Q: Do we need to submit a formal request to CMS for any of the COVID-19-related waivers to apply? Do we need to keep records or documentation pertaining to which waivers we've used and the services they apply to?
It’s the age-old tale in healthcare: Your organization needs more resources, but leadership simply isn’t interested in helping out. “This has been a challenge since the pre-HIPAA days,” says Kate Borten, CISSP, CISM, HCISPP, founder of The Marblehead Group in Marblehead, Massachusetts. “It’s always been a challenge.”
Hospitalized novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients present unique challenges because their length of stay is often longer and more complex than the typical patient. Their course of illness can also be unpredictable, which makes planning difficult. When a patient is ready to leave the hospital, another set of challenges begins. Even a year into the pandemic, case managers still struggle to find postacute placements and anticipate and identify the needs of these patients.
This note from the instructor explores the intricacies of the acute and post-acute transfer policy in light of recent OIG audits on hospital compliance with these policies.
Q: What are the encryption requirements when using Google Drive™, Dropbox®, or other information-storing applications? How do we ensure HIPAA compliance when using them?
