Does HIPAA require encryption? Well … encryption is not yet required to be HIPAA-compliant, but it is recommended. You must ensure that your ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information) is protected…
How to Conduct a Healthcare Market Study – 5 Key Observations
If you’re wondering how to conduct a healthcare market study, read on to get some expert advice about the five key things you need to know. The healthcare industry is…
Independent Review Organization – Required by Your CIA
An Independent Review Organization (IRO) is an essential component of a Corporate Integrity Agreement executed with a healthcare organization. Every year, many healthcare organizations and providers enter into a Corporate…
HIPAA Security Standards – what are the 3 “big ones”?
HIPAA outlines the protection of protected health information (PHI). Part of HIPAA is the HIPAA Security Rule, or HIPAA Security Standards, which requires healthcare providers to protect electronic PHI (ePHI)….
A Feasibility Study Checklist for Your Hospital – what you need to know
A feasibility study checklist for your hospital, how do you create one? A feasibility study, or feasibility analysis, is a way to determine if a project plan could work for…
Navigating the Medical Revenue Cycle in 9 Steps
The medical revenue cycle is the process of managing a patient’s account from the beginning when they are pre-screened for financial coverage and their account is created, to the final…
Corporate Integrity Agreements in Healthcare Explained in 3 Minutes
Corporate integrity agreements in healthcare (CIA) serve as binding contracts between an organization and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The organization accepts all the terms and conditions that…
HIPAA Text Messaging – How Compliant is it?
Since so many people use text messaging, healthcare organizations may ask, “Is texting HIPAA compliant? And if so, how can I ensure I’m doing it right?” Although the government has…
Interim Compliance Officer in Healthcare
An interim (or full-time) compliance officer in a healthcare organization, is a person whose job is to prevent and manage compliance violations due to operations outside of internal and external…
Healthcare Compliance Consulting in the COVID-19 Pandemic
With the many regulatory changes due to COVID-19, healthcare compliance consulting has become more relevant than ever. When the first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31, 2019, no…
What are the HIPAA Rules for a Risk Assessment?
What are the HIPAA Rules for a Risk Assessment? There have been significant new clarifications based on a recent settlement and resolution agreement (RA). The HIPAA Rules for a Risk…
Best Medical Consulting Agencies – our Story, or How to Select a Consultant
The best medical consulting agencies have certain characteristics! How you select a qualified and reliable consulting firm will determine the outcome and success of the consulting engagement to a large…
Healthcare Feasibility Study – 8 Areas of Focus (2 minutes)
A healthcare feasibility study is an important part of planning a successful new or expanding health service organization. However, in the wake of the pandemic, the healthcare arena has changed…
HIPAA Privacy and Security – a 3 Minute Summary!
HIPAA Privacy and Security is continuing to be one of the most important functions in any healthcare organization. The United States set up HIPAA to protect medical data for citizens….
OIG Corporate Integrity Agreement – Recruiting an IRO
The Office of Inspector (OIG) Corporate Integrity Agreement requires the selection of an Independent Review Organization (IRO) within 90 days of signing the agreement. This is one of the most…
Value-Based Reimbursement Transition
Value-Based Reimbursement-laying the groundwork for a transition to it is crucial. As healthcare spending continues to rise, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is looking for ways to…
HIPAA Risk Assessment Checklist | HIPAA Compliance
A HIPAA risk assessment checklist is crucial in conducting a HIPAA risk analysis. Identifying risks that could impact protected health information (PHI) is an essential part of HIPAA compliance. In…
Feasibility Study of a Hospital Project – 5 Phases
Preparing a feasibility study for a hospital project can be a significant undertaking. What follows are the key steps and phases to focus on. Such a study is essential when…
Physician Practice Revenue Cycle – 8 Basic Best Practices
The physician practice revenue cycle is the one thing which will sustain a practice to provide patient care without undue “cash flow problems.” Even if you have a premier healthcare…
Benefits of Hospital Outsourcing Corporate Compliance – 6 Key Factors
The benefits of outsourcing healthcare compliance at a hospital have the potential to be significant and plentiful. The Fox Group has many years of experience providing compliance and HIPAA-related services…