CMS has responded to several questions following the issuance of its Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rule. Along with publishing new meaningful use guidelines, the Final Rule adds new provisions regarding the calculation of patient volume for Medicaid … [Continue reading]
ICD-10 Compliance Delayed
August 29, 2012 By
In response to public encouragement, HHS announced earlier this week that it will delay requirements for ICD-10 compliance from October 1, 2013 to October 1, 2014. The reconsideration of the compliance date was, according to the final rule, a … [Continue reading]
Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rules Announced
August 27, 2012 By
After much delay and anticipation, the Stage 2 Meaningful Use Final Rules were announced late last week. Though the primary focus of the new rules were to update (and increase) the meaningful use objectives and measures for the Medicare and Medicaid … [Continue reading]
New Type of Breach – Hackers Encrypting PHI & Holding for Ransom
August 14, 2012 By
Typical breach scenarios often include a stolen laptop or other device and the extraction of medical records by those thieves. Now a new type of breach has occurred, hackers breaking into systems and holding PHI for ransom. Bloomberg recently … [Continue reading]
PCI Certificate of Need Regulations Here to Stay
July 15, 2012 By
On July 9th the federal court in the Eastern District of Washington granted the Department of Health's motion for summary judgment, thus ending the drawn out battle between Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital ("YVMH") and the State over the denial of a … [Continue reading]
HIPAA Final Rule…Still Waiting
June 26, 2012 By
Though the HIPAA Final Rules were expected to be out before the end of the month, it seems that the end is not yet in sight. Last week, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extended its review of the HIPAA Final Rules. This review consisted of … [Continue reading]
Access To Patient Data Even Without Knowledge of Illegality Can Still Lead to HIPAA Criminal Liability
May 18, 2012 By
On May 10, 2012, the Ninth Circuit heard United States v. Zhou, No. 10-50231 (9th Cir. May 10, 2012), and held that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) criminal misdemeanor provision, 42 U.S.C. § 1320d-6(a)(2), is … [Continue reading]
ONC Issues Guide on HIPAA Privacy and Security and Meaningful Use
May 8, 2012 By
ONC has recently released a new "Guide to Privacy and Security of Health Information" which incorporates tips on complying with HIPAA Privacy and Security as well as meeting related meaningful use measures. The guide is designed for clinical … [Continue reading]
$100,000 HIPAA Settlement Due to Misuse of Online Calendar & More
April 18, 2012 By
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has entered into another settlement for the violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), this time with a small physician practice that violated HIPAA … [Continue reading]
Online Coupon Advertising Gets Thumbs Up From The OIG
April 17, 2012 By
On March 27, 2012 the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) released Advisory Opinion No. 12-02. The opinion stated that a proposed website that would display coupons and advertising from health care providers, … [Continue reading]
