The Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) recently extended the deadline of the interim final HIPAA enforcement rule and has set the date for a finalized rule for March 16, 2006. The current interim rule creates a means for possible violations of HIPAA's administrative simplification rules and the imposition of civil monetary penalties.

HHS has said that it expects to release the final rule soon, and that the six-month extension should allow the organization enough time to meet the new deadline.

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