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April 16, 2020

OCR Waives HIPAA Penalties for Operation of COVID-19 Testing Sites

On April 9, OCR issued a notice stating that it will exercise its enforcement discretion and not impose penalties for HIPAA violations in connection with good faith participation in the operation of COVID-19 testing sites during the COVID-19 emergency. This notice is intended to support covered entities, such as large pharmacy chains and business associates, who have mobilized to offer additional testing sites that only provide COVID-19 specimen collection or testing services to the public. This exercise of enforcement discretion is effective immediately, and is retroactive to March 13.