Who watches the watchdogs to ensure they’re not sleeping on the job? The Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services has published a report
Continue Reading OCR Gets Coal in its Stocking from OIG
HITECH Act
Lost in the Shuffle: The September 23 HIPAA Notice Requirements
By William Maruca on
Our partner Keith McMurdy posted a timely summary of the requirements of the HIPAA Omnibus Rule for employers and benefit plan sponsors at his Employee Benefits Legal Blog. It…
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Omnibus Rule Takes Effect Today – Or Does It?
By William Maruca on
The HIPAA/HITECH Omnibus Rule that appeared in the January 25, 2013 Federal Register contained this cryptic and apparently contradictory statement:
DATES: Effective date: This final rule is effective on March…
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OIG Reports Shortcomings In EHR Incentive Oversight
By William Maruca on
CMS should improve its oversight of its electronic health record incentive program, according to a report by the Office of Inspector General released this month. The government watchdog agency faults…
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When Will They Learn? Snooping Nurse Fired, Patients Notified
By William Maruca on
A nurse has been fired by a Texas hospital after accessing information on patients for whom she had no clinical responsibility, according to the Mt. Pleasant, TX Daily Tribune.
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HITECH EMR Incentive Registration Opens January 3, 2011
By William Maruca on
Early EHR adopters, mark your calendars: CMS will begin accepting registration for participation in the Medicare EHR incentive program beginning January 3, 2010. CMS will post a link to the registration process …
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OCR Releases Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Implementing HITECH Act HIPAA Changes
By William Maruca on
With a press conference featuring top officials including HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius, the Office of Civil Rights rolled out a 234-page Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on July 8, 2010. The full…
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Indictments in Florida Scheme to Sell Stolen Medical Records
By William Maruca on
Ambulance-chasing meets the age of electronic records. The husband and wife team of Ruben E. Rodriguez and Maria Victoria Suarez have been charged with conspiring with an ambulance company worker to…
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Tennessee Blues’ Data Theft May Impact 500,000 Members
By William Maruca on
With the HITECH breach notification rules weeks away from taking effect, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is scrambling to control the damage from the October 2009 theft of 57 hard drives containing sensitive patient information.
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Getting Meaningful with EHR
By William Maruca on
The Health InformationTechnology for Economic and Clinical Health Act or the “HITECH Act” provides incentive payments for adoption and meaningful use of HIT and qualified EHRs. CMS published a…