The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that the Notifications of Enforcement Discretion issued under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act during the COVID-19 public health emergency will expire at 11:59 pm on May 11, 2023, due to the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
While Congress extended many of the telehealth coverage flexibilities impacting nursing facilities and their residents permanently or until December 31, 2024, this policy change will no longer permit providers to use technology such as unsecure iPads, smart phones, or other technology for telehealth services unless they meet the stringent HIPAA patient privacy requirements after August 9, 2023.
OCR is providing a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA Rules with respect to their provision of telehealth. The transition period will be in effect beginning on May 12, 2023, and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2023. OCR will continue to exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties on covered health care providers for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules that occurs in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the 90-calendar day transition period.
It is strongly recommended that providers using telehealth services review and update their policies and procedures, equipment and arrangements related to telehealth services. Specifically, providers should evaluate the equipment and software technology they are using for telehealth services and the arrangements they have with technology vendors, as well as physicians, hospitals, and other providers to update agreements and policies related to telehealth prior to the end of the enforcement discretion transition period on August 9, 2023.
For “Guidance on How the HIPAA Rules Permit Covered Health Care Providers and Health Plans to Use Remote Communication Technologies for Audio-Only Telehealth” click here.