As Hurricane Florence was making landfall, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar issued HIPAA guidance that outlined when hospitals in declared state of emergency areas can qualify for a waiver of certain provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, including fines and penalties.…
Tag Archives: Hurricane
FDA Issues Guidance on Hurricane Readiness for Medical Devices
The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has issued important guidance on how to prepare for hurricanes when dependent on medical devices. FDA stresses that during hurricanes and other emergency situations, medical devices may be exposed to fluctuating power, contaminants, or unusual levels of heat or humidity. The guidance links to pages providing information on the use of medical devices during and during emergency situations and afterwards, including:
…HHS Issues Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions Post-Hurricane Harvey
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has used its authority to waive certain provisions of HIPAA in response to Hurricane Harvey. HHS previously declared a public health emergency in Texas and Louisiana related to the hurricane and its aftermath. …
