ACO Compliance include requirements specific to the nature and operations of an ACO. It is somewhat different than a “traditional” healthcare provider, be it a Covered Entity or a Business…
Corporate Integrity Agreement – time to select or replace your IRO
Is your IRO interfering with your obligations under your Corporate Integrity Agreement? One of the important choices healthcare organizations who are subject to a Corporate Integrity Agreement must make, is…
HIPAA Breach Disclosure Requirements
In my previous blog HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, I discussed the definition of a HIPAA Breach, and some of the requirements for HIPAA Breach Notifications. Today we will look at…
HIPAA Breach Notification Rule
HIPAA Breach Notification Rules under the HITECH and GINA Act issued modifications to HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Enforcement. This is commonly known as the Omnibus Rule. The Omnibus Rule mandates…
OIG 2017 Work Plan – Physician Practice Impacts
Totaling over 100 pages this year, you can download the OIG 2017 Work Plan here on our website. It was issued on November 15, 2016. This is the second year in a row…
2017 OIG Work Plan – Information Technology (EHR)
The 2017 OIG Work Plan is again addressing information technology, with special emphasis on certified electronic health records systems (EHR). On November 15, 2016, the Office of Inspector General (OIG)…
OIG Work Plan 2017 – What’s New for Hospitals?
The OIG Work Plan 2017 describes audits and evaluations that are underway or planned and certain legal and investigative initiatives that are continuing. This overview of the 2017 OIG Work…
OIG Work Plan 2017 – An Introduction
On November 15, 2016, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released the OIG Work Plan 2017. Totaling over 100 pages this year, you can download the OIG 2017 Work Plan here on our…
Skilled Nursing Facility (“SNF”) Compliance Program
An SNF Compliance Program is an essential part of any Skilled Nursing Facility operation! In my earlier Nursing Home Compliance Program blog post, I posed some questions to our Director…
Nursing Home Compliance Program – The Who, What, When, Why and How
Nursing Home Compliance Program – the term elicits a myriad of reactions from providers, ranging from indifference to anxiety. Regardless of your feelings, the requirement for a SNF compliance program…
Assisted Living Feasibility Study – Part Three
You’re thinking of doing an assisted living feasibility study – it means that you’re preparing to undertake a major project with significant consequences. On the one hand, congratulations and on…
Does your Hospital have a Pokemon Policy?
Many hospitals are dealing with the latest mobile device game craze, Pokemon Go, but not everyone is asking staff and visitors to refrain from playing on the hospital campus. Pokemon No…
Assisted Living Market Study – Part Two
Assisted Living Market Study questions often asked . . . for today’s post, I’d like to cover a couple of questions which were not addressed in my prior blog: What…
Ransomware and HIPAA
Ransomware and HIPAA: the Federal Government has recently issued two resource documents: the first discusses protecting your network from ransomware, the second, a Ransomware and HIPAA fact sheet. Both are…
New Overtime Rule – Impact on Costs for Healthcare Providers
The new overtime rule is effective December 1, 2016. The Department of Labor is instituting new overtime rules that are likely to have a substantial effect on health care providers…
2016 OIG Work Plan Nursing Homes Mid Year Update
The 2016 OIG Work Plan Nursing Homes has released the “Fiscal Year Work Plan, Mid-Year Update 2016” document, which provides an update to the 2016 OIG Work Plan, which was…
OIG 2016 Work Plan Update What’s New?
This OIG 2016 Work Plan Update mid-year summarizes new and ongoing reviews and activities that OIG plans to pursue with respect to HHS programs and operations during the current fiscal…
Healthcare False Claims Act Penalties May Double
The Department of Justice has just released a proposed rule that would include a doubling of the Healthcare False Claims Act penalties. How worried should healthcare providers be? The Healthcare…
HIPAA Breach: it’s your PHI, but you didn’t send the Email!
HIPAA Breach, your ePHI, but you didn’t send the email: you may be liable anyway! This HIPAA Breach question was forwarded to me recently: “Is this a HIPAA Breach on…
Assisted Living Market Study – What is it and why is it important?
We receive numerous inquiries for an assisted living market study. The majority come from individuals/organizations that are not familiar with what an assisted living market study exactly is, what it…