Is your practice HIPAA compliant? Are you sure? Most health-care providers take very seriously this federal mandate to protect patient privacy—at least in theory. In practice, however, lots of things get…
INSIGHT
WannaCry: Cyberattack hits critical infrastructure worldwide
May 26, 2017 by
By Kimberly Shutters, BCS bio
A major worldwide ransomware attack, referred to as WannaCry, hit critical infrastructure and government computers starting mid-May, prompting warnings, patches, and…
HIPAA
Texas health system settles potential HIPAA disclosure violations
May 12, 2017 by
Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS) has agreed to pay $2.4 million to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and adopt a comprehensive corrective action plan to…
INSIGHT
Is your medical practice’s social media policy adequate?
March 31, 2017 by
By Nick Hernandez bio
By now every physician should be aware of the benefits that can be bestowed upon their practice as a result of social media. Indeed, many practices are…
BILLING & COLLECTIONS
3 legal protections to include in your patient debt collection agency services contract
March 31, 2017 by
Outsourcing can be an effective way to overcome patient collection challenges. But it can also backfire if the collection agency you contract with uses illegal, unethical or insensitive collection tactics. One of the keys to…
INSIGHT
Ready, Set, HIPAA Enforcement: 2017 is going to be a year to remember
March 7, 2017 by
By Danika Brinda bio
HIPAA Data Breaches and HIPAA Enforcement were definitely off to the races in the first two months of 2017. While previous years have started slower and …
READER TIPS
For a Colorado clinic, telecommuting fills the gap in long-term absences
February 17, 2017 by
A large Colorado clinic has started allowing staff to work from home. But unlike most employers, it doesn’t…
INSIGHT
Just days into the New Year and already 2 HIPAA fines
January 27, 2017 by
By Danika Brinda bio
Well, HIPAA enforcement in 2017 is getting off to an active start. While 2016 saw a record year with 13 HIPAA Enforcement fines amounting to $23.5 million, the OCR has already…
COMPLIANCE
Beware of HIPAA-related text messaging risks
January 13, 2017 by
The ease, speed, and efficiency of mobile device-based text messaging has made it a primary communications tool among doctors and other health care providers, covered entities, and business associates. But this convenience can also lead to security risks, cautions Melissa (Lisa) Thompson, a shareholder in…
INSIGHT
Should your practice invest in medical billing software?
December 2, 2016 by
By Aiden Spencer bio
There has been considerable debate among physicians about whether or not it is beneficial to get an EHR (electronic health record). If your practice is…
