HHS Drops Plan to Restrict Hospital Use of Data-Tracking Tech
HealthLeaders Media August 30, 2024
Federal officials have decided not to appeal a court order that shut down the rule, saying it exceeded HHS authority under HIPAA.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
– The Health and Human Services Department’s Office of Civil Rights notified healthcare organizations in a 2022 bulletin that they were violating HIPAA guidelines by using technology to track consumer use of patient portals and gather IP addresses.
– The American Hospital Association and others sued the federal agency in 2023, saying it was preventing hospitals and health systems from being able to assess their portals and communicate with patients.
– A Texas court sided with the AHA in June, and HHS has decided not to appeal that ruling.
Federal officials have withdrawn a plan to...