Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions, and the total cost of limited health literacy to the U.S. healthcare system is estimated at $50–73 billion.
In recent months, OCR has expressed concern that providers and other covered entities may be reluctant to inform and involve the loved ones of individuals facing health crises like opioid use disorder for fear of violating HIPAA. Here, we look at some common misconceptions about privacy under HIPAA and point to the information that patients and families need to know.
Earlier this week, HHS’ Office of Civil Rights sent out a reminder that public comments to their request for information on improving care coordination and reducing the regulatory burdens of HIPAA are due by February 12, 2019.
On January 8, CMS released MLN Matters SE19002 on status determinations for total knee arthroplasty, which included guidance on how to determine proper status for patients undergoing the procedure, but CMS quickly rescinded it and announced that it is making revisions and will reissue it in the near future.
Q: Our facility is used to reporting modifier -59 (distinct procedural service), but we're not sure when modifier -XE (separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter) would be appropriate instead. Could you provide an example?
