HIPAA Rule Updated for the First Time since Inception

On January 25, 2013, the new 563-page Omnibus Final Rule for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) was released by the Department for Human and Health Services (HHS). The rule, which makes a number of modifications to HIPAA, is designed to enhance the ability of patients to control their medical records while also stiffening penalties for providers who fail to properly safeguard patient information.