Third-Party Health Apps Not Subject To HIPAA Rules, OCR Says

According to new information by the HHS Office of Civil Rights (OCR) released Friday (April 19), smartphone apps created by third-party developers and not by providers or business associates covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are not subject to HIPAA rules, even if a breach occurs. Third-party apps might include fertility apps, weight loss apps, mental health apps, lifestyle apps and apps for diabetes patients, said Robert Tennant, a senior policy adviser at the Medical Group...