The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule that requires covered entities—including many health plans—to update their Notice of Privacy Practices (Privacy Notice). This change enhances privacy protections for highly sensitive Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment records. Why the Update is Necessary The HIPAA Privacy Rule already mandates that … Continued
Key Takeaways From the CAA-mandated Prescription Drug Cost Report The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) mandates that group health plans and health insurance issuers submit annual data on premiums, enrollment, medical spending and prescription drug rebates to various departments to address this. This initiative, known as the Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC), aims to enhance … Continued
Congress approved the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to guard the privacy of personal medical information, and to give individuals the right to keep their health insurance coverage for pre-existing conditions in place even if they change jobs. The law has done this, providing important safeguards for patients. But it has also increased … Continued