When the severity of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) became apparent in March, employers across the country sent their workers home. Nonclinical employees of healthcare organizations were among those who were forced to create a new office space in the living room or kitchen.
Q: We're reviewing the focus and structure of our revenue cycle compliance committee. Are there any recommendations for who should be a committee member, meeting cadence, and projects?
Irene, an expert medical case manager, is worried about her mother, Sadie, who is 87 years old with severe cardiovascular disease and mild-to-moderate dementia. Sadie lives in an assisted living facility. Clearly, she belongs to the group identified as being the most vulnerable to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
Health disparities have received plenty of attention lately, and for good reason. These differences, which exist among various groups in the United States, can affect everything from readmission rates to health outcomes and are often the result of environmental, social, and economic factors.
Q: OCR has announced that it will waive enforcement discretion for HIPAA violations that occur at COVID-19 community-based testing sites. The agency did, however, indicate that reasonable safeguards should be implemented. What are your safeguard recommendations for a testing site that is constructed in a parking lot?
