Monthly Archives: October 2009
Companies on the way to implement encryption projects
The 2009 encryption and key management benchmark survey conducted by Trust Catalyst on behalf of Thales, reveals that the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and the US Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are driving encryption projects across industries. In order to comply with HIPAA, 52 per cent of respondents from … Continue reading
HHS shifts the responsibility of Security Rule on OCR
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has made an announcement to the effect that the authority for the administration and enforcement of the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information (Security Rule) has been delegated to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). This step will improve HHS protection of individuals’ … Continue reading
Is your medical billing software HIPAA compliant?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) ensures that every practice, regardless of size, must comply with HIPAA privacy, security and transactional regulations and adherence to all subsequent regulations covers almost everything in your practice, including your medical billing software. When you are choosing the medical billing software for your organization, ensure … Continue reading
HIPAA to undergo further change with the newly proposed Health Reform Bill
There are several health IT related provisions in the healthcare reform bill that has recently passed through a key Senate committee. Among them are new rules regarding HIPAA, including a proposals allowing the periodic update of HIPAA standards, and fines to health plans that don’t comply to HIPAA “operating rules” by April 2014. This 223-page … Continue reading
Smartphones penetrating into the healthcare industry
Smartphones are penetrating deep into the healthcare industry and more and more doctors are ditching pagers in favor of smartphones. With a vast array of applications they provide iPhone and the BlackBerry have aptly captured the attention of healthcare organizations of late. Reports have it that major provider organizations are deploying smartphones throughout the enterprise. … Continue reading
Millin Associates allow physicians to switch over to EMR for free
After Obama set forward the rules for for physicians to adopt electronic medical record systems, it also set aside $19B to facilitate them. But unfortunately where 75% of doctors practice in offices with 10 doctors or fewer, the investment is cost-prohibitive as the technology costs from $25,000 to over $75,000. As such, according to the … Continue reading
Baucus’ proposal for use of ‘operating rules’ to go for voting soon
There will soon be a voting for Sen. Max Baucus’ proposal to mandate use of “operating rules” that would make HIPAA transactions more uniform. The proposal, at present, remains in the version of the Senate Finance Committee health reform bill. The bill also would add the electronic funds transfer (EFT) of health claims payments as … Continue reading
New rules offer greater protection to genetic information
Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2009, two new federal rules have put in additional protections to patient privacy. This interim final rule issued by the Departments of Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services prohibits group health plans and health insurance issuers in the group market from: 1. Increasing premiums for the group … Continue reading
HIPAA comes as a blessing for health insurance of cancer patients
Cancer patients find it very hard to deal with their health insurance. Besides their fight against deteriorating health, they also have to fight in getting what they deserve from their insurance plan. When the treatment for cancer is complete, the effect that a cancer diagnosis has on your health coverage in the future is drastic … Continue reading
Federal Data Breach Notification Rules kick off
HIT administrators have been posed with yet another challenge as federal data breach notification rules for entities covered by HIPAA kicked off last week. These new rules provide greater security against personal health information getting loose, and up the ante considerably in extending coverage to “business associates” of HIPAA-covered entities. The term ‘business associates’ covers … Continue reading