, individuals with disabilities, and others seeking the
convenience of remote options. This guidance explains how the HIPAA
Rules permit health care providers and plans to offer audio telehealth
while protecting the privacy and security of individuals’ health
information,” said OCR Director Lisa J. Pino.
The Guidance on How the HIPAA Rules Permit Health Plans and Covered
Health Care Providers to Use Remote Communication Technologies for
Audio-Only Telehealth
| Dentist Revises Process to Safeguard Medical Alert PHI Covered Entity: Health Care Provider Issue: Safeguards, Minimum Necessary An OCR investigation confirmed allegations that a dental practice flagged some of its medical records with a red sticker with the word "AIDS" on the outside cover, and that records were handled so that other patients and staff without need to know could read the sticker. When notified of the complaint filed with OCR, the dental practice immediately removed the red AIDS sticker from the complainant's file. To resolve this matter, OCR also required the practice to revise its policies and operating ...read more |
| HHS Issues Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), is issuing guidance on how covered health care providers and health plans can use remote communication technologies to provide audio-only telehealth services when such communications are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the applicable requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, including when OCR’s Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth - PDF is no longer in effect. This guidance will help individuals ...read more |
| Outpatient Surgical Facility Corrects Privacy Procedure in Research Recruitment Covered Entity: Outpatient Facility Issue: Impermissible Uses and Disclosures An outpatient surgical facility disclosed a patient's protected health information (PHI) to a research entity for recruitment purposes without the patient's authorization or an Institutional Review Board (IRB) or privacy-board-approved waiver of authorization. The outpatient facility reportedly believed that such disclosures were permitted by the Privacy Rule. OCR provided technical assistance to the covered entity regarding the requirement that covered entities seeking to disclose PHI for research recruitment purposes must obtain either a valid patient authorization or an Institutional Review Board ...read more |
|
April 2026
| Su | Mo | Tu | We | Th | Fr | Sa |
| | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
|
Blog Home
Newest Blog Entries
1/21/25 Understanding Business Associate Agreements
11/12/22 Modernizing Medicine Agrees to Pay $45 Million to Resolve Allegations of Accepting and Paying Illegal Kickbacks and Causing False Claims
11/12/22 Indian National Charged in $8 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme
11/12/22 Former Hospital Employee Pleads Guilty To Criminal HIPPA Charges
11/12/22 Covered entities and those persons rendered accountable by general principles of corporate criminal liability may be prosecuted directly under 42 U.S.C. § 1320d-6
11/12/22 The Delaware Division of Developmental Disabilities Services Data Breach
11/12/22 OCR Settles Three Cases with Dental Practices for Patient Right of Access under HIPAA
11/12/22 HHS Issues Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth
11/12/22 Five Former Methodist Hospital Employees Charged with HIPAA Violations
11/12/22 May a covered entity use or disclose protected health information for litigation?
11/12/22 When does the Privacy Rule allow covered entities to disclose protected health information to law enforcement officials?
Blog Archives
November 2022 (54)
January 2025 (1)
Blog Labels
EHR Fraud (1)
Data Breach (1)
PPP Fraud (1)
HIPAA (2)
Telehealth (1)
ePHI (2)
Covered Entity (40)
BAA (4)
HIPAA Enforcement (3)
|
