Proposed Rule2026-00561
Tribal Consultation on Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services Department
Abstract
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will conduct a virtual Tribal consultation on the proposed rule "Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement."
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 1481]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-00561]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
45 CFR Parts 160 and 164
[Docket No.: HHS-OCR-0945-AA00]
Tribal Consultation on Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA
Privacy Rule
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, HHS.
ACTION: Notification of Tribal consultation.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will conduct
a virtual Tribal consultation on the proposed rule ``Modifications to
the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated
Care and Individual Engagement.''
DATES: The Tribal consultation meeting will be held on February 6,
2026, at 2-3:30 p.m. eastern time.
ADDRESSES: Virtually through Zoom. To register, go to <a href="https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/xrISmRO6SSWNEYAyq9zJqw#/registration">https://hhsgov.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/xrISmRO6SSWNEYAyq9zJqw#/registration</a>. The proposed rule can be accessed by searching for RIN
number 0945-AA00 at <a href="http://www.federalregister.gov">www.federalregister.gov</a>. If you need a paper copy
of the proposed rule sent to you, please contact Krupa Singh at (202)
240-3110 or (800) 537-7697 (TDD), or by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#93dcd0c1c3e1fae5f2f0ead3fbfbe0bdf4fce5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b6f9f5e4e6c4dfc0d7d5cff6dedec598d1d9c0">[email protected]</span></a>.
Public comments received on the proposed rule can be viewed at
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> under Docket ID number HHS-OCR-2021-0006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Devin Delrow, Principal
Advisor for Tribal Affairs, at (202) 868-0013 or at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d5e52534e4851495c495452537d55554e135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f5c50514c4a534b5e4b5650517f57574c11585049">[email protected]</span></a> with any questions about the Tribal consultation.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 21, 2021 (86 FR 6446), the
Department published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to revise
the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Privacy Rule to strengthen individuals' rights to access their own
protected health information, improve care coordination, and reduce
administrative burdens on HIPAA covered health care providers and
health plans, while continuing to protect individuals' health
information privacy interests.
Pursuant to Executive Order 13175 (65 FR 67249), Consultation and
Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments, and the Department of
Health and Human Services' Tribal Consultation Policy, the Office for
Civil Rights solicits input from Tribal officials as the Department
develops modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule at 45 CFR part 160 and
subparts A and E of 45 CFR part 164. Among other topics, the
consultation will address proposals in the NPRM to:
<bullet> Strengthen individuals' rights to access their own
protected health information, including electronic information.
<bullet> Improve information sharing for care coordination and case
management for individuals.
<bullet> Facilitate greater family and caregiver involvement in the
care of individuals experiencing emergencies or health crises.
<bullet> Enhance flexibilities for disclosures in emergency or
threatening circumstances.
<bullet> Support the use of telecommunications relay services by
individuals and workforce members of HIPAA covered entities and
business associates who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind, or who
have a speech disability.
<bullet> Expand the Privacy Rule permission to use and disclose
protected health information of Armed Forces personnel for national
readiness purposes so that it applies to all uniformed services
personnel.
Paula M. Stannard,
Director, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human
Services.
[FR Doc. 2026-00561 Filed 1-12-26; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4153-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on January 14, 2026.
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