Eli's Rehab Report

Published on Thu Sep 24, 2009 PDF

Busy writing an identity theft prevention program, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission's new "Red Flag Rules"? Keep at it, but realize that you may have relief on the horizon if you're a small practice.

Background: Last summer, the FTC issued rules requiring creditors to create written identity theft prevention programs (now due by Nov. 1). (See Physical Medicine & Rehab Coding Alert, Vol. 10, No. 2.) Creditors include therapists and other health care providers because they often provide services to patients without requiring the full payment at the time of service.

However, Rep. John Alder (D-N.J.) introduced H.R. 2345 into Congress, which would exempt health care practices with fewer than 20 employees from the FTC's Red Flag Rules, according to the July 17 editing of PT Bulletin Online.

The American Physical Therapy Association submitted a letter in support of the legislation, according to the Bulletin.

Good idea: Even if the legislation passes and you're let off the hook, it never hurts to have some sort of protocol for preventing and dealing with identity theft in your practice, experts say.