HIPAA Compliance 2024 Webinar: Preparing for Imminent Audits

HIPAA compliance continues to evolve, and with strong bipartisan backing in Washington, audits are becoming more frequent and rigorous. The 2024 regulatory landscape, including updates under the Omnibus Rule, brings new responsibilities and challenges for covered entities, business associates, and healthcare providers.

This 90-minute webinar is designed for HIPAA compliance officers, practice managers, IT leaders, and healthcare executives who need practical, scenario-based guidance to ensure their HIPAA programs are audit-ready. Drawing on over 22 years of experience working with federal auditors, state regulators, corporate auditors, and litigated cases, this session will clarify myths versus realities in HIPAA compliance and provide actionable strategies to protect your organization.

Participants will gain insights into email, texting, medical messaging, voice data, portable devices, and IT risk management, along with lessons from real-life litigated cases where HIPAA issues intersected with negligence claims.

Why You Should Attend

HIPAA enforcement has intensified, with both audits and legal actions on the rise. In 2022, enforcement and fines reached record levels, and 2024 is expected to continue this trend. Attending this session will help you:

• Understand the latest HIPAA updates and 2024 Omnibus Rule changes

• Identify high-risk areas for audits and litigation

• Clarify roles and responsibilities of HIPAA Compliance Officers

• Implement practical strategies for emailing, texting, and securing PHI

• Avoid becoming “low-hanging fruit” for audits or lawsuits

• Learn best practices for breach response, ransomware prevention, and risk mitigation

This session is essential for anyone responsible for HIPAA compliance or managing PHI in their organization.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Interpret new HIPAA requirements for 2024, including updates on Information Access, Information Blocking, and Notice of Privacy Practices

2. Understand the roles and responsibilities of a HIPAA Compliance Officer

3. Identify what constitutes Protected Health Information (PHI) under new definitions

4. Evaluate risks associated with BYOD, portable devices, email, and texting

5. Apply strategies to prevent ransomware attacks and manage data breaches

6. Navigate the federal audit process and prepare to mitigate findings

7. Analyze real-life litigated HIPAA cases to understand liability risks

8. Develop robust HIPAA policies and procedures for covered entities and business associates

Detailed Areas Covered

1. Updates for 2024

• Overview of the Omnibus Rule and additional regulatory changes

• Implications of federal initiatives like Information Access, Care Coordination, and Information Blocking

• Updates on recent federal decisions including Dobbs vs. Jackson

• Enforcement priorities and trends

2. Compliance Officer Requirements

• Responsibilities and legal obligations for HIPAA compliance officers

• Integrating compliance into IT, HR, and clinical workflows

• Tools and resources for monitoring and reporting

3. Protected Health Information (PHI)

• Updated 2024 definition of PHI

• Handling PHI across multiple platforms: email, texting, medical messaging, and voice data

• Common myths and misconceptions clarified

4. BYOD and Portable Devices

• Risks associated with personal devices accessing PHI

• Policies to reduce unauthorized access and exposure

• Strategies for secure remote work and device management

5. Business Associates and Increased Burden

• Responsibilities for business associates under new rules

• Ensuring contracts and agreements reflect HIPAA compliance

• Audit and reporting requirements for third-party partners

6. Communication of PHI

• Best practices for emailing, texting, and transmitting PHI

• Encryption standards and compliance strategies

• Ensuring secure medical messaging and voice data handling

7. Risk Assessment and Audit Preparation

• Federal audit process and expectations

• High-risk areas that trigger audits or litigation

• Tools and strategies to mitigate risk and maintain readiness

8. Breach Management and Ransomware Prevention

• Steps to take when a breach occurs

• Notification requirements under HIPAA and state laws

• How to prevent ransomware incidents and minimize damage

9. Real-Life Case Studies

• Examples from litigated cases showing how HIPAA intersects with negligence claims

• Lessons learned and practical takeaways

• Guidance for proactive risk management

Who Will Benefit

This webinar is designed for:

• Practice Managers and Administrators

• HIPAA Compliance Officers

• IT Professionals working with medical practices or hospitals

• Business Associates (billing companies, transcription companies, IT services, answering services, home health agencies, coders, attorneys)

• Medical Professionals (MDs, nurses, allied health providers)

Benefits of Attending

Participants will leave the webinar with:

• A clear understanding of HIPAA 2024 changes and Omnibus Rule updates

• Practical strategies to manage PHI safely across multiple platforms

• Tools to prevent breaches, reduce risk, and mitigate audit exposure

• Lessons from real-life litigated cases

• Guidance for developing robust HIPAA policies and procedures

• Knowledge to protect both covered entities and business associates from fines and litigation