A recent survey on HIPAA compliance within small practices and billing companies, conducted by NueMD, a provider of cloud-based medical practice management software for small practices, and The Daniel Brown Law Group, a firm specializing in health care law, finds medical practices and billing companies are struggling to comply with regulations under the Health Insurance … [Read more...] about HIPAA audits looming and small practices far from compliant
HIPAA
Start local managers group to make job easier
"It doesn't matter if there are three people or five or 20," says the manager of an internal specialty medical office in Tennessee. It's worth the effort to set up a local management group. She did that in her area years ago and still finds it useful. The setup was not difficult. It was just a matter of calling the other managers and saying, "Why don't we get together and … [Read more...] about Start local managers group to make job easier
Survey finds digital technology is changing the physician-patient relationship
A recent survey conducted by WebMD/Medscape, a leading provider of health information services, offers noteworthy insight into physician and patient perspectives on health technology's role in aiding diagnosis and care. Dr. Eric Topol, a leading authority in the fields of genomics and digital medicine, who serves as both editor-in-chief of Medscape and chief academic officer … [Read more...] about Survey finds digital technology is changing the physician-patient relationship
4 big social media mistakes your practice must avoid
The Internet and social media have ushered in new ways of doing business. But as with so many other aspects of running a medical office, health care is different from any other business when it comes to an online presence. The sanctity of the physician-patient relationship can often be at odds with the openness, anonymity, and wide accessibility of the Internet and social … [Read more...] about 4 big social media mistakes your practice must avoid
3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
By Paul Panos bio Today's office managers face security concerns from all sides – from HIPAA compliance to PHI laws. Shouldn't protecting financial data be the last thing on your mind? We've already explored in a previous article how the right payment processing technology can boost a practice's profitability, but it can also enhance a practice's level of security … [Read more...] about 3 ways to more safely process patient payments and enhance overall security
Mobile usage on the rise at medical practices, emphasis now on safeguards
More physicians are going mobile, and iPhones and iPads are the devices of choice, with more than 68 percent of doctors preferring Apple technology over Android. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 59.3 percent of all primary care physicians' daily emails are for the interpretation of test results, while 21.7 percent are responses to … [Read more...] about Mobile usage on the rise at medical practices, emphasis now on safeguards
$800,000 HIPAA penalty for dumping medical records
A healthcare organization whose employees left boxes of medical records unattended on the driveway of a physician's home has to pay an $800,000 settlement. Parkview Health System has agreed to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil … [Read more...] about $800,000 HIPAA penalty for dumping medical records
Employer Checklist: Affordable Care Act
Why you need this checklist: The numerous provisions and requirements of the ACA can be overwhelming for employers. How this checklist helps you: This checklist will help you understand and manage employee benefits requirements. How to use this checklist: Refer to this checklist as needed to comply with ACA employee benefits requirements. … [Read more...] about Employer Checklist: Affordable Care Act
CQM reporting and HIPAA
One reader questioned whether reporting CQMs using the Physician Quality Reporting System and reporting patient level data in the Quality Reporting Data Architecture (QRDA) format would require sending protected health information to CMS in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The QRDA format does require some identifying information. However, Paula Stannard, a health care … [Read more...] about CQM reporting and HIPAA
How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office
The OIG, Office of Inspector General, oversees Medicare and Medicaid enforcement and highlights areas of focus in its enforcement efforts in a Work Plan. The 2014 Work Plan was released at the end of January and contains some items of note for medical practices. Some items are new and others have been on the OIG Work Plan in prior years and are a continuing project. The … [Read more...] about How the new OIG 2014 Work Plan affects your medical office