Government & Policy
This past year was a busy one, with new policy changes, cybersecurity challenges, EHR optimization advancements, innovations in patient care and, yes, a whole lot of AI.
It was another record-breaking year for healthcare cyberattacks, and healthcare providers' network servers were again prime targets for hackers.
Cybersecurity In Focus
The agency seeks to make its first HIPAA Security Rule update since 2013 to clarify what health plans, healthcare clearinghouses, providers and their business associates must do to protect the security of electronic protected health information.
The agency plans to roll out federal electronic health record systems at four Michigan facilities in mid-2026. Pre-deployment activities will kick off in the coming weeks.
Stripped out of the final bill is a provision to prevent the 2.8% Medicare pay cut to physicians.
John Saran, a partner at Holland & Knight, says that while many are anticipating longer review periods and larger filing and documentation requirements, questions remain about what changes will happen at the FTC under the new presidential administration.
Lawmakers recommend establishing and investing in federal AI resources that foster collaboration among agencies and sectoral regulation, which includes two key findings and five recommendations for healthcare.
The court battle with Particle Health highlights how national health information exchange networks rely on a chain of trust that can be broken, jeopardizing patient privacy under HIPAA.
The Healthcare Cybersecurity Improvement Act, introduced by Rep. Robin Kelly, offers statutory protections for HC3 and funds a grant program to help small and medium-sized hospitals bolster their defenses, among other provisions.
The bipartisan continuing resolution announced on Monday offers "big wins" for virtual care, and the American Telemedicine Association and other healthcare groups are pleased.