On March 18, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued updated guidance regarding the use of online tracking technologies by entities and business associates subject to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).
Notably, the updated guidance replaces OCR’s original guidance issued in December 2022, both of which warn companies subject to HIPAA, Covered Entities and their Business Associates (collectively “Regulated Entities”), that use of online tracking technologies, such ...
Numerous media reports concern the shortage of medical resources, personal protective equipment, and qualified professionals during the growing COVID-19 medical emergency. As a result, providers may ultimately have to make choices regarding resource allocation among hospitalized patients suffering from COVID-19. Disability rights and other advocacy groups have expressed concern about resource allocation from the point of view of how individuals with pre-existing disabilities and other individuals may have been treated in the past by the medical system. While bioethicists may work to address the ethical issues involved with treating patients under conditions of resource scarcity, providers rightfully may worry about potential legal liability in distributing scarce resources among those in need. While both the Trump Administration and Congress have acted to allay some of these worries, concerns remain for both individual practitioners and the facilities with which they work.
Blog Editors
Recent Updates
- Unpacking Averages: Assessing the Products Included in FDA's Voluntary Malfunction Summary Reporting Program
- Federal Update on Cannabis Scheduling: Are State Legalized Cannabis Dispensaries to Become Pharmacies?
- HHS Extends the Antidiscrimination Provisions of the Affordable Care Act to Patient Care Decision Support Tools, Including Algorithms
- It’s Been a Long Time Coming – FDA’s Final Rule on Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) as Medical Devices Has Arrived
- Medical Clinic’s Use of NDAs to Suppress Negative Online Reviews Violates Federal Consumer Review Fairness Act, Washington Federal Judge Finds