What is the purpose of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule?

The purpose of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule is to enhance patient privacy protections. This rule, which came into effect in 2013, made several key modifications to the original HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, thereby strengthening the privacy and security measures surrounding protected health information (PHI).

One significant change introduced by the Omnibus Rule was the increase in penalties for violations of HIPAA regulations, which encourages compliance and motivates covered entities and business associates to take patient privacy seriously. Additionally, the rule granted patients more rights regarding their health information, such as the ability to restrict disclosures and the requirement for greater transparency from healthcare providers regarding how PHI is used and shared.

In contrast, while some options may relate to aspects of healthcare operations or financial procedures, they do not capture the key essence of the Omnibus Rule, which is fundamentally focused on enhancing the privacy and security of patients' health information. This focus is critical in an era where health data breaches have become increasingly common, and patients are now more aware of their rights regarding personal medical information.