Month: October 2020

Cyber Alert: Ransomware Activity Targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sector

Cyber Alert: Ransomware Activity Targeting the Healthcare and Public Health Sector

October 29, 2020

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.

Aetna Pays $1,000,000 to Settle Three HIPAA Breaches

Aetna Pays $1,000,000 to Settle Three HIPAA Breaches

October 28, 2020

Aetna Life Insurance Company and the affiliated covered entity (Aetna) has agreed to pay $1,000,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. Aetna is an American managed health care company that sells traditional and consumer-directed health insurance and related services.

Healthcare workers could delay retirement over COVID-19 financial concerns

Healthcare workers could delay retirement over COVID-19 financial concerns

October 21, 2020 GINGER CHRIST On top of the mental and emotional pressures of being a healthcare worker during a global pandemic, caregivers also are feeling financially stressed, according to a new report. The TIAA Institute’s 2020 Healthcare Sector Financial Wellness Survey found that the financial condition of 45% of the healthcare workers surveyed had worsened since […]

HCA to return $6B in CARES Act funds, accelerated payments

HCA to return $6B in CARES Act funds, accelerated payments

October 08, 2020 TARA BANNOW  HCA Healthcare said Thursday it plans to return all of the $1.6 billion in federal COVID-19 relief grants it received to offset COVID-19 losses as well as $4.4 billion in Medicare accelerated payments. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA fared well through the COVID-19 pandemic. The for-profit hospital chain said it took a […]

OCR Settles Eighth Investigation in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

OCR Settles Eighth Investigation in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

October 7, 2020 The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces that it has settled its eighth enforcement action in its HIPAA Right of Access Initiative.  OCR announced this initiative as an enforcement priority in 2019 to support individuals’ right to timely access to their health […]