The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced a $250,000 settlement with a Washington-based healthcare provider for alleged HIPAA violations. The violation stemmed from a ransomware attack and subsequent investigation by the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Ransomware Attacks and HIPAA Compliance: Protecting Patient Data: This settlement highlights a growing concern […]
A medical record is systematic documentation of a patient’s medical history and care. It usually contains the patient’s health information (PHI) which includes identification information, health history, medical examination findings, and Medical billing information. Medical records were traditionally kept in paper form, with tabs separating the sections. As printed reports were generated, they were moved […]
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued three final regulations: 42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule, HIPAA Privacy Policy in Support of Reproductive HHS final Rules, and Preventing Discrimination and Promoting Civil Rights in Health Care Final Rule. General provisions – privacy and civil rights. Each of the HHS final rules […]
What is HIPAA? HIPAA compliance importance: It is important to note that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule of 1996 established standards for protecting individuals’ electronic personal health information (PHI). This includes any identifiable health information, such as medical records and histories, medical bills, and lab results, among others. A covered […]
Explore the intricacies of codes for a better understanding of regulatory compliance in medical coding. Healthcare billing and documentation are based on medical coding. An accurate representation of the patient’s health journey, appropriate reimbursements, and avoiding potential legal pitfalls are crucial to ensuring accurate representation of the patient’s health journey, not just an administrative formality. […]
The HIPAA Security Rule requires covered entities and business associates to implement technical, physical, and administrative safeguards. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) required the HHS secretary to develop rules for safeguarding electronic protected health information (ePHI). Out of these requirements, HHS created the HIPAA Privacy Rule and the HIPAA Security […]
In response to HHS requests for comments on proposed HIPAA rule changes, CHIME and ABHW raised privacy and security concerns, including the Right of Access amendments. CHIME and the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness sent letters to the Department of Health and Human Services, in response to proposed changes to HIPAA. Among a range […]
The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Privacy Rule that federal officials say will improve patient access to their medical records, encourage coordinated care and cut red tape. “Our proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule will break down barriers that have stood in […]