8th Circuit blocks federal contraception mandate 
Published: February 4, 2013
Tags: Affordable Care Act, contraception, contraceptive mandate, Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, health care reform, HHS, Obamacare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Religious Freedom Restoration Act
The new federal requirement that all group health plans must include coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive methods probably violates the religious rights of an employer who is a devout Catholic, the 8th Circuit has ruled in granting a preliminary injunction.
HHS: No discrimination for transgendered employees
Published: September 7, 2012
Tags: civil rights, Department of Health and Human Services, EEOC, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, HHS, sex discrimination, transgendered employees
Employers and insurers may no longer deny health plans to transgendered individuals, according to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.
Protocol for HIPAA audits offers limited guidance
Published: July 11, 2012
Tags: data security, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HHS, HIPAA, HIPAA audits, HITECH Act, privacy
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights has provided the protocol for its ongoing compliance audits under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Lap-Band weight loss device maker subpoenaed
Published: May 17, 2012
Tags: Allergan, Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, Food and Drug Administration, gastric lap bands, HHS, lap band, lap bands
Lap-Band maker Allergan has been subpoenaed by the U.S. government over problems with the weight loss device.
HIPAA audits have begun
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: December 15, 2011
Tags: audits, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HHS, HIPAA, HITECH Act, Office for Civil Rights, privacy, security
All entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act must get ready – audits of privacy and security compliance under the Act have officially begun.
HIPAA audits to begin soon
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: July 25, 2011
Tags: audits, Department of Health and Human Services, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HHS, HIPAA, HITECH Act, privacy
The Department of Health and Human Services has contracted with two different parties to conduct audits of entities covered by the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
HHS grants up to $500M to prevent hospital injuries
Published: July 11, 2011
Tags: Affordable Care Act, HHS, preventable injuries
WASHINGTON – Up to $500 million in federal funding will be available to hospitals, health care providers and others to help curb preventable injuries, complications and readmissions, the Department of Health and Human Services has announced.
HHS proposes new health information disclosure rules
Published: June 15, 2011
Tags: HHS, HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, HITECH Act, regulations
WASHINGTON – The Department of Health and Human Services is proposing new privacy rules governing protected health information accounting procedures under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
$4.3 million civil penalty assessed for HIPAA violations
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: March 10, 2011
Tags: civil penalties, HHS, HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule
WASHINGTON – In the first civil monetary penalty issued by the Department of Health and Human Services for violating the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a health insurance company has been fined $4.3 million.
Are health courts coming to a state near you?
By:
Sylvia Hsieh
Published: February 25, 2011
Tags: Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, DOJ, fair share rule, federal budget, health care reform, health courts, HHS, joint liability, medical malpractice, Obama, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, tort reform
Buried in the White House’s federal budget plan is a proposal to encourage states to reform their medical malpractice laws.
