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 … [Read more...] about 5 ways your medical office can violate HIPAA
HIPAA
7 ways to cut costs with a greener office
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 … [Read more...] about 7 ways to cut costs with a greener office
Is your medical office vulnerable to Russian cyberattacks?
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 … [Read more...] about Is your medical office vulnerable to Russian cyberattacks?
Clocked out or connected: What you need to know about after-hours group chats
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 … [Read more...] about Clocked out or connected: What you need to know about after-hours group chats
New safeguards and fines follow data breach investigations in New Jersey
Two cases of exposing patient personal information occurred in New Jersey but serve as warnings to all healthcare providers. The state's Division of Consumer Affairs has reached a settlement with three New Jersey-based providers of cancer care that the State alleges failed to adequately safeguard patient data, exposing the personal and protected health information of 105,200 … [Read more...] about New safeguards and fines follow data breach investigations in New Jersey
5 more HIPAA patient rights violations: strategies for avoiding fines
By Danika Brinda In September of 2019, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Health and Human Services settled the first HIPAA Fine and Corrective Action Plan for $85,000. Fast forward a little over 2 years to late last year the OCR assigned five more fines and corrective actions plans for non-compliance with Patient Access, now totaling 25 covered … [Read more...] about 5 more HIPAA patient rights violations: strategies for avoiding fines
5 things to do before a HIPPA audit happens to your medical office
By Jordan MacAvoy The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was introduced to safeguard sensitive patient data. As expected, a good number of covered entities and business associates are yet to implement the safeguards fully. Most of these healthcare providers, business associates, and organizations that are struggling to implement the compliance … [Read more...] about 5 things to do before a HIPPA audit happens to your medical office
Fraud recoveries grow as feds target telemedicine and COVID-19 add-on test scams
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and continued sequestration of enforcement funds, the federal Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (Program) reversed recent trends and recovered more money in FY 2020 than it had the year before. In fact, recoveries for the year reached nearly $3.1 billion, the highest return since 2016. Here’s a briefing for medical office managers on the … [Read more...] about Fraud recoveries grow as feds target telemedicine and COVID-19 add-on test scams
Healthcare data breaches hit a new high in first half of 2021
While healthcare data breaches have become an all-too-common occurrence, the problem seems to be getting worse. According to the HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR), there have already been 360 federally reported data breaches involving health information in the first half of 2021, the highest total for the first six months of a year since the government began tracking this data … [Read more...] about Healthcare data breaches hit a new high in first half of 2021
New HHS policy makes your office potentially liable for LGBTQ discrimination
While it doesn’t directly relate to billing and reimbursement, federal civil rights laws have an impact on certain aspects of healthcare operations. These laws ban your office from discriminating on the basis of protected personal characteristics, including sex. So, compliance managers need to be aware that on May 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an … [Read more...] about New HHS policy makes your office potentially liable for LGBTQ discrimination