Resources for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Is HIPAA Now Spelled APATHY?

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Various surveys conducted of provider organizations' readiness with the HIPAA security rule two years after its effective date peg it at about 60 percent compliance. No anticipated legal consequence for non-compliance seems to be the excuse primarily used to not spend the extra money.

And certainly the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services report of only 173 complaints (as of mid-February 2007) regarding the security rule -- none of which resulted in civil enforcement and 17 of which were turned over to the Justice Department for possible criminal prosecution without action -- would suggest that the expense may not be worth the effort. In fact, some organizations have claimed it is cheaper to settle a case out of court than to implement stronger technology.

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