Deer Oaks Behavioral Health

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with Deer Oaks – The Behavioral Health Solution (Deer Oaks), a behavioral health provider, resolving potential violations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. Deer Oaks provides psychological and psychiatric services to residents of long-term care and assisted living facilities. OCR enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (the HIPAA Rules), which set forth the requirements that covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, and most health care providers) and business associates must follow to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). The HIPAA Privacy Rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ PHI; sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures of PHI; and gives individuals certain rights, including the right to timely access their health records. The HIPAA Security Rule establishes national standards to protect and secure our health care system by requiring administrative, physical, and technical safegua