Lessons learned from Aetna mailing breach and litigation

October 1, 2018
Briefings on HIPAA

Most covered entities still use mailings to communicate with patients and members, so it is worth revisiting Aetna's 2017 mailing breach and the surrounding litigation to understand where negligence occurred and to take away some valuable lessons learned.

Rising medical record requests in the business office: Two areas for concern

October 8, 2018
Briefings on HIPAA

 Millions of medical records are sent to insurance companies every year by hospital and health system business office personnel to expedite claims payment, respond to payer audits, or fulfill other payer denial requests for information. And any time medical records are handled, HIPAA concerns come into play.

Revisions to the Common Rule and HIPAA: What you need to know

October 15, 2018
Briefings on HIPAA

After two delays, the revisions to Federal Policy for the Protection for Human Subjects (45 CFR 46), also known as the “Common Rule,” will now go into effect January 21, 2019.

Training staff and drafting policies on HIPAA requirements: Requests for amendments

October 22, 2018
Briefings on HIPAA

HIPAA allows patients to request amendments to their medical records. Facilities are not required to automatically make whatever change a patient requests, but they must allow patients to make the requests and follow a specific process for handling them.

Security Q&A: Collecting payment, contacting physicians, and overhearing examinations

October 29, 2018
Briefings on HIPAA

This month's Q&A answers to readers' questions on collecting payment, contacting physicians, overhearing medical examinations in the emergency department, and discussing the health of adult children.