Q: I work for a small rural hospital, and we have a lot of budget limitations for technology upgrades. Can we allow clinical staff to use their personal cell phones and mobile devices to communicate with patients? If so, how can we keep our calls, email, and text messages HIPAA compliant?
Q: We do in-depth HIPAA assessments for our clients, but some clients want a simple assessment that they can keep up with them to maintain compliance. Do you have any recommendations for streamlining security assessments?
Q: I work in a residential care facility, and we have smart speakers in some resident rooms. Patient information is discussed where these smart devices can “hear” it. Although most manufacturers claim speakers are not “listening in,” we all hear about how speakers sometimes do what manufacturers say they do not. Could these speakers lead to a HIPAA violation?
Our experts answer questions about the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, coding an excision of a ganglion cyst, and coding first-degree burns.
Q: What considerations should coders keep in mind when referring to problem lists for determining the principal diagnosis and proper sequencing of all documented conditions in the inpatient setting?
Our experts answer questions about emergency transport services, the medical necessity requirements for epidurals to treat chronic pain, and medication noncompliance vs. underdosing.
