Free CME: Patients' right of access under HIPAA The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched a new training module for providers on patients' right of access under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. With limited exceptions, the HIPAA Privacy Rule provides individuals with the right to see and receive copies upon request of the information in their medical and other health records maintained by their health care providers and health plans. The new module provides an in-depth review of the components of the HIPAA right of access ... August 8, 2017 General Continuing Medical Education, CME, HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, Medical Records 0 0 Comment Read More »
Tip: Smartphones in the office To protect patient privacy, develop a written policy on camera and smartphone use in the office. Although there is no law prohibiting a patient from taking photos or using mobile technology in a physician office, many practices implement office policies so that it is clear to staff and to patients what is allowed in the office and under what circumstances. For more information, see “Ask the Expert: Smartphones in the Office” available free to members in CMA's online resource library. Trouble getting paid? We can help! CMA’s Center for Economic Services ... November 7, 2016 General HIPAA Privacy Rule, Privacy, Tip of the Month 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS begins second phase of HIPAA audits The second phase of audits for compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations is underway. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) selected a total of 167 health plans, health care providers and health care clearinghouses to be audited. Selected physician practices would have received an email from OCR on July 11. The email may be incorrectly classified as spam, so check your spam and junk folders to make sure you didn't miss it. The 2016 phase 2 HIPAA audit program ... August 5, 2016 General HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, Audits 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS modifies HIPAA Privacy Rule as part of executive actions to curb gun violence Last week, the Obama Administration unveiled a number of executive actions to address gun violence in the United States, including an amendment to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that would make it easier for mental health providers to disclose the identities of individuals who are disqualified from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm. Both the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 and the Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibit gun ownership and gun sales to individuals that have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution ... January 15, 2016 General Guns, HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, Mental Health, Public Health, CPLH 0 0 Comment Read More »
HHS announces new rule that gives patients direct access to lab test results Patients will soon be able to obtain their medical test results directly from the laboratory, rather than having to request a copy from their physician's office, according to a new rule announced Monday by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The rule is part of a broader effort to give Americans more control over their health care. It supersedes state law and will have particular significance in 13 states that currently prohibit labs from releasing test results directly to patients. Current California law allows the release of ... February 7, 2014 General Diagnostic Testing, HIPAA, HIPAA Privacy Rule, Clinical Laboratories 0 0 Comment Read More »
