Q: We had a patient admitted with a negative COVID-19 test, but after being retested the patient had a positive COVID-19 result. Should we query the provider whether COVID-19 was POA?
Q: If an individual provides authorization for a disclosure, can the individual later revoke the authorization? Is the covered entity (CE) then required to “take back” or demand the erasure of any documentation by third parties that may have been made following the original authorization?
Q: Do companies such as FitBit (and others that sell wearable devices that track and store health information) need to abide by HIPAA regulations? Should I be concerned with how these companies are viewing and sharing my health information?
Q: If we work with a business associate (BA) that enters into agreements with BA subcontractors, are we required to obtain copies of these agreements and review them?
Q: Are we allowed to use case studies involving real incidents that occurred at our facility as part of our HIPAA training? We’ve always been told that real-life examples will resonate with staff, but wouldn’t this be a HIPAA violation?
Q: Healthcare in rural communities remains an issue. Hospitals in rural areas continue to close at an alarming rate, creating problems for many communities across the U.S. How can these communities respond, and what role can case managers play in this response?
Our coding experts answer questions about CPT documentation and coding for psychotherapy services, ICD-10-CM reporting for knee injuries, conducting chargemaster audits, and more.
Q: We are coming up on our annual HIPAA training for staff. We have used the same training program for several years—it covers the basics and places a strong emphasis on recognizing phishing and other cyberattack tactics. Given the events of the past year, are there any other security trends we should be sure to highlight during our training session?
Q: A patient was admitted to our facility with COVID-19-like symptoms, tested negative for COVID-19. Several days later, however, the patient was retested and found to be positive for COVID-19. Should we query the physician or assign a present on admission (POA) indicator of "no" or "unknown"?
