If you are a HIPAA-covered entity or business associate, you likely know that patient PHI may only be created, received, maintained, and transmitted as permitted by the HIPAA Security Rule
Continue Reading Is Your Website HIPAA-Compliant?
OCR Gets Coal in its Stocking from OIG
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
Lost in the Shuffle: The September 23 HIPAA Notice Requirements
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
Continue Reading Lost in the Shuffle: The September 23 HIPAA Notice Requirements
Omnibus Rule Takes Effect Today – Or Does It?
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
Continue Reading Omnibus Rule Takes Effect Today – Or Does It?
OIG Reports Shortcomings In EHR Incentive Oversight
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
Continue Reading OIG Reports Shortcomings In EHR Incentive Oversight
When Will They Learn? Snooping Nurse Fired, Patients Notified
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.
Continue Reading When Will They Learn? Snooping Nurse Fired, Patients Notified
HITECH EMR Incentive Registration Opens January 3, 2011
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
Continue Reading HITECH EMR Incentive Registration Opens January 3, 2011
OCR Releases Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Implementing HITECH Act HIPAA Changes
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
Continue Reading OCR Releases Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Implementing HITECH Act HIPAA Changes
Indictments in Florida Scheme to Sell Stolen Medical Records
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
Continue Reading Indictments in Florida Scheme to Sell Stolen Medical Records
Tennessee Blues’ Data Theft May Impact 500,000 Members
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.
Continue Reading Tennessee Blues’ Data Theft May Impact 500,000 Members