Medical Office Manager

Compliance

Health reform’s delay on the employer mandate raises lots of questions

There’s a new delay in health care reform. It’s a one-year postponement of what’s known as the employer mandate of the Affordable Care Act. That mandate says large employers, or those with 50 or more full-time employees, have to provide health insurance for their employees or pay a penalty. Originally, the requirement was supposed to take effect this coming January. Now the … [Read more...] about Health reform’s delay on the employer mandate raises lots of questions

HIPAA: it’s time to update the office’s privacy notice

The mega rule deadline is September 23, 2013 What should managers be doing right now for HIPAA? They should be updating the Notice of Privacy Practices and getting patients to sign off on the revision. And they have only until September 23, 2013 to get it done. Along with that, they need to be paying close attention to some other HIPAA requirements that are getting … [Read more...] about HIPAA: it’s time to update the office’s privacy notice

HIPAA’s rules get tighter and its penalties get higher

and breach notification takes a new turn Even stronger controls have just been set out for HIPAA. They come in the final regulations for the Omnibus Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or the HIPAA rule. They appear in the January 25 Federal Register and become effective March 26. However, offices and business associates have until September 23 to … [Read more...] about HIPAA’s rules get tighter and its penalties get higher

HIPAA is now striking small offices; the first hit is on mobile devices

HIPAA, which has traditionally focused its attention on larger entities, is now closing in on smaller organizations and smaller violations. A hospice in Idaho has been fined $50,000 for a security breach of its electronic health information. This is the first time HIPAA has gone after a breach affecting fewer than 500 patients, and the government says the fine is “a strong … [Read more...] about HIPAA is now striking small offices; the first hit is on mobile devices

Keep safe from the Recovery Audit Contractors and the courts by making the corrections correctly

What flaws are the Recovery Audit Contractors searching for in records? Illegible documentation, incomplete documentation, unidentified providers, wrong dates of service – and evidence of improper corrections. To help offices stay safe, the government has set out guides for making corrections so the records pass muster with the RACs. Those same guides will also ensure the … [Read more...] about Keep safe from the Recovery Audit Contractors and the courts by making the corrections correctly