Under the terms of a settlement agreement signed earlier this month, Dr. Nicholas L. DePace should receive approximately $2,400,000 as his portion of a settlement of the qui tam False Claims Act lawsuit he filed in 2008. In addition, defendant … [Continue reading]
CMS APPROVES 106 NEW ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS
January 22, 2013 By
On January 10, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that it selected 106 new Accountable Care Organizations (“ACO’s”) to participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CMS Acting Principal Deputy … [Continue reading]
HHS Releases Updates to HIPAA Rules
January 17, 2013 By
Today HHS released the long-awaited modifications to the HIPAA privacy, security, enforcement and breach notification rules. A full copy of the rule can be found here. In a related press release HHS described the impact of the rule as … [Continue reading]
OIG Approves Gift Card Program for Medicaid Patients
January 16, 2013 By
According to a new advisory opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' Office of Inspector General, healthcare providers may be able to use free gift cards to encourage patients in capitated Medicaid managed care plans to … [Continue reading]
OMW Adds New Attorneys to Healthcare Practice Group
January 14, 2013 By
We are very pleased to announce the addition of three attorneys to Ogden Murphy Wallace, PLLC's dynamic healthcare practice group. Greg Montgomery, Dana Kenny and Casey Moriarty, all formerly of Miller Nash, LLP in Seattle, have joined OMW effective … [Continue reading]
NCQA Awards First ACO Accreditations
January 10, 2013 By
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (“NCQA”) awarded its first Accountable Care Organization (“ACO”) accreditations in December, 2012. Established as a voluntary accreditation program in 2011, the NCQA awarded accreditations to the … [Continue reading]
HHS Announces New HIPAA Breach Settlement
January 8, 2013 By
HHS has announced its first HIPAA breach settlement involving less than 500 patients. The announcement came on January 2, 2013 following a disclosure by the provider, Hospice of North Idaho. The facts involved the theft of an unencrypted stolen … [Continue reading]
OIG Approves Electronic Interface Arrangement
January 7, 2013 By
In a recent advisory opinion, the Office of Inspector General DHHS ("OIG") approved an arrangement under which free access to an electronic computer interface is provided by a hospital to local physicians. The opinion provides an important … [Continue reading]
New Requirements for Provider-Based Clinics
December 18, 2012 By
A reminder to all licensed hospitals operating "provider-based clinics," “off campus,”: the Washington State legislature during its 2012 session enacted HB 2582 requiring provider-based clinics to comply with certain new and additional requirements. … [Continue reading]
ONC Launches Toolkit on Using Mobile Devices
December 12, 2012 By
Theft of mobile devices is one of the most common causes of HIPAA breaches. Though usage of mobile devices is permitted under HIPAA, users must maintain appropriate security to avoid unauthorized use or disclosure of patient information. The ONC … [Continue reading]
