Social determinants of health are social factors, such as homelessness, illiteracy, a history of childhood trauma, and joblessness or underemployment, that can affect a person’s health. Coding for these factors is important because CMS officials now use some of them to adjust quality measures for patients who are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, and coding these factors may help shape future health policy.
On June 28, a woman from Butler, Pennsylvania, was indicted by a federal grand jury, accused of wrongfully obtaining and disclosing protected health information (PHI) in violation of HIPAA.
Q: I work in a skilled nursing facility and would like to post the level of assistance needed and precautions on a dry erase board in patients’ rooms for nursing assistant use. Is this allowed?
Although regulatory agencies have not banned the use of medical scribes, organizations must follow certain requirements. Learn how to define the scribe’s role and responsibilities and ensure that documentation is correctly certified.
Case managers must begin to learn the skill of brokering for care. The goal of private payers is to provide the most cost-effective care that meets medical necessity for services and increases likelihood for recovery.
A legislative effort is underway to align some of the provisions of 42 CFR Part 2—the privacy regulation that governs the use and disclosure of substance use disorder information maintained by programs known as “Part 2” programs—with HIPAA.
