If your organization experiences a data breach—an increasingly likely scenario—and PHI is exposed, chances are you will be hit with a lawsuit in short order.
There are times when state privacy and security laws trump HIPAA, and healthcare organizations and their business associates (BA) should have a clear understanding of their compliance obligations in the midst of what can be a complex web of regulations.
While some HIM professionals may feel a sense of relief knowing RAC audits are on hold for the remainder of 2015, that should not deter workforce members from keeping track of denials and appeals and defending code assignments.
As the industry approaches ICD-10 implementation, end-to-end testing becomes more critical. Testing allows organizations to determine the efficacy of their preparations. It also answers critical questions for ICD-10 stakeholders: Can applications accommodate ICD-10 codes correctly? Does data flow seamlessly between internal and external interfaces? Are payers able to receive, adjudicate, and pay claims correctly?
