Which authority was granted to State Attorneys General by the HITECH Act?

The HITECH Act empowered State Attorneys General with the authority to prosecute civil penalties for HIPAA non-compliance. This provision was designed to enhance enforcement capabilities at the state level, allowing State Attorneys General to take action against entities that fail to adhere to HIPAA regulations. By granting this authority, the HITECH Act aimed to strengthen privacy protections for individuals' health information and ensure compliance with federal standards by allowing local prosecutors to enforce these rules and hold entities accountable for violations.

This enhancement of authority helps promote a proactive approach in addressing potential breaches of patient privacy, reassuring the public that their health information is being safeguarded not only at the federal level but also at the state level. By enabling State Attorneys General to act, the HITECH Act fosters a collaborative enforcement environment to better protect individual rights associated with health information privacy.