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OCR will ease restrictions on telehealth tech during COVID-19

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

The HHS Office for Civil Rights announced on Tuesday that during the coronavirus pandemic it will use discretion when enforcing HIPAA-compliance for telehealth communications tools. " Wherever possible, providers should use telehealth tools from vendors that are HIPAA compliant and will enter into business-associate agreements, said OCR.

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What is HIPAA Enforcement Discretion?

HIPAA Journal

HIPAA enforcement discretion occurs when the Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the Department will exercise discretion in the enforcement of HIPAA Rules. Typically, Notices of Enforcement Discretion last between 72 hours and 60 days, are state or region-specific and apply to specific provisions of the HIPAA Rules.

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COVID-19 Vaccination Statuses of 500,000 VA Employees have been Impermissibly Disclosed

HIPAA Journal

The COVID-19 vaccination statuses of approximately 500,000 Department of Veterans Affairs employees have been impermissibly disclosed. The spreadsheet also included details of claimed religious and medical exceptions to COVID-19 vaccination.

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AccessHealth uses telemedicine to boost mental health visits by 10% during COVID-19

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

COVID-19 spurred Houston-based AccessHealth to quickly scale up its telemedicine offerings, just as it did with most other health systems nationwide. Purchasing devices and platforms due to pricing was a concern, and HIPAA-compliant platforms and cybersecurity [were concerns] for PHI/patient safety." THE PROBLEM.

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The COVID-19 crisis has 'forced people into virtual mediums,' says Summus CEO

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

A frequently discussed consequence of the COVID-19 crisis is the uptick in reliance on telehealth, with both patients and clinicians pivoting quickly to virtual care in order to minimize in-person contact. "COVID-19 has forced people into virtual mediums," Flannery continued. "Companies like ours.

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COVID-19 Search Engine Inspired Q&A

Healthcare IT Today

As you can imagine, with all our COVID-19 coverage, we’re getting thousands of people searching something on a search engine and discovering the site. In those searches are a lot of interesting questions that people are obviously trying to find the answers to in this crazy new pandemic world we live in.

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Behavioral health clinic uses telehealth to expand its reach to vulnerable patients

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

Bridge evaluated a few HIPAA-compliant telehealth programs and Zoom’s was determined the best and most cost-effective for the agency’s purposes. That work in Elko County proved very successful and prepared Bridge for what would follow when the COVID-19 pandemic struck.

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