Note: This is the second article in a two-part series on HIPAA and data security and encryption. The June edition of the Health Law Advisory included an article by Michael Chase discussing recent HIPAA settlements due, at least in part, to a failure to properly encrypt PHI. One of the […]
Health Law Alert
“Standard” Construction Documents – Some Traps for the Unwary
Beginning a major construction project can be an exciting time for an organization. During this time, there are a multitude of decisions that need to be made – programming, budgeting, financing and architect and contractor selection, to name a few. One of the most important decisions an owner can make […]
HIPAA Audits Round 2: OCR’s Cards Revealed
In February, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it would begin a second round of HIPAA compliance audits. At the time, the details of these planned audits were murky at best. That’s all starting to change, thanks to a series of presentations being given by OCR officials at various […]
$800,000 HIPAA Settlement: Another Reminder to Safeguard and Properly Transfer or Dispose of Patient Records
On June 23, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with Parkview Health System, Inc., a nonprofit health care system serving parts of Indiana and Ohio, for violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Parkview agreed to pay $800,000 and adopt […]
OIG Issues Another Special Fraud Alert Cautioning Labs and Physicians
The latest Special Fraud Alert directed to clinical laboratories issued by the OIG on September 25, 2014, addresses compensation paid by labs to referring physicians and group practices for blood specimen collection, processing, and packaging and for submitting patient data to a registry or database. This Special Fraud Alert is […]