In September 2014, CMS and the Office for the National Coordinator (ONC) released a final rule that offers enhanced flexibility for eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals using certified EHR technology (CEHRT) and working toward meaningful use attestation (https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-21021.pdf). The final rule regulations became effective October 1, 2014.
Q: I was recently hired for a position at a long-term care facility. Upon getting acclimated, I learned that the facility has completed handwritten logs for every fax that was sent out since 2003. This document is referred to as the HIPAA fax log and contains the date the fax was sent, to whom it was sent, by whom it was sent, the number of pages, and whether a cover sheet with confidentiality statement was included. I would like to do away with this form since fax machines can generate their own logs. However, if this is a necessary process then I would like to follow official guidelines and update the facility's policies and procedures accordingly. Does the HIPAA Privacy or Security Rule require these logs? If so, what information must we include?
More than ever before, HIM is being recognized as an enterprise profession important to ambulatory, acute, and postacute settings. A good example of the transformation is HIM's involvement in CMS' risk adjustment and Hierarchical Condition Category coding system.
While it can be challenging to define your organization's legal health record (LHR), one health system in Denver is proving that collaboration and perseverance can lead to an effective LHR and EHR.
Coding and documentation should tell a patient's complete story. With the greater specificity in ICD-10, organizations should be better able to capture these stories, and the respiratory codes, listed in Chapter 10: Diseases of the Respiratory System (J00?J99), are no exception.
Q: If someone calls a facility to schedule an appointment for a patient, is it a violation of HIPAA to admit the patient receives care at the practice? For example, the practice where I work often helps victims of domestic abuse.
