--- title: HIPAA Audit Program Resumes description: The HIPAA audit program will resume, focusing on selected provisions of the HIPAA Security Rule most relevant to hacking and ransomware attacks. image: https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/hipaa-audit-b.jpg --- ![HIPAA Audit Program Resumes](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/hipaa-audit-b.jpg) # HIPAA Audit Program Resumes - Home - [Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers](https://blog.nisbenefits.com) - HIPAA Audit Program Resumes [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 01/24/2025 [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [0 Comments ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hipaa-audit-program-resumes#postComment) 1 Minutes *1 minute read* The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated its HIPAA enforcement [website](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/audit/index.html) to announce the start of the 2024-25 HIPAA audit program. The program has been dormant since 2016-17 due to funding issues. The 2024-25 HIPAA audits will review 50 covered entities, focusing on compliance with key Security Rule provisions to combat hacking and ransomware. HIPAA audits focus on compliance improvement, but serious issues may lead to a compliance review.   ## **HIPAA Security Rule** The [HIPAA Security Rule](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html) mandates the protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI) by requiring covered entities to assess risks and implement safeguards to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability.   ## **HIPAA Audit Program** HHS must regularly audit entities for HIPAA compliance. The last audits were in 2016-17, covering 166 entities and 41 associates. A November 25, 2024, [report](https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2024/the-office-for-civil-rights-should-enhance-its-hipaa-audit-program-to-enforce-hipaa-requirements-and-improve-the-protection-of-electronic-protected-health-information/) by HHS’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) found the HIPAA audit program ineffective in boosting cybersecurity at regulated entities. OIG suggested expanding their audit scope to better assess compliance with Security Rule safeguards. In December 2024, it was announced that HIPAA audits would resume, focusing on cybersecurity-related compliance. An industry report will summarize the 2024-25 HIPAA audits once they are completed. Employers with health plans accessing ePHI should regularly check HIPAA Security Rule compliance, ensuring their risk analysis is current and safeguards are in place. Download the [bulletin](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-supporting-docs/bulletin-resume-audit-program-hipaa.pdf) for more details. [![Why Integrated HRAs May Work Better than HSAs](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3325505/857c1958-e496-4395-9655-c962068c9d59.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3325505/857c1958-e496-4395-9655-c962068c9d59) --- #### Tag: [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) #### Share: - [Follow us on Facebook ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hipaa-audit-program-resumes) - [Follow us on Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hipaa-audit-program-resumes&text=HIPAA%20Audit%20Program%20Resumes) - [Follow us on Linkedin ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hipaa-audit-program-resumes) - [Follow us on Pinterest ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blog.nisbenefits.com/hipaa-audit-program-resumes&text=HIPAA%20Audit%20Program%20Resumesdescription=1%20minute%20read%20The%20U.S.%20Department%20of%20Health%20and%20Human%20Services%20(HHS)%20has%20updated%20its%20HIPAA%20enforcement%20website%20to%20announce%20the%20start%20of%20the%202024-25%20HIPAA%20audit[...]&media=https://info.nisbenefits.com/hubfs/blog-headers/hipaa-audit-b.jpg) --- [ #### FAQs Provide New Guidance on Gag Clause Attestation Requirement ##### Previous Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/faqs-guidance-gag-clause-attestation) [#### Opinion Letter Issued Regarding FMLA and State PFML Programs ##### Next Post ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/opinion-letter-fmla-state-pfml-program) ### Leave a Reply This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Category - [Legislative News (1149)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) - [Health Insurance Solutions (504)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions) - [COVID-19 (209)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/covid-19) - [Ancillary Benefits (175)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/ancillary-benefits) - [Mental Health (122)](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) ### Popular Posts [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 02/16/2024 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions) [ Understanding Embedded vs. Nonembedded Deductibles ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/understanding-embedded-nonembedded-deductibles) [ Erin Woulfe ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/erin-woulfe) 02/09/2026 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ IRS Releases 2027 Health Plan Cost-sharing Limits ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2027-health-plan-cost-sharing-limits) [ Valerie Ortiz ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/valerie-ortiz) 02/17/2026 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ 4 Employee Wellness Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2026 ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/2026-employee-wellness-trends) [ Dina Lubben ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/dina-lubben) 11/14/2025 [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ Trump Administration Unveils Plan to Make GLP-1 Drugs Affordable ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/trump-administration-plan-glp1-drugs-affordable) --- ## Related Posts [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner) [ Valerie Ortiz ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/valerie-ortiz) 07 July, 2026 #### [New CMS Report: Healthcare Spending Trends Through 2034](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/healthcare-spending-trends-through-2034) New projections from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of the… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/healthcare-spending-trends-through-2034) [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news), [ The Administrator's Corner](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/the-administrators-corner), [ Mental Health](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/mental-health) [ Steve Smith ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/steve-smith) 06 July, 2026 #### [New HHS Rule Expands Catastrophic Coverage Access](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/new-hhs-rule-expands-catastrophic-coverage-access) The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/new-hhs-rule-expands-catastrophic-coverage-access) [ Health Insurance Solutions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/health-insurance-solutions), [ Legislative News](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/topic/aca-other-legislative-news) [ Mari Wagner ](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/author/mari-wagner) 25 June, 2026 #### [Federal Court Blocks Key ACA Exchange Restrictions](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/federal-court-blocks-key-aca-exchange-restrictions) A recent federal court ruling blocked stricter ACA Marketplace eligibility and enrollment… [Read More](https://blog.nisbenefits.com/federal-court-blocks-key-aca-exchange-restrictions)