OCR Exempts COVID-19 Community-Based Testing Sites From HIPAA Penalties
- April 14, 2020
HealthIT Security (4/13) reports “the Office for Civil Rights announced yet another enforcement discretion during the Coronavirus pandemic, lifting potential HIPAA penalties related to noncompliance for covered entities and business providers using good faith participation of COVID-19 Community-Based Testing Site (CBTS).” HealthIT Security says “this is the fourth enforcement discretion enacted by OCR during the pandemic” as they have “also carved out exceptions for business associates, first responders, and telehealth.” OCR Director Roger Severino said, “We are taking extraordinary action to help the growth of mobile testing sites so more people can get tested quickly and safely.”