New HIPAA Privacy Regulations Strengthen Privacy for Reproductive Health Care
Lexology September 16, 2024
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently introduced changes to the privacy rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA Privacy Rule), aimed at bolstering the privacy of reproductive health care information (the Final Rule). These changes come in response to growing concerns about the confidentiality of reproductive health services following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to return the legislation of abortion to the states, which has led to varying state laws on the legality of abortion.
Key Changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
The Final Rule includes several significant updates:
Redefines Person
The Final Rule redefines person to provide that a natural person means a human being who is...