Part 3 of this series on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) discusses specific ways the affordable care act affects medical practices. Got Questions? Please complete the form below and…
Healthcare and Business Ethics
Healthcare Business Ethics, how do I act, what do I do, and how do I follow the letter and spirit of compliance, when it is difficult? Specific examples and guidelines….
HIPAA Law Enforcement – It’s not just the province of the OCR anymore!
It is a familiar story: a government agency initiates a HIPAA law enforcement action based on alleged violations of the HIPAA Security Rule. The provider did not develop or implement…
Marketing, Fundraising, and the Sale of PHI – 2013 HIPAA Final Rule Updates
With less than a month left until the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule of 2013 is implemented, it’s time for Covered Entities (CE’s) and Business Associates (BA’s) to get cracking…
Breach Definition Updated in the 2013 HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule
The HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule issued in January 2013 contains many updates to the current regulations, and finalizes the Breach Notification Interim Final Rule of 2009. Among these changes, the…
Meaningful Use Attestation Deadline Fast Approaching for 2013
An important deadline is coming up for Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals who are planning to complete meaningful use attestation for certified EHR technology (CEHRT) for 2013. The last day…
HIPAA Final Rule of 2013: Are you ready for the changes this fall?
The deadline for compliance with the HIPAA Final Rule, issued in January 2013, is rapidly approaching. By September 23, 2013, all Covered Entities (CE) and Business Associates (BA) will…
HIPAA Violations – Do you know where your firewalls are at night?
Two recent settlements by large healthcare organizations remind us where the lines are being drawn by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the US Department of Health and Human…
Affordable Care Act – Implications for Medical Practices
It’s been over three years since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for short. It seems like a good time…
HIPAA Business Associate Agreement – new rules mean mandatory updates
Government enforcement used to seem a long time off when HIPAA regulations issued after the HITECH Act extended various provisions of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules to Business Associates…
EHR Replacement is a Growing Trend – here’s how to avoid more mistakes
Surprisingly large numbers of EHR replacements are being planned. This according a 2013 Black Book Rankings survey in which they entitled their press release on the subject, “Electronic Health…
Crisis Communication and Social Media … what healthcare can learn from Shakespeare
This is the second in a two part series about Crisis Communication in Healthcare by Sally Romoser, Healthcare PR Strategist. The following post addresses “Crisis Communication and Social Media.” The…
Meaningful Use Stage 2 Measures … a Unique Meaningful Use Matrix
We’re a ways into this now. And meaningful use of electronic health records is continuing to evolve. While Meaningful use Stage 1 is still relevant, Meaningful Use Stage 2 Measures…
Nursing Home Construction Cost – What Are the Drivers?
“What are some key drivers for nursing home construction cost?” It’s a question we get asked and a good one to ponder. With current California skilled nursing construction costs in…
OIG Work Plan – Impact on Medicare Part B Providers in 2013
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released its 2013 Work Plan early in October. This OIG Work Plan is the annual publication that contains descriptions of new and ongoing…
OIG Work Plan for 2013 – Nursing Homes
It’s October, and that means the much anticipated OIG Work Plan for 2013 has been released and those in the long term care industry should be very interested in the…
OIG Work Plan for 2013 – a first look
Download the OIG Work Plan Of the many reports and documents that the federal government releases to the public each year, few are more anticipated in healthcare circles than Health…
A crisis communication plan in healthcare is a priority. But it’s not urgent.
Most healthcare executives today operate amidst a constant ticker tape of emails and texts, often punctuated by voicemail queries, requests and interruptions. It’s easy to see why so many leaders,…
Meaningful Use Stage 2 – The Final Rule is out!
On August 23, 2012, CMS issued the final rule on Meaningful Use Stage 2 criteria. This rule covers the Sage 2 criteria for Eligible Professionals (EPs), Eligible Hospitals (EHs) and…
Healthcare Compliance Audits – more and more variety!
Healthcare compliance audits are coming in several shapes and sizes these days. Recently the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the…