Health Information Compliance Alert
MODEL HIPAA EXTENSION PLAN ON THE WAY
Last year's legislation offering a one-year extension for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act's transaction standard also gave the Department of Health and Human Services the authority to exclude noncompliant providers from the Medicare program but providers wondering just how the agency plans to use that authority will have to wait until HHS establishes rulemaking on the subject. That's according to a recent HHS frequently asked questions document addressing the transaction standard delay. In the document, HHS reiterates that the extension is not automatic: All covered entities must submit a "compliance extension plan" to qualify; those who do so won't have to comply with the rule until October 2003. The compliance plans which need be only brief "summary" documents are due by Oct. 16, 2002. HHS promises to release a model extension plan by March 31. The extension plans should not cause much of a headache for covered entities. They need only include a compliance budget, schedule, work plan and implementation strategy; planned use of contractors or vendors; assessment of compliance problems; and a timeframe for testing to begin by April 16 of next year. The FAQ also points out that it's up to covered entities to determine whether their busi-nesspartnershavesubmittedextensionplans."Each covered entity should communicate directly with its own trading partners to determine which ones have submitted plans," HHS says. "This information could be included in establishing schedules for the testing activities that are to begin by April 16, 2003."
Health Information Compliance Alert
- HIPAA Privacy:
CHANGES TO 'FINAL' PRIVACY RULE
Health care providers have long decried certain elements of the consent provisions of the Health [...] - HIPAA Privacy:
HHS RELENTS ON CONSENT
Despite the sound and fury surrounding the proposed changes to the HIPAA privacy rule, reports [...] - HIPAA Privacy:
MARKETERS: HANDS OFF THE HEALTH INFO
Proposed amendments to the HIPAA privacy rule mean big changes in marketers' access to health [...] - Training:
EFFECTIVE HIPAA TRAINING USES REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES
With HIPAA's privacy requirements set to take effect in April 2003, covered entities should be [...] - Disease Surveillance:
NCVHS ISSUES SURVEILLANCE RECOMMENDATIONS
Disease knows no boundaries so neither should any system designed to track it. So says [...] - Legislation:
SNOWE BILL SEEKS GENETIC PROTECTIONS
The successful mapping of the human ge-nome is spurring attempts to minimize the potential for [...] - Prescription Drugs:
PRIVACY PROJECT SLAMS PRESCRIPTION PLAN
A proposed rule creating a Medicare discount drug card doesn't live up to privacy-related promises [...] - Coding Compliance:
TOP 9 CODING COMPLIANCE TARGETS
When it comes to coding compliance, experts say it's best to keep a low profile. [...] - Coding Compliance:
CALL FOR BACKUP WHEN IT'S TIME TO AUDIT
Sometimes a compliance officer can be his own worst enemy especially when it comes to [...] - Marketing:
ECKERD DRAWS IRE FOR STICKER SWITCH
Eckerd Corp.'s patient signature switcharoo scheme has privacy advocates and an attorney general calling for [...] - Court Cases:
CAUSE TO COMPLAIN OVER PRIVACY DISMISSAL
A doctor's right to protect patient privacy trumps even an employer's right to fire for [...] - HIPAA Transactions:
MODEL HIPAA EXTENSION PLAN ON THE WAY
Last year's legislation offering a one-year extension for compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and [...] - Health Information News:
GOVERNORS WANT HIPAA MONEY, GUIDANCE
The National Governors Association isn't happy about the lack of HIPAA compliance guidance flowing from [...]
