Rebecca Williams

Practice Areas

Rebecca L. Williams, RN, JD, is a nationally recognized authority on HIPAA, health information privacy, and data breach response. As a registered nurse with hands-on experience in hospital and other healthcare environments, she brings a practical perspective to her practice.

From initial development of HIPAA compliance programs to one-off questions to government investigations, Becky works with HIPAA covered entities and business associates to safeguard health information while keeping their businesses running efficiently. She also works side-by-side with clients in developing new technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, consistent with HIPAA compliance. Becky assists her clients in preparing for and responding to data breaches, with a goal of recovering as quickly as possible while complying with breach notification and other regulatory requirements.

Becky represents: healthcare providers; financial institutions and payment processors; cloud service providers; business associates; AI and technology developers; and health plans and plan sponsors.

Becky is a frequent national speaker, is an author of numerous publications, including a contributing author of the HIPAA Portability, Privacy & Security Manual, published by the Employee Benefits Institute of America (a Thomson Reuters imprint), and regularly is quoted in the media.

Professional Memberships

Co-Chair, Sub-workgroup on Enforcement – Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI), Strategic National Implementation Project

Chair, Sub-workgroup on Preemption, WEDI

Vice Chair, Health Information and Technology Practice Group, American Health Lawyers Association, 2004-2010

Legal Aspects of Health Information Exchange Task Force, Health Information and Management Systems Society

Secretary, Trustee; Executive Committee Member – Villa Academy, 2009-2015

Trustee, 2001-2009; Executive Committee Member, 2006 –

American Lung Association of the Northwest

Washington State Society of Healthcare Attorneys

American Bar Association

Work Highlights

Recognized expertise

Named one of the "Best Lawyers in America" in Health Care Law by Woodward/White and a “Best Lawyer” in Seattle. Co-chairs DWT’s Health Information Practice. Regularly addresses cutting-edge issues related to health information privacy.

HIPAA

Practical advice stems from working with HIPAA since HIPAA was born, plus a deep knowledge of the healthcare industry. Negotiated so many business associate agreements for both covered entities and business associates that she can negotiate with herself in her sleep. By understanding both sides, the negotiation process shortens, saving time, money, and aggravation for clients.

Incident response

Walks clients through data breaches involving health information including assisting with determination of a reportable breach, provision of notification, documentation, and response to government investigation. Practical experience alleviates at least some of the pain.

Education