
The HIPAA minimum necessary standard has governed protected health information access for more than two decades. AI clinical decision support tools that process entire patient records are now testing that standard in ways the 2000 Privacy Rule never anticipated.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights has announced its 2026 HIPAA enforcement priorities with a sharp focus on telehealth platforms and AI-assisted clinical decision support tools. Healthcare organizations that expanded digital health offerings during the pandemic are now in the enforcement crosshairs.