Webinar Overview

With strong bipartisan support in Washington for enhanced enforcement, it is more critical than ever for healthcare organizations to get their HIPAA house in order. This comprehensive webinar is designed to equip practice managers and compliance officers with the knowledge and tools needed to prepare for imminent audits and mitigate the growing risk of private litigation.

We will address the major changes under the Omnibus Rule and all critical updates for 2024, with a focused look at the high-risk areas of texting, email, encryption, and voice data. Our primary goal is to cut through the widespread misinformation about HIPAA, providing absolute clarity on your obligations. Drawing on over 22 years of direct experience with federal and state auditors, as well as litigation, the instructor will provide a realistic, actionable framework for implementing a robust and defensible HIPAA program.

Why You Should Attend

Enforcement and fines reached record levels recently, and 2024 is poised to continue this trend. New laws and increased funding for regulators mean heightened risk for both Covered Entities and Business Associates.

Attend this in-depth session to get answers to critical questions:

• Is your HIPAA compliance program truly effective and audit-ready?

• Are you aware of the 2024 changes concerning Information Blocking, the Dobbs/Jackson ruling, Care Coordination, and Notice of Privacy Practices?

• Do you know how to avoid being "low-hanging fruit" for an audit or a lawsuit for wrongful disclosure of PHI?

We will also explore a major emerging trend: the use of HIPAA standards in state-level negligence lawsuits, which represents a significant and growing financial risk.

Areas Covered in the Session

• The 2024 Landscape: Essential regulatory updates and enforcement priorities.

• Compliance Officer Mandate: Clarifying the critical roles and responsibilities.

• Defining PHI: Understanding the expanded scope of Protected Health Information.

• Lessons from Litigation: Analysis of real-life cases where HIPAA fueled negligence lawsuits.

• Device & Data Security: Policies for BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) and portable devices.

• Business Associate Management: Navigating the increased burden and shared liability.

• Digital Communication: Compliant practices for emailing and texting PHI.

• Audit Preparedness: Understanding the federal audit process and how to prepare.

• Breach Response: Steps to take when a breach occurs and how to avoid ransomware attacks.

• Risk Assessment: Foundational steps for conducting and documenting your risk analysis.

Who Will Benefit

This webinar is vital for all entities handling protected health information, including:

• Practice Managers and Compliance Officers

• Business Associates (Billing Companies, IT Firms, Transcription Services, Answering Services, etc.)

• Physicians and Medical Professionals

• Healthcare Attorneys

• Chief Information and Technology Officers

• Any person responsible for developing or implementing HIPAA policy.