OCR to Exercise Enforcement Discretion for COVID-19 Vaccination Scheduling Apps
- January 22, 2021
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will not impose penalties for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act rules resulting from the “good faith use” of online or web-based applications for scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments during the public health emergency.
The notification of enforcement discretion for covered entities and business associates is retroactive to December 11, 2020.
“OCR is using all available means to support the efficient and safe administration of COVID-19 vaccines to as many people as possible,” said March Bell, Acting OCR Director, in the January 19 announcement.