Privacy & Information Security Law Blog

In a move that portends increased enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rule, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) has created two new positions on its health information privacy enforcement team.  According to the job listings, the new Health Information Privacy Specialists at the HHS Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) will be responsible for “reviewing, analyzing, implementing, promoting, or improving proposed or existing programs or policies needed to implement OCR’s authority for ensuring compliance with the privacy of health information requirements” of HIPAA and its implementing regulations.  The website indicates that applications for the positions will be accepted through Thursday, August 13, 2009.