Article: Not For The Weak At Heart: PHI Data Losses

Since 1996, changing technology — especially mobile computing technology — has made meeting HIPAA requirements a more complex undertaking. Analysts report that over the last several years, healthcare data security breaches have exposed information related to more than 1.5 million patients. These breaches can be more costly than ever, with the HITECH Act raising the stakes of HIPAA compliance to include:

• An extension of HIPAA rules to business associates;
• Stricter requirement for breach notifications;
• And more proactive enforcement.