In this month's HIPAA Q&A, we answer your questions about sending unencrypted emails to the right recipient, discussing patients with colleagues, scheduling appointments for spouses, and filing complaints against insurance companies.
Q: Sometimes the emergency department where I work gets so busy we have to evaluate patients before they can be placed in a room. I have seen nurses perform examinations on patients on stretchers in hallways where they can easily be overheard discussing medical histories and treatment options. Would this be considered a HIPAA violation?
Q: I’m working with our contracting staff to negotiate with a new payer. Is there any potentially problematic contract language I should take under further review?
Q: Can an ICD-10-CM body mass index (BMI) code be used as a standalone code? If not, what documentation should we look for to justify the use of a BMI code?
Q: I am an acupuncturist and have a patient who owes me $100. I contacted the patient about the missing payment but received no response. Would it be a HIPAA violation to get in touch with the patient’s emergency contact person about the missing payment? Or should I go to a debt collector?
