Bulletin: September 17, 2004

HIPAA enforcement rule delayed

By: , Compliance Officer

Though portions of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification provisions are in effect, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) still has not published a final rule regarding the enforcement of HIPAA.

The interim final rule, published in April 2003, was to expire on September 16, 2004 but HHS announced that it will extend, until 9/16/05, the interim final rule establishing civil monetary penalties for violations of the standards under the Administrative Simplification provisions of HIPAA.

HHS decided to extend the procedural rule, which was set to expire on September 16, to "avoid disruption of ongoing enforcement actions" while the agency develops a "more comprehensive enforcement rule," according to the interim final rule.