Why the 42 CFR Part 2 Update Matters

• Driving Alignment with HIPAA: The rule fulfills requirements of section 3221 of the CARES Act (2020), mandating alignment of certain Part 2 provisions with HIPAA and the HITECH Act.
• Implementation Timeline: The rule took effect on April 16, 2024, and those subject to it must comply by February 16, 2026.

Key Changes in the 42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule

1. Single Consent for TPO (Treatment, Payment, Healthcare Operations):
   • Providers may now obtain one consent for all future disclosures related to TPO.
   • Covered entities and their business associates may redisclose records in line with HIPAA—except in proceedings against a patient without consent or court order.
2. Disclosure to Public Health Authorities:
   • Records may be shared without patient consent if de-identified per HIPAA Privacy Rule standards.
3. Restrictions on Proceedings:
   • SUD records remain protected from use in civil, criminal, administrative, or legislative proceedings against patients unless consent or court order is obtained.
4. Enforcement Alignment with HIPAA:
   • Criminal penalties in Part 2 are replaced with civil and criminal enforcement authorities consistent with HIPAA violations.
   • Breach notification requirements now mirror HIPAA’s standards.
5. Patient Notifications:
   • Updates to Part 2’s patient notice now align with HIPAA’s Notice of Privacy Practices.
6. Safe Harbor for Investigations:
   • Agencies that diligently check—by searching SAMHSA’s online treatment facility locator and reviewing a provider’s notices—to confirm whether records are subject to Part 2 are offered liability protection if they inadvertently obtain such records without a court order.

Additional Enhancements Based on Public Feedback

• Stronger Safe Harbor Requirements: The reasonable diligence criteria for investigative agencies are now more clearly defined.
• No Mandatory Segmentation: Explicitly states that segregating or segmenting Part 2 data is not required.
• Improved Complaint Process: Patients can now file complaints directly with the HHS Secretary, in addition to existing Part 2 program mechanisms.

Practical Next Steps for Providers

To ensure compliance before the February 16, 2026 deadline:

1. Update Consent Forms & Notices
   • Revise consent forms to reflect new elements—like revocation rights and broader recipient specifications.
   • Ensure disclosure notices use updated language (e.g., referencing the new succinct phrase: “42 CFR Part 2 prohibits unauthorized use or disclosure of these records”).
2. Revise Organizational Policies
   • Align internal policies with the new provisions—especially concerning redisclosure, breach response, and investigative safe harbor.
3. Staff Training
   • Educate relevant staff on changes, including how to use SAMHSA’s locator and interpret notices correctly.

In Summary

The 2024 Final Rule modernizes 42 CFR Part 2 by integrating critical elements of HIPAA. The Final Rule enhances patient privacy protections, and facilitating better care coordination. While it introduces safer pathways for record sharing and investigative clarity, it also reinforces the confidentiality of SUD treatment information. With compliance required by February 16, 2026, now is the time for programs to update their forms, policies, and training efforts.

Have Questions?

At MedSafe, we help healthcare organizations navigate HIPAA compliance through customized training, audits, and policy development. Don’t wait for an audit or breach to reveal a gap—take action now to protect your practice and your patients.

Contact us today to schedule a HIPAA compliance review or training session.

Additional Resources:

HHS – OIG

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How did the HIPAA Investigation Begin?

The HIPAA investigation began in May 2023 following a complaint that the provider had exposed patients’ electronic protected health information (ePHI) online. The data—names, dates of birth, diagnoses, patient ID numbers, and facility information—was accessible through internet search engines due to a coding error in a discontinued pilot program for a patient portal. The exposed information remained publicly available from December 2021 until May 19, 2023.

OCR confirmed that 35 individuals’ ePHI was impermissibly disclosed online. The situation worsened in August 2023 when the provider experienced a cyberattack involving a compromised user account. A threat actor claimed to have exfiltrated sensitive data and demanded payment to prevent its release on the dark web. The breach impacted 171,871 individuals, requiring breach notifications to HHS, affected individuals, and the media.

OCR Findings Post HIPAA Investigation and Penalties

OCR concluded that the provider failed to conduct an accurate and thorough HIPAA risk analysis, a requirement under the HIPAA Security Rule designed to identify risks and vulnerabilities to ePHI. This deficiency left the organization susceptible to both human error and malicious intrusion.

To resolve the matter, the provider agreed to:
– Pay $225,000 to HHS,
– Implement a corrective action plan, and
– Undergo two years of monitoring by OCR.

Corrective Action Plan Requirements

Under the agreement, the provider is required to:
– Conduct annual risk analyses and update them as needed,
– Develop a risk management plan to address identified threats,
– Maintain and revise written HIPAA policies and procedures, and
– Provide annual workforce training for employees with PHI access.

Lessons for the Healthcare Industry

This case serves as a powerful reminder that proactive HIPAA compliance is essential. OCR Director Paula M. Stannard emphasized:

“An accurate and thorough HIPAA risk analysis can minimize the exposure of ePHI from both malicious actors and inadvertent errors.”

OCR advises all covered entities and business associates to:
– Identify how and where ePHI flows through their systems,
– Regularly conduct and update risk analyses,
– Implement audit controls and review system activity,
– Encrypt ePHI in transit and at rest,
– Ensure secure access through authentication mechanisms, and
– Provide job-specific HIPAA training to employees.

Why This Matters

As digital health systems continue to expand, so does the responsibility to secure patient data. This case illustrates the financial and reputational risks healthcare organizations face when they fail to conduct proper risk assessments or maintain strong privacy and security safeguards.

Have Questions?

At MedSafe, we help healthcare organizations navigate HIPAA compliance through customized training, audits, and policy development. Don’t wait for an audit or breach to reveal a gap—take action now to protect your practice and your patients.

Contact us today to schedule a HIPAA compliance review or training session.

Additional Resources:

HHS – OIG

The post HIPAA Investigation & Provider Settlement Example appeared first on MedSafe.

Increased scrutiny and enforcement make it more important than ever for healthcare organizations to understand HIPAA requirements and ensure full compliance.

Recent HIPAA Enforcement Trends

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made it clear: privacy and security enforcement is ramping up. In recent years, the OCR has issued fines for violations ranging from impermissible disclosures and failure to conduct risk assessments to lack of timely breach notifications and improper record disposal.

In 2024 alone, HHS resolved multiple high-profile cases with penalties ranging from tens of thousands to millions of dollars—even for small or mid-sized providers.

2025 HIPAA Penalty Updates

As of 2025, HHS has updated its civil monetary penalty structure to account for inflation and clarify maximum caps for violations. Here’s a breakdown of the revised penalty tiers:

These figures reflect annual inflation adjustments and may continue to change year over year.

Common HIPAA Violations That Lead to Penalties

Understanding the most common violations can help your organization stay proactive. These include:

• Lack of Risk Assessments: Failing to conduct or update enterprise-wide security risk analyses.
• Unauthorized Disclosures: Sharing PHI without proper patient authorization.
• Unsecured ePHI: Storing or transmitting PHI without encryption or proper access controls.
• Delayed Breach Notification: Not notifying HHS and affected patients within 60 days of discovering a breach.
• Inadequate Business Associate Agreements (BAAs): Not having proper contracts with vendors who handle PHI.
• Timely Access to Patient Records: Covered entities must provide access in the form and format requested, whether paper or electronic. Timely responses, typically within 30 calendar days, are encouraged, and extensions are allowed under specific circumstances.

How to Strengthen HIPAA Compliance in 2025

1. Conduct or Update a Risk Assessment
   OCR expects a thorough and up-to-date Security Risk Assessment (SRA) from every covered entity and business associate.
2. Review and Revise Policies
   Ensure HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification policies reflect current rules, technologies, and workflows.
3. Train All Staff Regularly
   Employees must understand how to recognize and report HIPAA violations. Both covered entities and business associates are required to comply with the HIPAA Privacy and Security training standards. Best practices suggest periodic refreshers.
4. Audit Your Vendors
   Confirm that all business associates sign compliant BAAs and follow HIPAA security requirements.
5. Prepare for Breaches Before They Happen
   Create and test your incident response plan to ensure timely notification and documentation if a breach occurs.

Proposed Changes as part of the HIPAA Security Rule Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)

1.  Enhanced Cybersecurity Protections and Expectations.
2.  Conducting the HIPAA Security Risk Analysis more thoroughly.
3.  Requiring covered entities and business associates to conduct internal compliance audits.
4.  Verifying business associate security measures annually.
5.  Testing incident response plans annually.
6.  Enhanced access and transparency.
7.  Health Plan Sponsor Compliance.
8.  Time limits for data restoration.
9.  Changes to better protect patient data.
10.  Stronger penalties.

Stay Ahead of Enforcement

HIPAA enforcement is no longer reserved for the biggest hospitals and health plans. Small practices, clinics, and business associates are equally at risk if compliance is not maintained. With higher penalties now in effect, even a single violation could have significant financial and reputational consequences.

At MedSafe, we help healthcare organizations navigate HIPAA compliance through customized training, audits, and policy development. Don’t wait for an audit or breach to reveal a gap—take action now to protect your practice and your patients.

Contact us today to schedule a HIPAA compliance review or training session.

Additional Resources:

HHS – OIG

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What Does HIPAA Say About Patient Access?

Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, individuals have the right to inspect, review, and receive a copy of their medical and other health records maintained by a covered entity. This includes records in any format—electronic or paper.

Covered entities include:

• Healthcare providers
• Health plans
• Healthcare clearinghouses

Importantly, this right of access applies to a designated record set, which includes:

• Medical records
• Billing records
• Enrollment, payment, claims adjudication, and case or medical management record systems
• Clinical laboratory test results, Clinical case notes, X-rays, wellness and disease management program information

While individuals have a right to a broad array of PHI about themselves in a designated record set, a covered entity is only required to provide access to the PHI to which the individual requests access.

What Is the Required Timeline for patient access?

According to 45 CFR §164.524(b)(2) of the HIPAA Privacy Rule:

• Covered entities must provide access within 30 calendar days of receiving the request.
• If the information cannot be provided within 30 days, a one-time extension of up to an additional 30 days is allowed. However:
  • The entity must provide the patient with a written statement explaining the delay and the expected date of completion.
  • The extension must be invoked within the original 30-day window.

Key Point: The maximum time allowed is 60 days total, and only one extension is permitted per access request.

What Happens If Providers Don’t Meet the Timeline?

Failing to meet HIPAA’s access requirements can lead to:

• Patient complaints to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
• Investigations and potential enforcement actions
• Financial penalties that can range from thousands to millions of dollars depending on the severity and duration of the violation
• Reputational harm

What Are Best Practices for Compliance?

1. Establish Clear Policies and Procedures
   Ensure staff understand the process and timeline for responding to access requests.
2. Use Patient Portals Where Possible
   Electronic health records (EHRs) and portals streamline access and reduce delays.
3. Train Frontline Staff
   Staff who interact with patients should know how to facilitate access requests appropriately. 
4. Track and Document Every Request
   Maintain records of when requests are received, fulfilled, or extended. For better record-keeping and auditability, many healthcare facilities choose to log all requests for access to patient PHI even though it is not mandated.
5. Proactively Communicate Delays
   If more time is needed, notify the patient in writing within the first 30 days, explaining why.

Final Thoughts

Timely patient access to health information is not just about meeting regulatory obligations—it’s about building trust, improving health outcomes, and promoting patient engagement. With the right systems and training in place, healthcare providers can ensure they meet HIPAA’s requirements while delivering a better experience for the patients they serve.

Need Help Navigating HIPAA Compliance?

Reach out to our team for support in implementing HIPAA-compliant access procedures and training for your staff.

Additional Resources:

HHS – OIG

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What is HIPAA’s Privacy Rule?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule, established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in 2000, sets the national standard for protecting individuals’ medical records and other personal health information (PHI). It applies to: 

1. Covered Entities: Healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses. 
2. Business Associates: Organizations or individuals working with covered entities who handle PHI. 

The rule ensures that PHI is not disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge, except in specific, legally defined circumstances. 

Key Elements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule

1. Protected Health Information (PHI):
   • The Privacy Rule protects any information that can identify a patient and relates to their health, treatment, or payment for healthcare services. Examples include: 
     • Medical records 
     • Insurance information 
     • Any data linked to identifying details (name, date of birth, Social Security number). 
2. Permitted Disclosures:
   • PHI may be disclosed without patient authorization under limited circumstances, such as: 
     • For treatment purposes: Sharing information with specialists or other healthcare providers. Public health activities: Reporting infectious diseases or adverse reactions to medications. 
     • Legal requirements: Complying with court orders or subpoenas. 
3. Patient Rights:
   • Patients have significant control over their health information, including the right to: 
     • Access and obtain copies of their PHI. 
       • HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has imposed many penalties lately for this. It’s important to note under HIPAA practices/organizations have up to 30 days, with the possibility of one 30-day extension, to provide patients with timely access to their health information for a reasonable cost-based fee.
     • Request amendments to their medical records. 
     • Restrict certain uses and disclosures of their information. 
     • Receive a report of how their PHI has been used. 
4. Minimum Necessary Rule:
   • When PHI is disclosed, covered entities must ensure that only the minimum necessary information is shared to accomplish the purpose. 

Compliance and Enforcement

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule, and noncompliance can lead to severe penalties, including hefty fines and reputational damage. Organizations must implement safeguards, such as: 

• Employee training on handling PHI. 
• Regular risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities. 
• Secure systems for storing and transmitting PHI. 

Challenges and Best Practices

With the rise of digital health tools and electronic health records, maintaining HIPAA compliance has become more complex. Organizations should: 

1. Use encryption to secure digital records. 
2. Establish clear policies and procedures for data sharing and access.
3. Stay updated on changes to HIPAA regulations and guidance. 

Why the Privacy Rule Matters

The HIPAA Privacy Rule strikes a critical balance between protecting patient privacy and enabling effective care delivery. For patients, it fosters trust in the healthcare system. For providers and organizations, it ensures accountability and sets the standard for ethical practices in handling sensitive information. 

Understanding and adhering to this rule is not just a legal requirement—it’s a commitment to respecting and protecting the dignity of every patient. 

By staying informed and proactive, healthcare professionals and organizations can navigate the complexities of HIPAA while delivering care that upholds the highest standards of privacy and trust. 

Experience Better Healthcare Compliance

Regular and ongoing employee training is an essential key to HIPAA compliance. We’ve been assisting our clients with their compliance needs for over 30 years. Do you need help with your compliance programs? Let us help build and maintain your HIPAA and/or OSHA program(s) so you can focus on your patients. Contact us today.

Additional Resources:

HHS – OIG

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For some, wearable technology is about tracking fitness, but for many these technologies help to monitor overall health and wellness. As a result, wearable technology is playing a significant role in the healthcare sector. More specifically due to aging populations, growth in remote patient care, and the rise of remote care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wearable devices have the potential to help address healthcare costs, provide support to aging populations, and lessen the burden of chronic disease. While the benefits can be life-changing, they also come with a host of new privacy and security concerns for healthcare organizations, leaving many with the question: Do HIPAA security and privacy laws apply to wearable health technology?

Below are five considerations when balancing health and privacy with wearable health technology:

1.     Covered Entities: When healthcare providers or insurers collect health data from wearable devices and use it to provide healthcare services, they are considered covered entities under HIPAA. As such, they must adhere to privacy and security rules, ensuring the protection of patients’ health information.

2.     Business Associates: In some cases, wearable device manufacturers or app developers may be considered business associates of covered entities if they provide services that involve handling personal health information (PHI). Business associates must also comply with HIPAA regulations and sign a Business Associate Agreement with covered entities to ensure data security.

3.     De-Identified Data: HIPAA allows for the use of de-identified health data, which is stripped of information that could identify the individual. This data is not subject to HIPAA regulations and can be used for research and other purposes.

4.     Patient Consent: Wearable device users should be informed and provide explicit consent if their health data is going to be shared with healthcare providers, insurers, or any other covered entities. Consent is crucial for ensuring that individuals are aware of how their data is being used and to maintain their privacy rights.

5.     Data Security: Wearable device manufacturers and service providers must implement robust security measures to protect the electronic health data they collect, transmit, and store. Encryption, secure authentication, and data access controls are among the standard security practices.

Wearable devices have the potential to transform healthcare by providing individuals and clinicians with valuable health insights and facilitating more personalized care. However, with innovation also comes significant responsibilities when it comes to privacy and data security. To maintain the delicate balance between the benefits of wearable technology and privacy rights, it is essential for all stakeholders, including users, manufacturers, and healthcare providers, to be knowledgeable about HIPAA regulations and their implications. By doing so, we can harness the power of wearable devices to improve health outcomes while respecting individuals’ privacy and data security.

Experience Better Healthcare Compliance

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While there are many different contributing factors involved with a HIPAA violation, the following are seven deadly sins of HIPAA non-compliance and some insights on how medical practices can avoid them.

Sin 1: Lack of Employee Training and Awareness

One of the most common sins in HIPAA compliance is the lack of proper employee training and awareness. It is essential for all medical staff members to be educated about HIPAA regulations and the importance of protecting patient information. Failure to do so can lead to accidental breaches and severe consequences.

To avoid this, medical practices should implement regular training programs that cover HIPAA regulations, patient privacy, and data security. This can include onsite training, online courses, and ongoing awareness campaigns to ensure that employees are well-informed and vigilant.

Sin 2: Insufficient Risk Assessment and Failure to Conduct Regular Audits

Another deadly sin of HIPAA is the failure to conduct regular risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities in data security. Without proper risk assessments and management, medical practices are more susceptible to breaches and non-compliance, so it is critical to implement a risk assessment process that identifies potential threats and vulnerabilities. Examples include penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. Once risks are identified, prompt action should be taken to address and mitigate them effectively. Conduct regular audits and assessments to identify any gaps in compliance.  This can involve internal audits, third-party assessments, and continuous monitoring of HIPAA compliance.

Sin 3: Weak Password and Access Control Practices

Weak passwords and improper access controls can expose patient information to unauthorized individuals. Medical practices should enforce strong password policies and implement multi-factor authentication to protect sensitive data, for example, implementing password practices, such as requiring complex passwords, regular password changes, and limiting access privileges based on job roles. Additionally, implementing multi-factor authentication can add an extra layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.

Sin 4: Breach Notification Delays

Breach notification delays are another deadly sin that can result in severe consequences and penalties. Medical practices should establish efficient breach notification processes that promptly notify affected individuals and regulatory authorities. This can involve having a designated breach response team, clear communication channels, and predefined procedures for handling breaches.

Sin 5: Failure to Provide Right of Access

A central principle to HIPAA law is the patient’s right of access to their own information.  Under 45 CFR § 164.524, the right of access is required by the privacy rule.  Failure to provide patients with access to their own records in a timely manner, within 30 days, can lead to severe penalties.  Violations can result in fines, legal action, and damage to the practice’s reputation. 

Sin 6: Inadequate Physical Security Measures

The failure to implement adequate physical security measures can lead to unauthorized access to patient records and potential breaches. Medical practices should prioritize physical security by implementing access controls such as surveillance systems and secure storage for patient records, for example, restricted access areas, visitor management systems, and secure disposal of physical documents.

Sin 7: Negligent Business Associate Management

The failure to properly vet and manage business associates often leads to non-compliance. Medical practices should establish effective business associate agreements that clearly outline the responsibilities and obligations of both parties. Regular monitoring and auditing of business associates should also be conducted to ensure ongoing compliance.

These seven deadly sins of HIPAA non-compliance can have severe consequences for medical practices that result in civil and even criminal penalties. By taking steps to protect patient privacy through employee training, risk assessments, physical security measures, business associate management, breach notifications, and conducting regular audits, medical practices can avoid non-compliance and help keep patient health information safe and secure.

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With HIPAA social media violations on the rise, healthcare entities must take all precautions to ensure compliance.

The following are requirements for protecting patient privacy when using social media platforms online:

1. Patient Consent: HIPAA requires written consent from patients before any protected health information (PHI) can be shared on social media platforms. This includes any identifiable information such as names, photos, or medical records. However, once something is posted on social media, you have no control over what happens to it.
2. De-identification of PHI: Healthcare entities must de-identify any PHI shared on social media. De-identification involves removing or altering any information that could potentially identify a patient.  All 18 identifiers must be removed from the information.  A few examples include names, addresses, social security numbers, and other unique identifiers. 
3. Secure Communication Channels: When communicating with patients on social media, healthcare entities must use secure channels and avoid public comments or direct messages exposing sensitive information. Instead, encourage patients to use secure messaging platforms or patient portals for private discussions. 
4. Monitoring and Auditing: To ensure HIPAA compliance, healthcare entities should implement robust monitoring and auditing systems for social media. This involves regularly reviewing social media posts, comments, and interactions to identify any potential breaches of patient privacy.
5. Training and Education: Comprehensive training and education should be provided to all employees regarding social media usage. This includes educating staff on the potential risks, proper handling of PHI, and the consequences of non-compliance. All members of the workforce should be included in training relating to social media, whether they have access to ePHI or not. 

As healthcare organizations and providers continue to embrace social media for engaging with patients and sharing valuable educational information, it is crucial to understand the possible risks. 

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Consequently, healthcare organizations must adapt to evolving threats in order to protect patients’ rights. Ensuring HIPAA compliance involves a comprehensive and multifaceted approach with several key components, such as having a knowledgeable compliance team, conducting risk assessments, ensuring physical and technical safeguards, and implementing regular HIPAA training.

Below we will review four components for helping to ensure HIPAA compliance success.

1.     Conduct a risk assessment- The first step towards HIPAA compliance is to conduct a thorough risk assessment. This will help to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of PHI. A risk assessment should evaluate an organization’s physical, technical, and administrative safeguards, as well as the likelihood and potential impact of security incidents.

2.     Implement policies and procedures- Based on the risk assessment results, healthcare organizations should develop and implement a set of policies and procedures that address HIPAA requirements. These policies and procedures should cover areas such as access control, data encryption, data backup and recovery, incident response, and workforce training. It is important to regularly review and update these policies and procedures to ensure compliance with changing regulations and security threats.

3.     Implement physical and technical safeguards- HIPAA also requires healthcare organizations to implement physical and technical safeguards to protect PHI from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. Physical safeguards may include access controls, facility security, and device and media controls. Technical safeguards include encryption, firewalls, and network security. These safeguards should be implemented in a way that is appropriate for the organization’s size, complexity, and risk profile.

4.     Ensure Regular HIPAA Training- Human error is the cause of most data breaches, which is why regular HIPAA training for employees and workforce members is crucial for maintaining compliance. Ongoing HIPAA training ensures that the workforce is up-to-date with the latest HIPAA rules and regulations. Employees should understand their role in maintaining compliance and the procedures for reporting security incidents. Training can be in the form of online courses, seminars, or in-person training sessions.

Experience Better Healthcare Compliance

MedSafe is the nation’s leading one-stop resource for outsourced accreditation and healthcare compliance solutions. For over 20 years, we have been providing peace of mind to hospital groups, private practices, and their business associates. Our suite of onsite and online training services, including OSHA, HIPAA, Corporate Compliance and Code Auditing better equip your practice with the necessary tools and skills to achieve and maintain regulatory billing compliance. MedSafe takes a hands-on approach and works directly with your team to uncover issues and define suitable solutions.

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What is Cybersecurity Awareness Training?

Cybersecurity awareness training is the process of educating employees about the importance of cybersecurity and how to identify potential threats and respond appropriately. By educating workers on best practices for prevention, healthcare organizations can reduce the risk of breaches, cyberattacks and other threats. Investing in cybersecurity awareness training is a proactive approach to reducing the risk of cyber threats and ensuring the security of sensitive patient information.

Why is cybersecurity awareness training important?

Despite having best-in-class defence systems and measures in place, many healthcare organizations still experience security breaches. In fact, there were 658 breaches in 2022, affecting nearly 50 million individuals.

Unfortunately, human error is often a major contributing factor behind many data breaches. According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, more than 80% of breaches involved human error.

Cybersecurity awareness helps to educate employees about how to spot potential threats and what they can do to avoid falling victim. It empowers a workforce with the right knowledge and resources to identify and flag potential threats before they cause any damage. Proper cybersecurity awareness training is also required to stay HIPAA-compliant.

Furthermore, not conducting cybersecurity awareness training regularly can have serious consequences, such as legal penalties, financial loss and cost of remediation, loss of intellectual property, damaged reputation, and loss of consumer trust.

What should be included in cybersecurity awareness training?

Cybersecurity training should include a variety of topics, such as email phishing, password security, social engineering, malware, understanding HIPAA- privacy and security rules, and safeguarding sensitive information. By educating healthcare workers on best practices for cybersecurity, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches, cyber-attacks, and other forms of cybercrime.

Experience Better Healthcare Compliance

MedSafe is the nation’s leading one-stop resource for outsourced accreditation and healthcare compliance solutions. For over 20 years, we have been providing peace of mind to hospital groups, private practices, and their business associates. Our suite of onsite and online training services, including OSHA, HIPAA, Corporate Compliance and Code Auditing better equip your practice with the necessary tools and skills to achieve and maintain regulatory billing compliance. MedSafe takes a hands-on approach and works directly with your team to uncover issues and define suitable solutions.

The post What is Cybersecurity Awareness Training and Why is it Necessary? appeared first on MedSafe.