New HIPAA Rule Enhances Reproductive Healthcare Privacy Amid Legal Changes

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will implement the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Healthcare Privacy on December 23, 2024, in response to the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. This rule intends to enhance privacy protections for reproductive healthcare by preventing HIPAA-covered entities from disclosing protected health information (PHI) in scenarios where it could assist law enforcement or other entities in investigating individuals for lawful reproductive healthcare. To comply, these entities must require an attestation from requesters, confirming that their intended use of the information does not involve prohibited purposes, particularly in health oversight, judicial proceedings, or law enforcement.

Opens on HIPAA Journal