Q: We see many assertions that encryption at the right level meets the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/HIPAA safe harbor provision with no explanation of what is necessary to prove the breached electronic protected health information (PHI) was actually encrypted at the moment of breach. How can a covered entity prove the PHI was actually encrypted at the time of the breach?
Q: Ever since we moved to an electronic health record (EHR), our HIM department has noticed some physicians copying and pasting information from previous records. How do we know when this is allowed or when we can query the provider to clarify?
Effective January 1, 2018, Medicare payments for X-rays taken using computed radiography will be reduced by 7%, according to a policy CMS finalized in the 2018 OPPS final rule. This reduction will remain effective until 2022, and increase to 10% beginning in 2023, as required by paragraph 1848 (b)(9) of the Social Security Act.
We found out after an observation patient was discharged that one of the procedures performed was an inpatient-only procedure. Can we bill this to Medicare without an official inpatient order on the medical record?
The overall monthly national healthcare spending rate modestly increased 4.3% from August 2016 to August 2017, with a notable increase in home health spending, according to a brief from Altarum’s Center for Sustainable Health Spending.
U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras will hold a hearing December 21 for a lawsuit aimed at halting the CMS payment reduction for hospital outpatient drugs acquired through the 340B program, a policy set to go into effect January 1.
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program can lead to decreased healthcare claims and out-of-pocket costs for low-income adults, according to a JAMA Internal Medicine study.
Q: It is my understanding that we can make PHI disclosures using our EHR for payment/treatment/healthcare operations without a consent and that we do not need to track these requests for an accounting of disclosures. Has this changed?
