The Compliance Insider Blog | Healthcare Compliance Pros - Page 91

Attorney Requests

Q. When an attorney requests records and asks that all records be released, must we comply and send all the patient's medical records? A. If the request was accompanied by the patient's authorization,...

Sign-in Sheets

Q. Do patient sign-in sheets violate the HIPAA Privacy Rule? If they do not, does a recommended format exist? A. Covered entities are responsible for limiting incidental disclosures. Using a patient sign-in...

Whistle-blower Investigation

An OSHA whistleblower investigation has a dentist squirming in the regulatory exam chair, so to speak. It is also a reminder that workplace safety violations aren't the only way that dental and medical practices...

Waiver of Co-Payments

Professional courtesy or other practices that involve waiving co-payments or other cost-sharing amounts raise concerns. Where the recipients of such waivers are Medicare beneficiaries, the waiver of co-payments...

Increased Scrutiny of Employers' I-9 Records

Recently, the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency notified 1,000 employers that their personnel records will be audited by federal investigators to determine...

The Stark Law and Stark Law Exceptions

Professional courtesy, when extended to a physician or entity who refers to "designated health services" can implicate the Stark Law. The Stark Law is a strict liability statute and the penalties for violating the...

HIPAA Indictment . . . Boosting Awareness of Privacy Rule

We have often said that if authorities initiated more high-profile legal actions against alleged HIPAA violators, it would go a long way toward boosting compliance. So, we are glad to see that federal prosecutors in...

Weeding Out Unmotivated Workers When Recruiting

Tempting as it may be to ask job candidates for their school report cards a better method is to look for subtle clues potential slackers give during the hiring process. People with fixed mindsets believe you are...

More Highlights of the HIPAA Disclosure Proposed Rule

Check out this summary regarding the HIPAA Privacy Rule Accounting of disclosures proposed rule published by HHS in the Federal Register May 31. The proposed rule: * Applies to any medical and healthcare...

Latex Allergies

Latex is a rubber product found in many manufactured goods, including: * Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, goggles, and aprons; * Medical equipment, such as catheters and intravenous...