As much of the Southeastern U.S. continues to recover from the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, health care providers should be aware of, and consider the extent upon which they rely upon, the flexibilities that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended to assist with the Public Health Emergencies (PHEs) in the affected states. As a result of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, CMS extended additional resources to Medicare providers and certain health care facilities in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
As background, during a PHE, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may temporarily waive certain HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements for hospitals.
During the recent PHE, HHS issued HIPAA-related waivers lasting up to seventy-two (72) hours to hospitals located in the declared emergency that had activated their disaster protocol, including waivers for: the distribution of HIPAA privacy notices; patient rights to request privacy restrictions and confidential communications; communications with family or friends involved in care; and, opting out of facility directories. Health Information Privacy PHE responses can be found here.
Blog Editors
Recent Updates
- DEA Issues Third Extension to Public Health Emergency Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities, Through 2025
- CMS Issuing First Risk Adjustment Data Validation Audit Notices for PY2018 Since the RADV Final Rule
- Just Released: Telemental Health Laws – Download Our Complimentary Survey and App
- HISAA: New Legislation Would Bring Cybersecurity Requirements for HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates
- Post-Hurricane Flexibilities Offered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services