Publications

On January 3, 2018, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released a final rule governing the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records (Part 2). This final rule addresses the following areas of the Part 2 regulations: prohibition on re-disclosure of Part 2 information, and circumstances and […]

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently reaffirmed its prohibition against “Licensed Independent Practitioners” (LIPs) issuing patient orders via text message. CMS clarified that “the practice of texting orders from a [LIP] to a member of the care team is not in compliance with the Conditions of Participation […]

As organizations continue to close the books for calendar year 2017, remember that covered entities must file all HIPAA breach reports with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR). If a covered entity experienced a breach (as defined in the data breach notification rule) […]

The details of the Low Volume Appeals Settlement (LVA) initiative were explained during a Medicare Learning Network Call with CMS on January 9, 2018. The initiative is designed to partially relieve what is now estimated to be a 3-year backlog of claims stacked up for hearings before an Administrative Law […]

The Second Session of the 105th Nebraska Legislature convened on January 3, 2018. Bill introductions concluded on January 18, 2018. At the conclusion of bill introductions, we identified 20 bills warranting particular watchfulness: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LB 919, LB 1023 and LB 1084 would sunset the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit program […]