A United States Supreme Court ruling last week underscored the importance of employing a strong and dynamic healthcare compliance program. On Tuesday, in a unanimous decision, the justices ruled on…
Medicare Payment Overhaul – Finally!
Senate Action on the “Doc Fix” On April 14, 2015 the Senate acted on a bill from the House of Representatives to implement a Medicare payment overhaul, including repealing the…
Senior Housing – What’s in Store for 2015?
Based on data just released, it looks like the outlook for senior housing in 2015 is encouraging. According to the National Investment Center for Senior Housing and Care (NIC) MAP…
The eHealth Initiative – what are the current incentives?
The eHealth initiative is still very hard to discern among all the chatter, even the WHO is addressing the eHealth initiative. Is the eHealth initiative just another new buzzword to…
Telemedicine and eHealth
Telemedicine and ehealth is about the development and improvement of health care by means of telemedicine and internet technology. Terms like eHealth, mHealth, healthIT, to mention a few, are common…
The Feasibility Study and Strategic Planning Process in Healthcare
A feasibility study in healthcare is part of a strategic plan designed to address an inpatient or outpatient facility, service expansion, or other new development. The healthcare feasibility study and…
Your Compliance Program – it can keep you out of trouble!
A compliance program is supposed to be a preventive activity, identifying problems before they become serious issues. It doesn’t happen too often, but it is sad anyway when you hear…
2015 OIG Work Plan – Nursing Homes
With the calendar ready to turn to November, the feds released the 2015 OIG Work Plan on October 31, 2014. Traditionally, the OIG has attempted to release its work plan…
2015 OIG Work Plan for Hospitals – what’s new?
The 2015 OIG Work Plan for hospitals and other providers has been released, and once again, hospitals have the dubious distinction of having the most projects (22) devoted to a…
OIG Work Plan 2015 – Impact on Physician Providers
Download the OIG 2015 Work Plan The OIG Work Plan 2015 is being issued “on time” this year, unlike 2014 when it came out 4 months late. Perhaps that’s because…
The 2015 OIG Work Plan – An Introduction
Download the OIG 2015 Work Plan In a devilish twist, the OIG decided to usher in Halloween with a treat of their own, the 2015 OIG work plan. The issuance…
Healthcare Compliance Programs – New perspectives on an old issue
Healthcare Compliance Programs – What are the Feds thinking these days? It seems like we have heard about compliance program requirements until our ears are blue – or whatever happens…
HIPAA and Public Health Disclosures – What’s Permitted?
Is this a HIPAA breach? The disclosure of negative test results for the Dallas policeman who visited the apartment of the first known fatality in the US due to ebola…
Confidential Medical Information – State Laws Matter Too!
The role of state laws in governing confidential medical information were highlighted again last week when a massive lawsuit against Sutter Health was dismissed. A state appeals court acted on…
HIPAA Privacy Violations – Another New Twist to watch for
HIPAA Privacy Violations are now coming courtesy of Phishing! The latest twist in HIPPA Privacy violations came up in May 2014, when it was revealed that a phishing operation aimed…
eHealth Initiative
eHealth initiatives make up a world wide trend. The related eHealth technology, the eHealth forums, and eHealth social media is confirming this trend. Although there is no single unanimous definition,…
OIG Work Plan 2014 – Impact on Physician Providers
The OIG Work Plan 2014, after four months of delay, has finally been issued, and it has several areas of focus that should be of interest for physician providers. The…
OIG Work Plan 2014 – Nursing Homes
After a nearly four month delay, the OIG work plan 2014 was finally released. For nursing home operators, there’s a bit of good news and bad news in the work…
2014 OIG Work Plan – “new” hospital projects
The 2014 OIG Work Plan, released on January 31, came out a full sixteen months since the prior year’s edition. The timing was an intentional four month delay beyond the…
The OIG Work Plan 2014 – an introduction
Download the OIG Work Plan 2014 The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) just released their annual work plan on January 31. Coming a full four months later than in…