By Elizabeth McElhiney, MHA, CHPS, CPHIMS, CRIS
Director of Compliance and Government Affairs
Verisma
January 2, 2023
Privacy gets (more) complicated
We’ve said it before – the US is overdue for a national conversation on privacy. 2023 only increased the stakes with the increased adoption of AI, stark state-level differences on social policies, and the prevalence of cybersecurity threats. Navigating these conflicts – in the absence of a national privacy framework – will be increasingly time-consuming and high-stakes for privacy and compliance professionals.
Patients will be the primary focus
Healthcare consumerism and patient-centered care have been hot topics in 2023 and will remain so in 2024. One area that hasn’t received as much attention is the emphasis on individual patient factors – for example, what constitutes a burden for some patients when requesting records is not for others. Information blocking exceptions specifically prioritize individual factors in the preventing harm and content/manner exceptions. It will no longer be enough to have a black-and-white procedure manual; instead, organizations may want to consider a “playbook” of factors to be considered.
Expect regulatory activity, especially in early 2024
The last Congress will be one of the least productive in memory – and there weren’t high hopes given the ideological polarization and thin margins in both chambers. Expect to see regulatory agencies attempt to step in through rulemaking. Early 2024 will likely see the most activity – agencies will want to publish or enact any rules prior to 60 days before a potential change in administrations.
and as always …
Executing on fundamentals is key
This one goes across all areas – we can’t stop emphasizing fundamentals while we handle increasing complexities. It’s the little things that get you in the end. Keep on top of cybersecurity by emphasizing employee cyberhygiene, patient privacy and safety by verifying patients with two identifiers, and patient access by improving request processes and adding new delivery options.
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