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Take care of patient notices, records and more after HIPAA ‘mega-rule’

01/31/2013

One of the biggest challenges facing practices under the final HIPAA mega-rule is the stakes are higher when you do experience a data breach. Experts advise you to prepare now by tightening up your rule-required oversight of other areas before the Sept. 23 compliance date.

New penalty system, electronic PHI protection rules top ‘mega-rule’ changes

01/31/2013

by: Lauren Williams and Tina Irgang

HHS’ long awaited HIPAA “mega-rule” combined four final rules updating policies to privacy and security, electronic data storage and third-party disclosure of genetic information. While the biggest changes affected breach notification and business associate requirements, here are eight noteworthy provisions from the rule:

Is duration an element of HPI? If not, does it matter?

01/31/2013

by: Roy Edroso

We recently saw an online forum discussion in which experts debated an issue we’d never seen before: Is “duration” an element of HPI (history of present illness)?

Add some insulation to your business associate agreements

01/31/2013

by: Roy Edroso

The expansion of the business associate (BA) designation to a number of vendors not previously considered BAs means you have to tighten up your handling of those relationships,

Benchmark of the Week: Top-denied services billed with mods. 57 and 25

01/31/2013

by: Lauren Williams

These two charts evaluate how providers bill E/Ms linked to surgery and additional procedures.

HIPAA ‘mega-rule’ could mean hefty costs for providers forced to report more breaches

01/28/2013

by: Lauren C. Williams and Tina Irgang

Expect to report data breaches to HHS more often – and at a higher cost – to comply with provisions in the agency’s long-awaited HIPAA “mega-rule.” The Jan. 17-released mega-rule finalizes four proposed and interim final rules, tightening the agency’s stance on penalizing the compromise of patient protected health information (PHI).

New reassignment report, HTML printouts on PECOS make enrollment easier

01/28/2013

by: Karen Long

Practice administrators and credentialing specialists now can see which providers have reassigned their Medicare payments to the practice through a report in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). The reassignment report shows provider names, national provider identifiers (NPIs), enrollment statuses, states where providers are enrolled, dates when revalidation notices were sent and revalidation statuses, CMS says in a Jan. 10 Medicare FFS Provider e-News.

4 ways to support your e-Rx exemption, avoid 1.5% pay cut as deadline nears

01/28/2013

by: Lauren C. Williams

You have only a couple of days left – until Jan. 31 – to submit an exemption for CMS’ e-prescribing (e-Rx) incentive program to avoid a 1.5% cut to your payments this year. Give your exemption request the best chances of getting accepted with the following advice CMS shared with Part B News:

Watch state laws for changes in how you talk about guns with patients

01/28/2013

by: Roy Edroso

President Barack Obama’s recent executive actions concerning doctors’ discussions of guns with patients have attracted a lot of attention, but experts tell Part B News that these are less likely to impact your practice than state laws, which may be more prescriptive.

AMA, others plead against meaningful use stage 3 deadline, push for delay

01/28/2013

by: Roy Edroso

Major medical groups have asked for a delay in the proposed 2016 launch for meaningful use stage 3 adoption, and two out of three experts believe CMS will accommodate them.

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