Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule Announced

The Office of Civil Rights within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, changes the agency claims will "support individuals’ engagement in their care, remove barriers to coordinated care, and reduce regulatory burdens on the health care industry." The changes are part of an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) drafted by HHS.

Public comments on the proposal will be received for a 60-day period that will begin upon the ANPR’s publication in the Federal Register.