Q A patient signed an authorization form eight months ago, and her attorney is now submitting it to obtain a copy of her medical records. Is this authorization still valid, or do we need to get the patient to sign a new authorization?
Patients may have easier access to laboratory results under an HHS proposed rule, "CLIA Program and HIPAA Privacy Rule: Patients' Access to Test Reports," released in September.
Briefings on HIPAA has obtained a copy of the $9.2 million contract with KPMG, LLP, the company OCR hired to conduct HIPAA compliance audits. The contract reveals some details about what healthcare organizations can expect when the audits begin.
Sometimes the best care a patient can receive in the ED is to not be treated there at all. They can often have treatment needs and do received meds, but that does not necessarily entail an admission.
Editor's note: In 2011 we're celebrating MRB's 25th birthday with special content each month. For October, we've put together a report on the latest quarterly benchmark survey findings, this time on ICD-10 implementation efforts. Just a few of the highlights from the report are included below.
