Some employers will soon feel the impact of one of the major provisions of the 2009 economic stimulus package. Specifically, health care providers, health plans and health care clearinghouses will be the targets of new government audits focusing on Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) privacy and security compliance.

HIPAA Compliance Audit Program

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) amended certain provisions of HIPAA....