OCR points HIPAA steering on audio-only telehealth providers

On June 13, 2022, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers, Workplace for Civil Rights (“OCR”), issued steering on how coated entities and enterprise associates can use distant communication applied sciences for audio-only telehealth in a HIPAA-compliant method following the top of the nationwide COVID-19 public well being emergency (“PHE”).  OCR had beforehand issued steering in 2020 informing the general public that it might not impose penalties towards well being care suppliers for noncompliance with the HIPAA guidelines in reference to the nice religion provision of telehealth providers throughout the COVID-19 PHE. The brand new steering is issued to assist the continuation of expanded entry to care by way of audio-only telehealth providers.

The brand new steering consists of responses to 4 continuously requested questions (“FAQs”) concerning compliance with the HIPAA privateness and safety guidelines in reference to audio-only telehealth providers. These FAQs cowl the next subjects:

1. Whether or not the HIPAA Privateness Rule permits well being care suppliers and well being plans to make use of distant communication applied sciences to offer audio-only telehealth providers?
   • The OCR clarified that such apply is permissible supplied that cheap safeguards for safeguarding the privateness of protected well being info (“PHI”) from impermissible makes use of or disclosures are utilized when offering telehealth providers. Examples of such safeguards embody the supply of telehealth providers in personal settings, not utilizing speakerphone and utilizing lowered voices to restrict incidental makes use of or disclosures of PHI. As well as, verification of the affected person’s identification is required, which can be carried out both orally or in writing (together with utilizing digital strategies).
2. Whether or not well being care suppliers and well being plans have to fulfill HIPAA Safety Rule necessities to make use of distant communication applied sciences to offer audio-only telehealth providers?
   • The OCR clarified that the HIPAA Safety Rule doesn’t apply to audio-only telehealth providers supplied utilizing a phone landline as a result of the knowledge transmitted will not be digital. Nonetheless, the HIPAA Safety Rule does apply to using digital communication applied sciences, resembling communication apps on a smartphone or different computing system, Voice over Web Protocol (VoIP) applied sciences, applied sciences that electronically file or transcribe a telehealth session, and messaging providers that electronically retailer audio messages. Thus, coated entities want to deal with safety dangers and vulnerabilities to digital PHI when utilizing these applied sciences as a part of the chance evaluation and threat administration processes.
3. Whether or not a well being care supplier or a well being plan could conduct audio-only telehealth utilizing distant communication applied sciences with out a enterprise affiliate settlement (“BAA”) with the seller?
   • In keeping with its prior place on the problem, the OCR said that HIPAA doesn’t require a BAA between a supplier and vendor the place the seller solely has transient entry to PHI it transmits throughout a name as a result of the seller is merely performing as a conduit for the PHI and isn’t creating, receiving, or sustaining PHI on behalf of the supplier. As an illustration, a BAA will not be required the place a supplier conducts an audio-only telehealth session with a affected person utilizing a smartphone and the seller’s sole function is connecting the decision. Nonetheless, a supplier must enter right into a BAA with a vendor that’s greater than a mere conduit for PHI. For instance, a BAA is required the place the seller’s smartphone app shops PHI (e.g., recordings, transcripts) or interprets oral communications to a different language (and due to this fact creates and receives PHI) to offer significant entry to people with restricted English proficiency.
4. Whether or not well being care suppliers could use distant communication applied sciences to offer audio-only telehealth if a person’s well being plan doesn’t present protection for these providers?
   • OCR famous that suppliers could provide audio-only telehealth providers utilizing distant communication applied sciences in line with the necessities of the HIPAA Guidelines, no matter whether or not any well being plan covers or pays for these service.

OCR’s new HIPAA steering on utilizing distant communication applied sciences for audio-only telehealth may be discovered right here.

Milada Goturi and Kevin Kifer are members of Thompson Coburn’s well being care apply.