Earlier this week President Obama signed the Red Flag Program Clarification Act of 2010, which attempts to clarify the definition of creditor and may exclude some healthcare providers from implementing a Red Flags Rule Identity Theft Program. The … [Continue reading]
Washington Emergency Cardiac and Stroke System
December 2, 2010 By
Applications are now available for hospital participation in the new Washington Emergency Cardiac and Stroke (ECS) System. The ECS System is designed to provide timely treatment for cardiac and stroke patients, including getting the patient to the … [Continue reading]
New CMS Rules Require Equal Visitation Rights
November 18, 2010 By
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new rules today that require participating hospitals to have policies that allow patients to choose the visitors who are allowed by their bedside, including same-sex domestic … [Continue reading]
New Stark Disclosure Rule Regarding CT, MRI and PET Services
November 4, 2010 By
On Tuesday, November 2nd, CMS issued the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. Embedded in the over 2000 pages of the rule was the amendment to the Stark in-office ancillary services exception. CMS finalized the rule, required by PPACA (the … [Continue reading]
Initial Certification of EHR Technology
October 5, 2010 By
The Drummond Group and CCHIT announced this week the certification of EHR technology. CCHIT certified 33 complete EHRs and modules, click here to access the list. The Drummond Group certified 3 complete EHRs and modules, click here to access the … [Continue reading]
CMS Releases Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol
September 23, 2010 By
On September 23, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted on its web site the long awaited voluntary “Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol” which it refers to as the “SRDP.” Information about the SRDP is available on the CMS … [Continue reading]
DOH Policy Statement on PET/CT Certification Requirements
September 15, 2010 By
On August 13, 2010, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) issued an interpretive/policy statement that certified nuclear medicine technologists who obtain Computed Tomography (CT) certification through the American Registry of Radiologic … [Continue reading]
Arbitration Clauses & Statutes of Limitations
September 8, 2010 By
The Washington State Supreme Court recently ruled in Broom v. Morgan Stanley DW Inc. that the statute of limitations, which limits the time within which a party may initiate a dispute, does not apply to agreements governed by the Washington … [Continue reading]
Critical Access Hospital Incentive Payments
August 30, 2010 By
CMS has issued a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) Tip Sheet to assist CAH's in evaluating eligibility under the Medicare EHR Incentive Payment program. Though, CAH's are now eligible for Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments, this eligibility is similar to … [Continue reading]
WSHA Publishes Updated HIPAA Law Enforcement Guide
August 25, 2010 By
The Washington State Hospital Association recently published an update to its Hospital and Law Enforcement Guide to Disclosure of Protected Health Information. This guide will assist providers in assessing both HIPAA and state law when disclosing … [Continue reading]
