Benefits
Update
Newsletter
Update
Newsletter
by Marvin S. (Bucky) Swift, Jr.
On January 17, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule under HIPAA making substantial changes to the rules for vendors that provide services to HIPAA-covered plans, such as third-party administrators, pharmacy benefit managers and certain brokers – known in the HIPAA world as “Business Associates.” Under this final rule, Business Associates are required, for the first time, to comply with the HIPAA Security Rule, many provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule and are subject to direct enforcement by HHS.