New OCR HIPAA guidance doesn’t lessen need for clarity on apps

Today, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued guidance to clarify patients’ rights to their health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In response, ACT | The App Association Executive Director Morgan Reed released the following statement:

We’re pleased to see guidance from OCR to clarify patients’ rights under HIPAA. Having access to one’s health information is a critical part of patient care that leads to better outcomes.

However, today’s guidance does not obviate the need for OCR to create more useful resources for app makers and connected device companies. Recent regulatory shifts place greater value on the use of patient-generated health data by care providers. But, the companies that make the apps and devices that consumers find so useful must have clear guidelines to continue innovating in this life-changing space.

We appreciate the steps OCR is taking and look forward to continuing to work with them on this topic.

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