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Home » topics » HIPAA
COMPLIANCE

Text messaging can get your medical office in trouble with HIPAA

April 12, 2023 by

There are several pitfalls associated with using text messaging in a medical office when it comes to complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations. Here are a few examples: Lack of Encryption: Standard SMS text messages are not encrypted, which means that messages containing sensitive patient information can be intercepted and read by unauthorized parties. HIPAA requires that all electronic communications containing protected health information (PHI) be encrypted to protect patient privacy. Device Theft: If a mobile device containing patient information is lost or stolen, this could lead to a HIPAA violation. Mobile devices should be password protected and have the ability to be wiped remotely in case of loss or theft. Lack of Control: When healthcare providers use their personal phones for work purposes, they… . . . read more.


WORKING WITH PATIENTS

Why and how to find translators for your patients

March 3, 2023 by

In today’s diverse world, it’s essential for healthcare providers to be able to communicate effectively with patients of all backgrounds. Sometimes this task falls to families, friends or supporters of a patient. These helpers are not always available or able to help. This is where medical translators come in. In this article, we’ll explore why your medical office might need translators and how to acquire them. Why Your Medical Office May Need Translators: Improved Patient Care: Patients who don’t speak the language of their healthcare providers are more likely to miss out on important information regarding their diagnosis, treatment, and medication. This can lead to misunderstandings, miscommunication, and ultimately poorer patient outcomes. Medical translators can help bridge this communication gap, improving patient care. Legal Compliance: Medical facilities that receive federal… . . . read more.

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HIPAA

Proposed rule would standardize how to send health care attachments

December 26, 2022 by

It might get easier for your medical office to send healthcare attachments and electronic signatures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has issued a proposed rule, “Adoption of Standards for Health Care Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures, and Modification to Referral Certification and Authorization Transaction Standard (CMS-0053-P).” If finalized, the proposed rule, would adopt standards for “health care attachments” transactions, such as medical charts, x-rays, and provider notes that document physician referrals, and office or telemedicine visits. The modifications to the HIPAA transactions would support both health care claims and prior authorization transactions, standards for electronic signatures to be used in conjunction with health care attachments transactions, and a modification to the standard for the referral certification and authorization transaction. The is a part of ongoing efforts to… . . . read more.

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DATA SECURITY

9-point checklist for medical office cybersecurity

December 25, 2022 by

Is your office doing all it can to protect your patients’ sensitive medical data? Here’s a nine-point checklist to protect the security and privacy of your patients. Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts and change them regularly. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security. Keep all software and systems up to date with the latest security patches. Use antivirus software and firewall protection to prevent unauthorized access to your systems. Educate employees on cybersecurity best practices, such as not clicking on links in suspicious emails and not sharing login information. Use encryption to protect sensitive data, such as patient medical records, when it is transmitted or stored electronically. Regularly backup important data to protect against data loss due to cyber attacks or other disasters. Implement policies and procedures for… . . . read more.

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FEDERAL PRIVACY LAW

10 basic steps to comply with HIPAA

December 24, 2022 by

HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law that protects the privacy of individuals’ personal and medical information. HIPAA is important for medical offices because it sets standards for the protection and handling of this sensitive information, which is critical to maintaining the trust of patients and ensuring the confidentiality of their medical records. HIPAA requires medical offices to implement and maintain certain safeguards to protect PHI, including physical, technical, and administrative measures. These measures help to ensure that patient information is only accessed and used by authorized individuals, and that it is handled in a way that maintains its integrity and confidentiality. Non-compliance with HIPAA regulations can result in significant fines and legal consequences for medical offices, as well as damage to their reputation. Therefore,… . . . read more.

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DATA SECURITY

4 ways your managed IT provider can help with HIPAA

August 25, 2022 by

By Ron Slyker Healthcare IT can best be explained  as technology that allows the secure exchange of medical and patient information between healthcare providers, patients, insurers, and other administrative operations. With the rapid increase of healthcare companies adopting cloud technology to share files and store private data, the need to involve managed service providers to assure full compliance of HIPAA is essential. Here are four ways that your managed services IT provider should be expected to help maintain HIPAA compliance: Encryption. Your managed services provider should make sure that all your devices—including laptops, tablets, and mobile devices—are encrypted. This is the best way to secure your data. And, given that mobile malware is on the rise, you will want to make it a top priority. Set up a reporting process…. . . . read more.

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COMPLIANCE

5 ways your medical office can violate HIPAA

May 10, 2022 by

The HIPAA Privacy Act is a federal law that was established in 1996 to set provisions and standards for the protection of personal health information. The rule puts limits and conditions on the use and disclosure of patient medical information. It also gives patients the right to obtain a copy, examine, and request corrections to their records. Though most medical practices are very careful to keep their patients’ private health information secure, violations of this act can be costly with penalties ranging from $100 to 1.5 million per incident. Regular and ongoing compliance training for all employees is one of the easiest ways to prevent the improper use of PHI and reduce the risk of a violation. Below are a few common HIPAA violations and steps that can be taken… . . . read more.

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MANAGING THE OFFICE

7 ways to cut costs with a greener office

April 18, 2022 by

By Daryll Esposito The well-being of our planet is a universal concern, but it’s not always front-of-mind when we’re busy at work. The good news is that making greener choices at the office is not only better for the environment, it’s better for your budget too. With Earth Day this week on April 22, it’s time to look at some environmentally friendly improvements. Some common repurposing and recycling advice is not appropriate for a medical office, where confidentiality requires paper to be properly shredded for safe disposal. Infection control requires single-use items, often made of non-biogradeable plastic, and the pandemic has only increased the need for these disposable items. On the other hand, the move to electronic health records greatly reduces paper use. 7 simple, sustainable and cost-saving steps that… . . . read more.

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ADVICE FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

Is your medical office vulnerable to Russian cyberattacks?

March 28, 2022 by

The White House is urging businesses to review and improve cybersecurity because of a heightened risk of cyber attacks from Russia. A statement from the Biden-Harris Administration advises businesses to take the following steps: Mandate the use of multi-factor authentication on your systems to make it harder for attackers to get onto your system; Deploy modern security tools on your computers and devices to continuously look for and mitigate threats; Check with your cybersecurity professionals to make sure that your systems are patched and protected against all known vulnerabilities, and change passwords across your networks so that previously stolen credentials are useless to malicious actors; Back up your data and ensure you have offline backups beyond the reach of malicious actors; Run exercises and drill your emergency plans so that… . . . read more.

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TECHNOLOGY

Clocked out or connected: What you need to know about after-hours group chats

March 8, 2022 by

By Paul Edwards “Quick question…” Those two words have become increasingly popular as our near-constant attachment to communication devices blurs the line between work and personal time. Whether by phone, laptop, or tablet—via Slack, WhatsApp, or Google Chat—it’s easier than ever for teams to stay in contact after the workday is done. But employers need to be cautious about how they approach group conversations outside of the workplace. Not only will you need to ensure that your employees are clear on the standards for professional conduct within a group chat or text, but whether or not you have to pay employees for the time they spend messaging will depend on several factors, including the content of the messages, how much time is spent messaging, and whether the employees are classified… . . . read more.

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