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McBrayer Blogs
Showing 16 posts in Compliance Programs.
A New HIPAA Security Risk Assessment Tool For Your Compliance Arsenal
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new security risk assessment (“SRA”) tool for small and medium size healthcare providers. The downloadable tool (available for free here) is a self-contained, independent application that is available for Windows and iOS platforms. The SRA works by asking a series of in-depth questions about the provider’s activities and facilities. The “yes” or “no” answer format for each question reveals whether corrective action is needed in a particular area. Additional resources in the SRA help providers understand the risks associated with the use, disclosure and storage of protected health information. The SRA offers providers the opportunity to generate, update and document assessment materials and corrective action plans through the SRA; documentation is especially important for audit purposes. More >
Secure Text Messaging in a HIPAA World? Part II
Earlier this week, I referred to mobile applications such as TigerText and Doc Halo which are being touted as a method of “HIPAA-compliant” texting. These apps allegedly secure protected health information (PHI) sent via text message to ensure providers’ compliance with HIPAA privacy law. Covered entities must realize, however, that the use of these apps alone is not sufficient to pass a HIPAA audit. While HHS has not banned the texting of patient information, it has made clear that an organization should approve it only after “performing a risk analysis or implementing a third-party messaging solution that incorporates measures to establish a secure communication platform that will allow texting on approved mobile devices.” More >
New Rule Brings Sweeping Changes to Physician Privacy, Part II
Earlier this week, we discussed the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) policy on disclosure of Medicare reimbursement to individual physicians. The policy, set to take effect on March 18, 2014, enables the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to evaluate requests for physician pay information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and, in some cases, release the data. This new policy marks a fundamental shift in HHS’ commitment to protect physician privacy. More >
Senate Finance Committee Takes an In-Depth Look at Fraud & Abuse
Earlier this week, I discussed the HHS and DOJ Annual Report for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Program. HHS and DOJ are not the only ones who are determined to purge the health care industry of its woes. On January 31, 2013 a group of six current and former members of the Senate Finance Committee released a comprehensive report detailing recommendations on combating waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid Programs. More >
Annual Report Details Record Breaking Success in Health Care Fraud Prevention
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”), required the establishment of a national Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (“HCFAC”). The HCFAC Program is a joint Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and Health and Human Services (“HHS”) coordination of federal, state and local law enforcement activities to combat fraud committed against all health plans, both public and private. More >
AN EFFECTIVE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL AND SMALL PHYSICIAN GROUP PRACTICE
With federal and state fraud and abuse enforcement efforts on the rise, all health care providers must be vigilant in identifying areas of risk and putting in place mechanisms to ensure regulatory compliance. This holds true not just for larger institutional providers, but individual and small physician group practices, as well. With the proliferation of federal and state contractors tasked with performing audits of coding and billing practices, physician practices must be prepared to demonstrate proper coding and billing practices and proper documentation to support those practices. The best preventive medicine for the individual and small physician group practice is a carefully drafted compliance program to identify and address areas of risk and to promote a culture of compliance within the practice. More >
