A nationwide survey finds health care organizations and businesses, including medical practices, confront time and staffing challenges when it comes to health care compliance management. Expertise is also an issue, as is keeping up with changes. Nevertheless, medical practices and other health care providers recognize the importance of health care compliance management. The … [Read more...] about Practices recognize that health care compliance management must be addressed, despite challenges
Compliance
Expect more concerted HIPAA enforcement due to OIG reports
The protection of individuals' private health information isn't being adequately enforced, according to the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG issued two reports criticizing the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for failing to proactively enforce privacy rules under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and follow … [Read more...] about Expect more concerted HIPAA enforcement due to OIG reports
Compliance checklist
Use this checklist to make sure you have complied with all the new and modified requirements in the HIPAA final rule: Notice of privacy practices Addresses breach notification rules Discusses uses for which authorization is required Advises patients they can request nondisclosure to health plan if they pay out-of-pocket Addresses sale of PHI Advises patients they can opt out … [Read more...] about Compliance checklist
Important guidelines for your medical practice website
When your medical office establishes a website, be sure to set some boundaries and limits for individuals using that website, and give careful attention to the individuals referenced at the site. To set boundaries for individuals using the site, you should have a terms-of-use policy available on the website which includes disclaimers about the purpose of the site and what … [Read more...] about Important guidelines for your medical practice website
How to keep the office safe from the lawyers when a staffer gets fired
Terminations are what spark the vast majority of today’s employment law claims, says employment defense attorney Shari Lane. That’s one area where managers can’t afford to make mistakes. Step back before pulling the trigger Safety starts with two obvious precautions, Lane says. First, review the record. Make sure it explains what has led to the decision. If there’s not … [Read more...] about How to keep the office safe from the lawyers when a staffer gets fired
Wage and hour violations can creep in quietly, and every office is at risk
A lot of employment laws apply only to larger employers. Not wage and hour laws. Those apply to every employer, regardless of size. And they are “the largest source of employment litigation,” says employment law attorney Daniel F. Pyne of Hopkins & Carley in San Jose, CA. In his own practice, wage and hour issues account for almost half of the matters that … [Read more...] about Wage and hour violations can creep in quietly, and every office is at risk
Fairness in the employment setting can be everything
By Steve M. Cohen bio I have worked closely with two organizations: The Transgender Institute (TTI) and the Gender Policy Associates (GPA). TTI is an organization that provides therapy, consultation, and coaching to transgender people. This is a population that is much misunderstood; in schools they are subject to extensive bullying. At work, they are often subject to … [Read more...] about Fairness in the employment setting can be everything
HIPAA compliance audits: is your practice prepared?
By Paul Edwards bio The next round of HIPAA audits promised by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has been delayed since October 2014, but OCR has made it clear they are still going to happen. Their senior advisor, Linda Sanches, has informed medical office managers, "This is a good time to get your house in order." If … [Read more...] about HIPAA compliance audits: is your practice prepared?
These resources help with ICD-10 compliance
If you missed Medical Office Manager's webinar, "10 Things You Must Know About ICD-10," you definitely want to review the webinar recording and slides, available here. Coding expert Judy Monestime shared information during the presentation that will help your practice meet the October 1, 2015 deadline, and provide assistance as you continue to transition from ICD-9 to … [Read more...] about These resources help with ICD-10 compliance
Three more people issues, some of them legal and some not easily answered
For a manager, the people questions never stop coming. Here are three of them – the staffer who criticizes the office or the manager, the legal issues of layoffs, and how to handle a smoker’s halitosis. They are answered by attorney Shari L. Lane of Northwest Employment Law in Portland, OR. Protected vs. snippy remarks Can the office discipline a staffer for … [Read more...] about Three more people issues, some of them legal and some not easily answered