HIPAA
Reviewing Procedures for Breach of PHI
Despite clear compliance plans, annual training, and limiting access, there is still a chance your practice could experience a breach of protected health information (“PHI”). A “breach” means the use or disclosure of unprotected information that is not permitted by HIPAA and compromises the security and/or privacy of the PHI. Most practices allocate considerable resources… Read More »
CMS ISSUES HIPAA STANDARD FOR ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFERS
CMS has issued a new rule that adopts standards for electronic funds transfers (“EFT”) under HIPAA. The standards could reduce costs for providers by streamlining electronic payments from a health plan to a provider. The rule requires the use of a trace number that automatically matches a remittance advice (“RA”), or notice of payment, and… Read More »
HIPAA Business Associate Audits May Be On The Way
Business Associates (“BA’s”) may be audited, in addition to covered entities, in 2012 audits by the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). OCR has a three step audit program in progress. If the initial program “goes well” (whatever that means), then OCR will implement a full range of onsite audits and an evaluation process. BA’s come… Read More »
What to Do When You are Asked to Sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement
PVW Law has published an updated article regarding what to do when you are asked to sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. The full text of the articles can be viewed by accessing the following link: http://www.pvwlaw.com/CM/Articles/00161375.PDF. © 2011 Parsonage Vandenack Williams LLC For more information, contact info@pvwlaw.com
Hospital to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Claims
The federal government has made clear that it is serious about enforcing the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. Before HITECH’s data breach notification requirements were in place and being enforced, a Massachusetts General Hospital employee took documents containing protected health information (“PHI”) from her bag and placed them on the seat beside her while commuting… Read More »
HITECH Breach Logs Due March 1
Under the HITECH Breach Notification Rule, covered entities must notify certain parties following a breach of unsecured protected health information (“PHI”). First, covered entities must notify affected individuals following the discovery of a breach. If the breach affects more than 500 residents of a State or jurisdiction, covered entities are also required to provide notice to… Read More »
HIPAA, HITECH FINAL RULES ANTICIPATED BY EARLY 2011
The HIPAA and HITECH final rules could be published by the end of 2010 or early 2011. Adam H. Greene, JD, MPH, senior health information technology and privacy specialist for the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), announced this prediction on October 4, 2010 during the Fourth Annual HIPAA Summit West: Healthcare Privacy and Security after… Read More »
Records Requests: Know What’s Legal
Mary Vandenack’s client advice regarding the HIPAA rules and medical records requests was recently featured in an article in Physician’s Practice by Keith Martin. The full article can be viewed at: http://www.physicianspractice.com/hipaa/content/article/1462168/1699712. © 2010 Parsonage Vandenack Williams LLC For more information, contact info@pvwlaw.com
Review of HIPAA Rules Completed
The review of proposed rules regarding changes to the HIPAA privacy and security rules has been completed. The rules could be released as early as this week. The OMB reports that it has concluded its regulatory review of the rules HHS sent in April. While the healthcare industry has been waiting on rules from… Read More »
Data Security Breaches Give State Attorneys General a Chance to Exercise New HIPAA Powers
The Connecticut and Arizona attorneys general are investigating health plans that recently experienced data breaches that the plans failed to disclose for several months. This is a definite sign that state attorneys general may be using the HIPAA enforcement powers granted by the HITECH Act provisions in the Recovery Act. Typically, state attorneys general prosecute… Read More »
