The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a set of federal regulations that govern the privacy and security of health information. The HIPAA Omnibus Rule of 2013 was a major update to HIPAA that made a number of changes to the way health information is protected.

One of the most significant changes made by the HIPAA Omnibus Rule was the expansion of the definition of protected health information (PHI). PHI is any information that can be used to identify an individual, including their name, address, date of birth, and health information. The expansion of the definition of PHI means that healthcare organizations must now take special care to protect more types of health information, such as genetic information.

The HIPAA Omnibus Rule also strengthened the requirements for how PHI can be used and shared. For example, the rule now prohibits covered entities from selling PHI without the patient's consent. The rule also places new restrictions on how PHI can be used for marketing and fundraising.

In addition to strengthening the requirements for how PHI can be used and shared, the HIPAA Omnibus Rule also increased the penalties for violating HIPAA rules. The maximum fine for a HIPAA violation is now $250,000 per violation, up from $100,000 per violation.

The HIPAA Omnibus Rule also required covered entities to implement new security measures to protect PHI from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. These new security measures include things like implementing a risk assessment program, developing and implementing security policies and procedures, and training employees on HIPAA security requirements.

The HIPAA Omnibus Rule is a complex set of regulations, and it is important for healthcare organizations to seek guidance from a qualified HIPAA compliance expert to ensure that they are in compliance with the rule.

The HIPAA Omnibus Rule is a significant step forward in protecting the privacy and security of health information. By expanding the definition of PHI, strengthening the requirements for how PHI can be used and shared, increasing the penalties for violating HIPAA rules, and requiring new security measures, the HIPAA Omnibus Rule helps to ensure that patient health information is protected in a digital world.