Howard University Hospital has experienced two data breaches this year, one involving a stolen laptop and the other the sale of patients’ private information. Names, addresses, Social Security numbers, Medicare numbers, and even some diagnosis-related information may have been compromised.
In late January 2012, a laptop belonging to a contractor working with the hospital was stolen from the contractor’s car.
By Lawrence G | June 7, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
A new report by IDC Health Insights suggests that Electronic Health Records (EHR) adoption by American healthcare providers and small practices will reach 80 percent by the year 2016. Meaningful use incentives and privacy protections under the American Recovery Act (ARRA) and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) are expected to drive this growth spurt.
By Lawrence G | June 4, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
South Shore Hospital in South Weymouth, MA has agreed to pay $750,000 to settle charges related to a data breach that occurred in 2010. The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office announced the civil settlement last week.
In February 2010, the hospital sent 473 unencrypted backup tapes to an off-site data solutions facility to be erased and resold,
By Lawrence G | May 30, 2012 | Healthcare IT, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
Last Wednesday, researchers at George Washington University’s Hirsh Health Law and Policy Program launched a new Web site to clarify health information laws at the federal and state levels. The site, Health Information and the Law, was developed with financial support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and will serve as an online guide for healthcare providers,
By Lawrence G | May 29, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
Legislation being drafted by Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) would allow state-based universal healthcare coverage. The State-Based Universal Health Care Act of 2012, which may be introduced to Congress as soon as next week, would create the possibility for states to request Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare funds for their own health insurance programs.
By Lawrence G | May 25, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
Two Texas Congressmen have introduced a bill that would promote greater transparency regarding healthcare service costs. The Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act of 2012 would require states to enact into law mandates that hospitals publicly disclose the costs of inpatient and outpatient services.
Proposed by Representatives Michael Burgess, MD (R-TX) and Gene Green (D-TX),
By Lawrence G | May 24, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
The American Medical Association has sent a letter to acting Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator Marilyn B. Tavenner requesting a further extension to the compliance deadline for ICD-10. This stands in stark contrast with recent comments by the College of Healthcare Information Management (CHIME) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) recommending against additional delays to the deadline.
By Lawrence G | May 15, 2012 | Healthcare IT, Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
The College of Healthcare Information Management (CHIME) submitted its comments on the proposed one-year delay on ICD-10 implementation, calling it an appropriate middle ground but recommending against more delays or uncertainties. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), meanwhile, reiterated its position that there should be no delay in the deadline.
CHIME urged the Department of Health and Human Services to remain committed to implementing ICD-10 and stated that a longer delay would “seriously disrupt”
By Lawrence G | May 10, 2012 | Healthcare Laws and Regulations, Medical Billing Software |
Both the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) have officially submitted their comments on the proposed rules of Stage 2 of the Medicare/Medicaid meaningful use program this week.
The AMA said it was generally supportive of the widespread adoption of Electronic Health Records (EHR) systems and meaningful use by providers,
By Lawrence G | May 8, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
The American Medical Association sent out a reminder this past Friday, May 4th, notifying its physicians of the June 30, 2012 deadline for reporting on at least ten electronic prescriptions in order to avoid the 2013 Medicare reimbursement penalties.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final regulation regarding the 2013 Medicare e-prescribing penalty program last November;
By Lawrence G | May 7, 2012 | Electronic Medical Records News, Healthcare Laws and Regulations |
