The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as the “Stimulus Bill”) was signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. Tucked in the lengthy Stimulus Bill are major changes to HIPAA that will have a significant effect on hospitals, health plans, health insurers and other covered entities. Below are resources to assist you with these new changes. We will be adding more information on upcoming regulations and additional compliance tools so check back often.

Resources Available

HIPAA Privacy and Security E-Alerts
Bricker & Eckler E-Alerts on HIPAA news. Latest E-Alert: HHS Publishes Guidance on New HIPAA Concept of Secured PHI and Solicits Comments in Development of Notice of Breach Regulations (April 20, 2009)

The Stimulus Bill Amends HIPAA
March 2009
Bricker & Eckler bulletin on the substantive changes to the HIPAA privacy and security laws that will affect health plans, health insurers, long-term care insurers and their business associates.

What is in the Stimulus Bill for Hospitals? Major HIPAA Changes
February 2009
Bricker & Eckler bulletin on the substantive changes to the HIPAA privacy and security laws that will affect hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other health facilities and business associates.

H.R. 1 and HIPAA
Includes the conference committe report on the HIPAA provisions and the full text of the legislative changes

HIPAA Statutes, Regulations and Guidance
Listing of all statutes, regulations and guidance relating to HIPAA Privacy and Security. Includes new draft rules and guidance on notification when there is a breach of information.

The HIPAA Question and Answer Board
A series of questions and answers on all aspects of HIPAA, currently being updated with the recent HIPAA changes.

The HIPAA Privacy and Security Discussion Board
A discussion forum on various HIPAA topics. The forum has been closed since December 2005 but is still available in archive form. Note that this forum DOES NOT include changes made in February 2009 by H.R. 1.

The HIPAA Media Guide
A series of questions and answers prepared in 2002 by the Ohio Hospital Association and Bricker & Eckler on dealing with the media on patient issues.