The Health and Human Services Department is ending its effort to overturn a ruling that determined the agency overstepped when it created a policy preventing providers from using certain third-party tracking technologies due to potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act violations.
HHS on Thursday withdrew its motion filed with the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to appeal the district court decision in the case brought in November by the American Hospital Association. Both sides consented to the withdrawal and will be responsible for their own costs, according to court filings.
Related: Federal court sides with AHA on web tracking suit
A federal court ruled in June that HHS did not have the jurisdiction to prohibit providers from using third-party tracking technology. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas granted AHA's request for the HHS policy to be nullified but denied the trade group's request for permanent injunction.
AHA said Thursday it was pleased with the agency's decision.
