The Changing HIPAA Landscape: Seminar on October 1, 2009 in Baltimore, MD

If you are an employer that sponsors a group health plan for your employees, an insurer, a hospital, a physician practice or a medical provider—or any business that provides services to these entities—then you need to know about the dramatic changes to HIPAA's privacy and security rules that were enacted as a part of President Obama's economic stimulus program. Health plans, health providers and the entities that do business with them will now become subject to the expanded rules, penalties, and investigatory powers of the federal government. Our panel of Venable attorneys will cover important new requirements that must be incorporated into your HIPAA compliance program, including:

• reporting breaches of unsecured protected health information (PHI) to affected individuals, the media, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• enhanced rights for individuals and their PHI, including the new standards for the disclosure of electronic health records.
• the direct application of the privacy and security rules to entities that do business with health plans and providers (business associates); and
• changes to your existing business associate contracts and systems to respond to the expanded rules.

In addition, Venable attorneys will discuss the heightened penalties and enforcement programs—and give you practical tips about the steps you should be taking now to ensure that your HIPAA compliance program is up to date.