Q. We acquired a home health agency and now employ home health nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, etc. Can we permit workforce members to use their personal cell phones to communicate with patients? Is there a HIPAA-compliant means of doing so for calls, email, and text messages?
Coding and documentation can make or break providers’ success under the Quality Payment Program. An examination of specific measures reveals coding and documentation areas to focus on.
The majority of breached patient records in January were due to hacking and insider-related incidents, according to a report by Protenus, which analyzed the 37 health data breaches reported to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in January. The hacking incident which had the biggest impact occurred at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences, where an unauthorized third party gained access to the computer network, and thus access to Medicaid patient billing information.
Efficient, correct, and compliant release of information (ROI) processes are necessary to support patient care, legal processes, reimbursement, and patients’ rights. Give ROI staff and leaders a shot of energy with targeted training that adapts to their needs. Succinct modules, interaction, and a positive attitude can have a ripple effect on the department.
In the 2018 OPPS final rule, CMS finalized a change to the current clinical laboratory date of service policies for outpatient molecular pathology tests and advanced diagnostic laboratory tests.