--- title: Blog | Outside GC | Marni Smilow Levitt description: The Outside GC blog features practical tips, insights, and other news from Outside GC's experienced on-demand attorneys. Read our latest blog posts here. --- [![logo-small.png](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Outside_GC_May_2015/Logos/logo-small.png?width=90&name=logo-small.png "logo-small.png")](http://www.outsidegc.com) - BLOG - ** --- ### Headquarters 501 Boylston Street, 10th Floor Boston, MA 02116 (617)-737-5000 info@outsidegc.com ![hero_news-events.jpg](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Outside_GC_May_2015/Backgrounds/hero_news-events.jpg?width=1600&name=hero_news-events.jpg "hero_news-events.jpg") ## ON-DEMAND INSIGHTS ## Marni Smilow Levitt ### Recent Posts [![Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule in 2021](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hubfs/The-doctor-shows-HIPAA-privacy-rule-in-his-office.-1268417534_1185x889.jpeg) ](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/proposed-changes-to-hipaa-privacy-rule-in-2021) ## [Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule in 2021](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/proposed-changes-to-hipaa-privacy-rule-in-2021) February 2, 2021 at 2:03 PM - The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will see significant changes this year as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continues its “Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care” initiative which aims to remove obstacles to coordinated patient care that may exist due to federal regulations like HIPAA. On December 10th, the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a [Notice of Proposed Rulemaking](https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-ocr-hipaa-nprm.pdf), indicating its intention to revise the HIPAA Privacy Rule, among other priorities. [Continue Reading](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/proposed-changes-to-hipaa-privacy-rule-in-2021) [![OCR Right of Access Initiative Bares Its Teeth](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Medical-Record-519661631_1185x889.jpeg) ](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/office-of-civil-rights-enforcing-hipaa-right-of-access-initiative) ## [OCR Right of Access Initiative Bares Its Teeth](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/office-of-civil-rights-enforcing-hipaa-right-of-access-initiative) October 26, 2020 at 3:03 PM - [Business Associates](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/topic/business-associates), Last year, the Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced a new initiative – the HIPAA Right of Access Initiative – as an enforcement priority in support of the right of individuals to timely access of their health records under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rule. As of this October, OCR has settled 9 enforcement actions against healthcare organizations for failure to comply. [Continue Reading](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/office-of-civil-rights-enforcing-hipaa-right-of-access-initiative) [![Limited Waiver of HIPAA Penalties for Provision of Telemedicine during COVID-19 Crisis](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hubfs/Doctor-with-a-stethoscope.-Telehealth-conference.-1131624272_1286x818.jpeg) ](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/limited-waiver-of-hipaa-penalties-for-provision-of-telemedicine-during-covid-19-crisis) ## [Limited Waiver of HIPAA Penalties for Provision of Telemedicine during COVID-19 Crisis](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/limited-waiver-of-hipaa-penalties-for-provision-of-telemedicine-during-covid-19-crisis) March 27, 2020 at 11:24 AM - [HIPAA compliance](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/topic/hipaa-compliance), Over the past few weeks, as the crisis around COVID-19 has escalated, the federal government has taken steps to empower medical providers to continue caring for patients, wherever they might be, in response to social distancing and self-quarantine directives. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agencies tasked with administration and enforcement of HIPAA regulations, have issued several bulletins which provide guidance to Covered Entities and Business Associates around maintaining patient privacy when using telemedicine practices to treat patients during the COVID-19 public health crisis. [Continue Reading](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/limited-waiver-of-hipaa-penalties-for-provision-of-telemedicine-during-covid-19-crisis) [![OCR Fact Sheet Clarifies Instances of Business Associate Direct Liability under HIPAA](https://62401.hs-sites.com/hubfs/HIPPA-Compliance-web-banner-header-w-Medical-Icon-Set-%26-text-962722770_1639x643.jpeg) ](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/ocr-fact-sheet-business-associate-direct-liability) ## [OCR Fact Sheet Clarifies Instances of Business Associate Direct Liability under HIPAA](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/ocr-fact-sheet-business-associate-direct-liability) July 11, 2019 at 1:55 PM - [Healthcare](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/topic/healthcare), On May 24, 2019, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) – the arm of the Department of Health and Human Services that enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) – issued a new fact sheet clarifying the specific instances in which a business associate can be found directly liable for violations of the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Breach Notification and Enforcement Rules (“HIPAA Rules”). As you may know, prior to the promulgation of the 2013 HIPAA Final Rule, liability of business associates could arise only under the terms of a business associate agreement. [Continue Reading](https://62401.hs-sites.com/blog/ocr-fact-sheet-business-associate-direct-liability) ### Subscribe to our Blog ### Popular Posts [View All Posts ›](https://www.outsidegc.com/blog/all) [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Blog%20%7C%20Outside%20GC%20%7C%20Marni%20Smilow%20Levitt) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2F62401.hs-sites.com%2Fblog%2Fauthor%2Fmarni-smilow-levitt%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) This publication should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances nor an offer to represent you. 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