Partner Mike Overly was quoted in a Modern Healthcare article, “Wider HIPAA Audits May Drive Stronger Vendor Contracts,” on March 23, 2016. The article discussed the announcement that vendors of healthcare organizations, termed “business associates,” will be included as primary targets in the second round of HIPAA audits by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The audits are intended to clamp down on vendors handling patient data for healthcare organizations to ensure HIPAA-compliance and minimize security failures that could lead to a data breach. The announcement also suggests that enforcement of the OCR’s more stringent privacy and security rules could give healthcare organizations more leverage to get stronger agreements with their vendors.
Overly was quoted saying, “It will force greater visibility into what’s going on – and greater accountability. In many instances, covered entities don’t have the right to go in and audit what a business associate is doing.” He continued to explain, now that business associates are legally liable to the feds for compliance with HIPAA privacy and security rules, “covered entities will insist on having some kind of audit rights” when they sign HIPAA-mandated agreements with these vendors.
Overly was quoted saying, “It will force greater visibility into what’s going on – and greater accountability. In many instances, covered entities don’t have the right to go in and audit what a business associate is doing.” He continued to explain, now that business associates are legally liable to the feds for compliance with HIPAA privacy and security rules, “covered entities will insist on having some kind of audit rights” when they sign HIPAA-mandated agreements with these vendors.
People
Related News
06 February 2025
In the News
Vanessa Miller Assesses Panama Canal Discourse
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Vanessa Miller commented in SupplyChainBrain article, "The Fight for Control of the Panama Canal," lending important context to the recent headlines over the important waterway.
06 February 2025
In the News
Gregory Husisian Weighs in on Suspension of De Minimis Trade Exemption
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Gregory Husisian offered context on President Trump's recent trade actions on China in The Wall Street Journal article, "Why Trump Is Closing a Trade Exemption for China."
04 February 2025
In the News
Andrew Wronski on Tariff Fluidity – 'Keep on top of the issues'
Foley & Lardner LLP partner Andrew Wronski assessed the evolving shift in U.S. trade policy in the Milwaukee Business Journal article, "Trump tariffs won't disappear — so how should Wisconsin businesses prepare?"