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Health Information Compliance Alert

Enforcement:
Feds Ramp Up As Year Winds Down
If you ignore your HIPAA risks, expect to pay the price. Over the past year, HIPAA enforc... Read more
Compliance:
Consider 7 Expert Tips to Enhance 2020 HIPAA Planning
Tip: Don't brush violations under the rug — deal with them in real time. Whether your o... Read more
Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers:
Expect HICNs to Reject Starting Jan. 1
Review your MAC's MBI advice now before it's too late. The countdown is on! In less than ... Read more
Mobile Device Management:
Beef Up Mobile Device Security With 5 Quick Tips
Tip: Manage your logins and passwords accordingly. Smartphones, tablets, and laptops are ... Read more
Reader Question:
Are Electronic Faxes Considered ePHI? Find Out
Question: Our office is looking into switching over to electronic faxes exclusively. ... Read more
Reader Question:
Reminder: Family Medical History Is PHI
Question: Does a patient's family medical history fall under information protected by HIPA... Read more
Industry Note:
Senate Bill Aims to Fix 'Gaps' in HIPAA Compliance
If your organization wants tighter controls on healthcare apps and wearables, the feds hav... Read more
Industry Note:
HPIDs and OEIDs End Dec. 27
After years of industry frustration and much stakeholder feedback to kibosh the mandate, H... Read more
Industry Note:
CMS Reveals New Patients Over Paperwork Update
After months with little communication on the flagship initiative to reduce administrative... Read more
Case Study:
Compliance Fails Equal Major CMPs
Tip: Don't ignore your risk analysis recommendations. If you fail to fix your HIPAA issue... Read more
Pocket This Expert Advice for 2020 HIPAA Planning
Tip: Ensure your BAs and vendors know the HIPAA rules, too. Just because your organizatio... Read more
HIPAA Quiz:
Test Yourself on These Breach Notification Basics
Find out what “substitute individual notice” refers to. Even if your practice's daily... Read more
Fraud & Abuse:
Don't Miss IT-Related Updates to AKS
See new safe harbors to promote value-based care. The feds are on a mission to reduce adm... Read more
HIPAA Quiz Answers:
See How You Fared on Breach Notification
Hint: BAs have direct liability, too. After you've read the questions carefully and decid... Read more
Industry Note:
See New AIC Thresholds for 2020
If you're filing an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) request, expect the amount that remains... Read more
Industry Note:
Interoperability Goes Beyond Borders
Over the last year, the feds have maintained a steady stream of policies to improve care c... Read more
Industry Note:
Data Exchange Factors in New Discharge Planning Final Rule
Medicare released another policy that interweaves interoperability with patient-centered i... Read more
Case Study:
Take Care When Answering Patients' Online Comments
Case spotlights the fraught intersection of HIPAA and social media. Social media helps dr... Read more
HIPAA:
Do You Know These 18 PHI Identifiers?
Understand the facts on what is and what isn't PHI. These days compliance is tied closely... Read more
Toolkit:
Implement Strong Social Media Controls to Protect Yourself and Your Patients
Hint: Involve staff in the social media policy making. Having an online presence can cert... Read more
Include These 7 Steps in Your Social Media Audit
Though you may not want to admit it, social media is necessary to running a successful med... Read more
Revenue Booster:
Keep a Close Eye on Your Social Media Footprint
Tip: Remember the rules of patient engagement and HIPAA. In today's healthcare market, of... Read more
Industry Notes:
Get Ready for New York's SHIELD Act
If you attend to New York residents and you're struggling with HIPAA compliance, you'll ha... Read more
Industry Notes:
AHIMA Updates Its Cybersecurity Guidelines
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) offers providers enhanced a... Read more
Industry Notes:
OCR Cybersecurity Quarterly Newsletter Is Available Online
Last year, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) stopped producing a monthly Cybersecurity... Read more
Industry Notes:
The MBI Transition Is Coming to a Close
If you're a Medicare provider, you need to update your systems and start using your patien... Read more
Case Study:
Feds Resolve First 'Right to Access' Case
Hint: Expect more OCR enforcement down the road on this issue. Over the last year, HHS ag... Read more
Compliance:
GI Firm Exposes Patient Data Due to Device Incompatibility
Tip: Ensure your systems and devices match up. The more technologically advanced medical ... Read more
HIPAA:
Inspect Your Vendors' Policies and Protocols Before
Choose the best associate for your practice needs. For a medical practice to run smoothly... Read more
Toolkit:
Pocket This Expert Network Advice
Manage your patch updates wisely. In healthcare, no matter your size and scope, you are s... Read more
Health IT Policy:
Policymakers Remain Fixated on Digital Options, Cybersecurity
Tip: Keep on top of Medicare deadlines. Whether it's ensuring clinicians' cyber safety or... Read more
Case Study:
Patient Data Breaches Skyrocket in First Half of 2019
More than 32 million patients have had their data compromised. If you thought 2018 was a ... Read more
HIPAA:
Pocket 6 Tips to Cut Your PHI Disclosure Risks
Hint: Training employees on the Privacy Rule is a great place to start. The HIPAA Privacy... Read more
Mythbusters:
Dispel These 5 Common HIPAA Security Myths
Tip: Analyze your risks or pay the price. As more and more data security incidents occur,... Read more
Toolkit:
Feds Offer New Pilot Program to Encourage Data Sharing
CMS announces pilot program that harnesses claims data. Patients' histories are sometimes... Read more
HIPAA:
Ask Yourself These 20 HIPAA Questions
Protect yourself — put all practice HIPAA policies and procedures in writing. Whether y... Read more
Documentation:
Cloned Notes Can Lead to Inaccuracies — and Trouble
Keep copying and pasting to a minimum. Advancements and enhancements in technology like e... Read more
Compliance:
Telemedicine, EHR Fraud Factor in New OIG Report
Tip: Use the feds' targets as a compliance guide. If you're waiting for federal fraud-fig... Read more
Medical Devices:
Feds Warn Medical Devices Need Tighter Controls
Case uncovers cardiac implants vulnerable to cyber attack. In a new report, U.S. Dep... Read more
Reader Question:
Link Revisions to the EMR or EHR Appropriately
Question: When we see that documentation doesn't match a code choice, we usually go back t... Read more
Industry News:
OCR Uploads a New FAQ on HIPAA and Health Plans
Tip: Review HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements. To better clarify patient data sharing betwe... Read more
Case Study:
Settlement Equals Hiccup for BA's Big Breach
Is this indicative of things to come? A recent case illustrates why business associates (... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Know the Facts on Usernames and Passwords
Check out updated NIST guidelines for federal clarification. Many practices take steps to... Read more
Compliance:
Pocket These Password Tips to Protect Your Practice
Hint: Multi-factor authentication helps thwart hacks. Technology is a valuable tool for g... Read more
Toolkit:
Keep a HIPAA Script Handy for Privacy Questions
Remember, a script does not replace staff HIPAA training. With the onset of health IT in ... Read more
Reader Question:
Is Soundproofing Required Under HIPAA?
Question: We're making some renovations to our office, including to the waiting room and e... Read more
Industry Notes:
EHRA Urges Feds to Slow Down on CEHRT Mandates
Plus: CMS updates with another podcast. Industry insiders believe the proposed interopera... Read more
Case Study:
Feds Indict 24 Individuals for Telemedicine Fraud
Prescribing DME or drugs via telemedicine? Document it — thoroughly. If your practice i... Read more
Telemedicine:
Master Telemedicine and Telehealth Coding With 3 Key Tips
Plus: Find out why telehealth and telemedicine aren't the same. Telemedicine is quickly b... Read more
HIPAA:
Do CMP Rollbacks Signal Major Changes for HIPAA Enforcement?
Hint: Risk management is even more important now. After producing record-level HIPAA enfo... Read more
Reader Question:
Review This Password Guidance Before Your Next Update
Question: How often should we change our passwords for our computers? Right now our inform... Read more
Reader Question:
What Happened to the HIPAA Audit Program?
Question: With all the recent news on increased HIPAA enforcement, should we be worried ab... Read more
Enforcement News:
Public Gets More Time to Comment on Interoperability Rules
Do you need more time to peruse the interoperability rules that the Centers for Medicare a... Read more
Enforcement News:
Hospitals Increasingly Use EHR Data to Improve Care
According to a new report from the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Infor... Read more
Enforcement News:
Tennessee Company Agrees to Pay $3 Million to Settle HIPAA Violations
Despite racking up staggering enforcement numbers for 2018, the HHS Office for Civil Right... Read more
Case Study:
Wrongful Disclosure May Net Patient Coordinator Jail Time
Tip: Ensure security at affiliate offices, too. Under HIPAA, covered entities (CEs) are r... Read more
HIPAA Quiz:
Test Your Knowledge of HIPAA
Make sure your staff know the essentials to avoid a violation. Even though you may think ... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Assess Your Risks Now to Avoid Problems Later
Tip: Use security measures that fit the scope of your practice. It should come as no surp... Read more
Toolkit:
Update Your Digital Dictionary With These Additions
Keep your security game in top form with new cyber slang. Safeguarding patients' electron... Read more
Reader Question:
Factor HIPAA Privacy Requirements Into Your Marketing Strategies
Question: I'm a little confused about how to advertise a service that is specific to our p... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Wary of Vendors Who Promise HIPAA-Certified Products
Question: Our office has purchased encryption software that claims to be “100-percent HI... Read more
Enforcement News:
CMS Jumps on the HIPAA-Audit Bandwagon
If you weren't keen on the HIPAA phase two audits, prepare yourself. Because now, CMS has ... Read more
Enforcement News:
AMA Gets in on States' Lawsuit Against Feds Over Title X Gag Rule
On Feb. 22, HHS issued a final rule in the Federal Register that upends the Title X family... Read more
Enforcement News:
Weigh In On Future PI Measures
CMS wants your input on how the Promoting Interoperability (PI) program should proceed. R... Read more
Case Study:
OCR Pushes HIPAA Enforcement to New Heights in 2018
Hint: Breaches drew huge penalties for risk assessment fails. If your office budget doesn... Read more
HIPAA:
Make Staff HIPAA Training a Priority
Tip: Outline the amount of PHI-handling by job. You can't take chances with HIPAA complia... Read more
Compliance:
Bolster Your Knowledge of HIPAA-Friendly Agreements and Arrangements
Know the different contracts that concern privacy and security. Accessing and disclosing ... Read more
Policy:
ONC Proposed Rule 'Cures' HIT Certification Woes
Plus: Standardization and computability are at the heart of the proposals. All practices ... Read more
Industry News:
Sign Up for New CMS Call on Post-Acute Health IT
CMS plows full speed ahead with more interoperability learning options. This time with upd... Read more
Industry News:
Feds Go Mainstream With New Podcast
If you prefer to listen to the news via podcast, then you are in for a treat. CMS recently... Read more
Industry News:
CHIME Recommends Feds Need to Go Beyond HIPAA
There's no denying that cyber attacks have impacted the healthcare industry. One health IT... Read more
Case Study:
Feds Highlight Industry Issues With Patient Matching
GAO research suggests that lack of federal standards may be to blame. The use of EHRs all... Read more
Health Information Exchange:
Information Blocking Factors Into Patient Matching Issues
It's more about the money than the privacy, researchers warn. It's true that the lack of ... Read more
Policy:
ONC Proposals Answer the Cures Act Call
Feds propose seven data-blocking exceptions. As the health IT industry grows daily, offer... Read more
Ransomware:
Reduce Ransomware Hack Odds With This Expert Advice
Tip: Don't shirk on software updates. A recent data security incident shows that even sma... Read more
Toolkit:
Navigate Medicare With New eHealth Offering
Plus: Promoting Interoperability fact sheets for 2019 are now available. CMS followed thr... Read more
Enforcement News:
Feds Charge EHR Vendor With a $57.25 Million Fine For False Claims
As providers know, not all EHR vendors are the same. Most are on the up-and-up, but it's s... Read more
Enforcement News:
HHS Proposes HIPAA Modifications for Schedule II Drugs
Providers may want to revisit their prescribing protocols in regard to HIPAA, a proposed r... Read more
Enforcement News:
Telehealth Claims Accepted Again By Texas Medicaid
Telehealth providers in Texas can submit valid claims to the state Medicaid program again,... Read more
Case Study:
Don't Do Business Without a BAA — It's Just That Simple
Manage risks, or fines will ensue, OCR case suggests. If you're weighing the costs of a r... Read more
Vet Your Vendors in 2019
Tip: Research your associates' compliance records. Healthcare providers engage with all s... Read more
Texting:
Set Practice Texting Guidelines to Avoid HIPAA Pitfalls
Tip: Review the rules before you set up your policies. As texting becomes an increasingly... Read more
Toolkit:
Get Ready for New HHS Guidance on Cybersecurity
Tip: One size does not fit all when it comes to cybersecurity planning. There's no doubt ... Read more
Trends:
Consider These New Technologies to Boost Your Practice IT in 2019
Blockchain has the potential to transform healthcare, experts suggest. Are you trying to ... Read more
Industry News:
Feds Change to Merit-Based Appointments for ALJs
Administrative law judges (ALJs) are part of HHS and preside over agency cases and dispute... Read more
Industry News:
CMS Transitions to New QPP Data Management System
The window is now open for eligible clinicians to submit their 2018 Quality Payment Progra... Read more
Industry News:
New Listservs, Same Information
CMS updated the look of its Promoting Interoperability (PI) programs' and Quality Measurem... Read more
Reader Question:
Apply HIPAA to BAs Beyond Borders
Question: Our practice uses a small cloud services provider (CSP) based in Canada to store... Read more
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