October 24, 2024-The Department of Health and Human Services submitted proposed updates to the 20-year-old HIPAA Security Rule to the White House for review, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. These updates aim to enhance the cybersecurity protections for electronic health information, GovInfoSecurity reported Oct. 23.
The main goal of the proposed changes is to improve cybersecurity for organizations covered by HIPAA, as stated during a recent HIPPAA summit, according to Becker’s. The updates also follow a plan that HHS shared last December, which outlined efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in healthcare. That plan included updating the HIPAA Security Rule, and the possibility of new cybersecurity requirements for hospitals and other healthcare providers through Medicare and Medicaid, using financial rewards or penalties to encourage compliance.