HIPAA Modifications

 On Friday, January 25, 2013, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the long-awaited final rule, entitled “Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement, and Breach Notification Rules under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act; Other Modifications to the HIPAA Rules” (Omnibus Rule), 78 Fed. Reg. 5566. The Omnibus Rule will be effective on March 26, 2013, with a compliance period of 180 days, requiring compliance as of September 23, 2013. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2013pres/01/20130117b.html