Judge Rules HHS Online Tracking Policy Unlawful

A federal judge in Texas ruled that the Biden administration's guidance prohibiting hospitals from using online tracking technologies on their websites was unlawful, as it overstepped its authority under HIPAA. The ruling favored hospital trade groups, including the American Hospital Association, stating that the guidance could reveal private health information and impose penalties on violators. The judge's decision vacated the guidance that warned about third-party technology companies analyzing visitor data on healthcare websites. This ruling impacts the industry's ability to share health information and analyze website traffic for public health purposes.