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Hartford, Conn., December 3, 2015 – Day Pitney LLP is pleased to announce the launch of its HIPAA Self-Assessment Tool ("Tool") to help clients prepare for the second phase of HIPAA audits by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") in early 2016. The target for these audits has expanded beyond covered entities (healthcare providers, health plans and clearinghouses) and will also include business associates, such as vendors, suppliers, and consultants.
Because HIPAA noncompliance can be costly and disruptive to an organization, Day Pitney created a simple-to-use automated Tool based on OCR’s audit protocol to help clients assess whether they are in compliance with HIPAA’s security, privacy and breach notification requirements. OCR has engaged a contracted vendor to conduct the audits and OCR has the authority to initiate enforcement actions based on the audit results.
"Companies should really start self-audits as soon as possible to make sure they are in compliance with the HIPAA rules," said James Bowers, Day Pitney director of Compliance Risk Services and former chief compliance officer at Aetna Inc. "The most common deficiency found by the OCR is the failure to conduct a security risk assessment to identify and mitigate risks to Protected Health Information that may be exposed on servers and unencrypted laptops, as well as ancillary risks resulting from unchanged default passwords, outdated security software and inadequate training."
The Tool is designed to be completed by a company’s compliance officer, privacy officer, health information manager, medical records manager or legal counsel. Although the Tool cannot guarantee a successful audit result, any covered entity or business associate can benefit from its use. After reviewing the Tool, one hospital’s general counsel noted that even organizations that have done a lot of work to implement the necessary privacy and security policies can use the Tool to determine whether there are any gaps in their compliance program. For organizations that have not yet completed their HIPAA-readiness, the Tool can be used as a roadmap that shows what needs to be done. A more detailed description of the Tool can be found on Day Pitney’s HIPAA Compliance service page.
"Once a client inputs its information, the Tool provides an automated assessment summary," said Day Pitney Healthcare attorney Susan Huntington. "If there are areas of noncompliance, our team is ready to work with the client to address and correct such areas."
Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Health and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter - December 2020
Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Health and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter - December 2020
Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Health and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter - December 2020
Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Health and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter - December 2020
Day Pitney Cybersecurity, Health and Technology (C.H.A.T.) Newsletter - December 2020
Susan Huntington and Christopher Klimmek were quoted in Hartford Business Journal article, "Gov. Lamont's executive orders have helped CT beat back COVID-19, but some businesses want to curtail his powers."
Susan Huntington was interviewed by anchor Matt Maisel in the Fox-affiliate station WMPT Fox 43 segment "COVID-19 controversy at Pa. Capitol calls into question employer obligations and limitations in telling workers about positive test," discussing employers obligations in disclosing positive tests to employees.
Day Pitney Hartford partner Susan Huntington spoke with the Connecticut Law Tribune, as Connecticut begins to reopen the state in four stages.
Tom Zalewski is quoted in an article, "Careful Care: Health Care Companies Must Be Aware of Legal Risks That Come with New Technology," published by ROI-NJ.
Day Pitney partners Elizabeth Sher and Susan Huntington are recipients of Profiles in Diversity Journal's 18th Annual "Women Worth Watching" Awards, which recognize esteemed women leaders and acknowledge their talents, commitment, achievements and leadership.