HHS floats major changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule

The HHS Office for Civil Rights has proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, aiming to increase patient and family access to health data and improve care coordination. The changes would expand individuals’ rights to access their health information, boost information-sharing, and enable greater family involvement during emergencies. The proposed rule would also reduce administrative burdens on HIPAA-covered entities while protecting patient privacy. Public comments on the proposed changes will be accepted for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.