Report Highlights Evolving Compliance Trends, Priorities, and Challenges in 2025
By SAI360
Healthcare entities continue to face escalating demands in privacy, security, and regulatory compliance. But what does ensuring resilience and strict adherence look like in practical terms in 2025?
The newly released 2025 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Report developed in collaboration between SAI360 and Strategic Management Services and led by Richard P. Kusserow, former DHHS Inspector General, reveals Compliance Officers are increasingly taking on broader responsibilities without corresponding increases in resources.
Researchers note a continued trend toward outsourcing essential services such as hotline support, sanction screening, and compliance training to manage core compliance activities effectively amidst limited resource expansion.
Amidst these operational challenges, the report underscores critical compliance issues, upcoming trends, and the strategic adjustments healthcare organizations must consider ensuring their compliance practices remain robust and effective in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.
10 key insights from the 2025 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Report
Remote work remains firmly established
Eighty percent of Compliance Office staff work remotely, either full-time or part-time, demonstrating that flexible work arrangements have become a permanent fixture in healthcare compliance operations.
Compliance Offices are thinly staffed
One-third of Compliance Offices have only one full-time or part-time employee, highlighting significant resource constraints despite expanding responsibilities.
Resource allocations remain stagnant
Two-thirds of respondents expect resource and staffing levels to remain unchanged in 2025, despite increased scope of responsibilities for most compliance departments.
HIPAA Privacy dominates compliance workloads
Privacy compliance now consumes about half the time and effort of compliance offices, underscoring the significant impact of privacy regulations on healthcare operations.
Compliance Officer reporting structures vary
Half of Compliance Officers report directly to the CEO, aligning with OIG recommendations, while one in five still report to Legal Counsel, which contradicts best practices for independent compliance oversight.
Board engagement is improving
Sixty-three percent of Compliance Officers provide quarterly reports to the Board of Directors, indicating growing recognition of compliance as a governance priority.
Leadership support issues persist
Ten percent of respondents reported poor support of the Compliance Program from leadership and the Board of Directors, pointing to ongoing challenges in establishing compliance as an organizational priority.
Artificial intelligence enters the compliance conversation
Nearly half of respondents indicated their organizations are actively discussing or considering risks, opportunities, and strategies regarding emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Regulatory change remains the top challenge
Staying current with the evolving regulatory and enforcement environment was cited as the greatest compliance challenge for 2025, reflecting the increasingly complex compliance landscape.
Enforcement agency encounters are common
Half of respondents reported encounters with enforcement agencies in the past three years, with OCR remaining the most frequently encountered agency, highlighting the ongoing importance of HIPAA compliance.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Report reveals a concerning trend: as regulatory complexity increases and compliance responsibilities expand, resources are not keeping pace. Compliance departments are being asked to do more with the same or fewer resources, creating potential vulnerabilities in healthcare organizations’ compliance frameworks.
Most telling is that one-third of Compliance Offices are staffed by just one full-time or part-time employee, while privacy compliance alone consumes approximately half of compliance resources. This imbalance between responsibilities and resources could potentially compromise compliance effectiveness and increase organizational risk exposure.
Therefore, healthcare organizations must reassess their compliance resource allocations and consider strategic alternatives, such as outsourcing specific compliance functions and leveraging technology solutions, to bridge the gap between expanding obligations and constrained resources.
The report also highlights the increasing importance of artificial intelligence in compliance operations, with nearly half of organizations actively discussing or considering AI strategies. Forward-thinking organizations should explore how these technologies can enhance compliance monitoring and efficiency while ensuring appropriate oversight of their implementation.
For more information, visit www.sai360.com and click here to demo SAI360’s GRC solutions.
SAI360 is giving companies a new perspective on risk management. By integrating Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) software and Ethics & Compliance Learning resources, SAI360 can broaden your risk horizon and increase your ability to identify, manage, and mitigate risk. See risk from every angle.