HIPAA compliance deadline looms.

The article discusses the changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S., effective September 23, 2013. Compliance requirements for medical practices include performing an analysis of electronic protected health information's (PHI) vulnerability to loss or theft, encryption of patient PHI and reviewing PHI policies and procedures. Patients are allowed to forbid disclosure of information about a test or treatment under the new regulations.