HITEQ Resources & Events

In an increasingly connected healthcare landscape, health centers face a dual challenge: the rising tide of cyber threats and the need to comply with stringent data protection regulations, all while managing limited resources. The ever-evolving nature of cyberattacks and the complexity of compliance requirements make it essential for health centers to prioritize cybersecurity tasks effectively.
Many Health Center leaders, IT Managers, and Compliance Directors are trying to ensure that they are properly addressing the ongoing tasks related to compliance and security. This guide provides the baseline of day-to-day tasks that health center IT and Compliance staff should consider to protect their systems and comply with regulatory requirements.

Since the 21 Century Cures Act Information Blocking Rule went into effect in 2021, electronic health information (EHI) has become more available than ever as it is posted to portals, sent through health information exchanges, and available via health-related apps upon request by patients. As the availability of EHI has increased, so too have concerns about the privacy of EHI. Like other actors, health centers are faced with new compliance challenges, including how to best protect sensitive EHI, how to respond to patient requests to restrict access to their EHI, and how to respond when patients request changes to their EHI. Health centers must navigate complex and, at times, conflicting federal and state laws and regulations. This webinar focused on how to navigate these challenges while complying with the Information Blocking Rule.

There are many questions about patient portals and the related requirements under the Information Blocking Rule. In this session, our expert speaker will review the impact of the Information Blocking Rule on implementation and use of the patient portal.

Over the last few years, the Office of Civil Rights has focused much of its enforcement efforts on ensuring patients are afforded their HIPAA right to access their protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Rule generally requires HIPAA covered entities to provide individuals, upon request, with access to the PHI (including electronic PHI) about them in one or more “designated record sets” maintained by or for the covered entity. This includes the right to inspect or obtain a copy, or both, of the PHI. It also includes an individual’s right to direct the covered entity to transmit a copy of their PHI to a designated person or entity of the individual’s choice.

Increasingly conversations about telehealth describe the need for tailored approaches to digital navigation and literacy to ensure equitable access for all patients. During this session, we will discuss the experience of a large safety net system’s experience of developing a digital navigation program and the resulting impacts on patient healthcare access and connection to community programs.