HIPAA Compliant Texting: What’s New? Questions regarding how to send HIPAA compliant text messages never seem to go away. The use of mobile devices, email inquiries from patients, and ever…
Category: HIPAA & Compliance
Another Reason for a Compliance Program
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…
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…
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…
A Medical Practice Business Plan (is it needed?)
In another post on How to Start a Medical Practice, we mentioned the usefulness of developing a medical practice business plan. There are a great many steps required to start…
CMS Meaningful Use Incentive Program Audits – are you prepared?
In case it wasn’t clear before, everyone should be aware that CMS Meaningful Use Incentive Program audits are going on – both pre- and post-payment, and be prepared in case…
OIG Strategic Plan 2014 through 2018 – What’s in it for me?
Without much fanfare, the OIG, a couple of weeks ago, released its OIG Strategic Plan for 2014-2018. While not as detailed as the annual work plan (remember that the 2014…
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…