Alexandra Royal

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Privacy-Forward California AG Xavier Becerra Confirmed as Next HHS Secretary

Photo of Aleksandra VoldPhoto of Alexandra RoyalBy Aleksandra Vold and Alexandra Royal on Posted in HHS
On March 19, 2021, Xavier Becerra was confirmed as the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). HHS is the federal regulatory body that oversees the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which is the primary federal enforcer of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The secretary oversees 11 operating … Continue Reading

Federal Court Invalidates 2013 HIPAA Omnibus Rule Regulations and HHS Guidance on Fees for Copies of Medical Records

Photo of Sara GoldsteinPhoto of Aleksandra VoldPhoto of Alexandra RoyalBy Sara Goldstein, Aleksandra Vold and Alexandra Royal on Posted in HHS, HIPAA/HITECH
In what is being seen as a strong rebuke to years of regulatory overreach, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia entered an order on January 23, 2020 that invalidates provisions of the 2013 Omnibus Rule to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and 2016 guidance issued by United States … Continue Reading

FTC Launches a New Task Force Dedicated to Monitoring the Tech Industry for Anti-Competitive Practices

Photo of Janine Anthony BowenPhoto of Alexandra RoyalBy Janine Anthony Bowen and Alexandra Royal on Posted in Advertising, Marketing
The Federal Trade Commission announced the creation of a new task force that is dedicated to monitoring competition in the U.S. technology industry. This Technology Task Force will coordinate and consult with 17 staff attorneys throughout the FTC who have experience in complex product and service markets, including the markets for online advertising, social networking, … Continue Reading

Trojan Malware Reclaims the Top Spot as the Greatest Cyber Threat to the Healthcare Sector

Photo of Alexandra RoyalBy Alexandra Royal on Posted in Cybersecurity, HIPAA/HITECH
Cybersecurity threats continued to plague the healthcare sector in 2018. Healthcare organizations notified twice as many individuals under HIPAA and other notification statutes in 2018 as compared with 2017. According to a new report from Malwarebytes Labs, 2019 State of Malware Report, trojan malware was the greatest threat to the healthcare sector in 2018.[1] Specifically, … Continue Reading

HHS OIG Launches Cybersecurity Webpage to Raise Awareness and Boost Cybersecurity Best Practices

Photo of Lynn SessionsPhoto of Alexandra RoyalBy Lynn Sessions and Alexandra Royal on Posted in Cybersecurity, HHS
Healthcare data can be up to 10 times more valuable to cyber criminals than credit card numbers, according to a report from the Department of Health & Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). And, with healthcare-focused ransomware attacks like WannaCry and NotPetya in the news more frequently, it’s no wonder that HHS OIG … Continue Reading
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