The Biden-Harris Administration has announced a rule to protect consumers from surprise medical bills. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor, and Treasury, and the Office of Personnel Management, issued “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part I,” an interim final rule that will restrict excessive out of pocket costs to consumers from surprise … [Read more...] about New federal rule to protect consumers from surprise medical bills
Compliance
Beware of privacy pitfalls when remotely monitoring telecommuters
Before the pandemic, most US employees worked primarily from an external workplace; today far fewer do. While employers continue to try coaxing employees back to the workplace, it's an uphill battle, with many remote workers preferring to spend at least some of their working hours at home. In short, as with other employers, medical offices need to adjust to the realities of … [Read more...] about Beware of privacy pitfalls when remotely monitoring telecommuters
Model Medical Office Employee Remote Monitoring of Telecommuters Policy
Letting employees telecommute poses significant operational and management challenges to employers, not the least of which is ensuring that employees are actually doing their jobs and meeting expected productivity standards when working from home. Software, apps and other monitoring technology can go a long way in meeting this goal; but it can also get you into hot water under … [Read more...] about Model Medical Office Employee Remote Monitoring of Telecommuters Policy
New HHS policy makes your office potentially liable for LGBTQ discrimination
While it doesn’t directly relate to billing and reimbursement, federal civil rights laws have an impact on certain aspects of healthcare operations. These laws ban your office from discriminating on the basis of protected personal characteristics, including sex. So, compliance managers need to be aware that on May 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an … [Read more...] about New HHS policy makes your office potentially liable for LGBTQ discrimination
Wage whispers: Can we stop salary talk?
By Paul Edwards When one employee finds out another employee makes more money, it can send ripples throughout your entire workplace. In light of the morale damage this kind of talk can cause, you may be tempted to tell employees not to discuss salaries at all. The problem is employees have a legal right to discuss their salaries with other employees because of existing NLRA … [Read more...] about Wage whispers: Can we stop salary talk?
OIG sounds the warning on improper COVID-19 vaccination billing
Providers that furnish COVID-19 vaccination and testing services need to look ahead and prepare for the massive federal false billing crackdown that is sure to come if and when the pandemic crisis finally tails off. The latest rumblings from the federal enforcement volcano occurred on April 15 when the OIG issued a relatively rare “Message From HHS-OIG Leadership” (Message) to … [Read more...] about OIG sounds the warning on improper COVID-19 vaccination billing
Dare we ask our coworkers: Are you safe?
By Lynne Curry bio Question: We have a small eight-person medical admin office. We don’t interact with the patients. Although we’ve worked remotely for the past year, we’ll be moving back into the office in the next few weeks. We’re generally looking forward to it, Most of my coworkers have been vaccinated. We talk on Zoom about how happy we are to have gotten vaccinated and … [Read more...] about Dare we ask our coworkers: Are you safe?
New OCR data shed light on the costs of privacy noncompliance
HIPAA enforcement isn’t nearly as fat a cash cow as enforcement of False Claims Act (FCA) and other healthcare fraud laws is, it still takes a lot of money out of the pockets of providers and into the hands of the federal government. But tracking the economics of HIPAA enforcement is tough because the government doesn’t publish data on HIPAA recovery amounts the way it does … [Read more...] about New OCR data shed light on the costs of privacy noncompliance
Court gives guidance about return to onsite work and ADA
By Mike O’Brien In ADA Case, Tenth Circuit says onsite work may be essential One of the most frequent questions that the writers of these updates receive is whether employers who moved to a remote workplace in response to the COVID pandemic may now recall employees to onsite work. Generally, we’ve advised employers that they are free to require onsite work, although they may … [Read more...] about Court gives guidance about return to onsite work and ADA
Most of your medical office employees are vaccinated. Now what?
By Lynne Curry bio Most of your office staff have received vaccines. Those who remain unvaccinated either haven’t decided whether they will or have refused to get vaccinated. What’s next? Can you relax your workplace protocols? How do you handle the conflicts between vaccinated and unvaccinated employees and those who differently interpret safety protocols? New CDC … [Read more...] about Most of your medical office employees are vaccinated. Now what?