Health Information Compliance Alert

• Good news about the "Red Flag Rules" of the Federal Trade Commission. Relief may be on the horizon for those with a small practice. To recall, last summer, the FTC issued rules requiring creditors to create written identity theft prevention programs (now due by Nov. 1). Creditors include therapists and other health care providers because they often provide services to patients without requiring the full payment at the time of service.

However, Rep. John Alder (D-N.J.) introduced H.R. 2345 into Congress, which would exempt health care practices with fewer than 20 employees from the FTC's Red Flag Rules, according to the July 17 editing of PT Bulletin Online.

The American Physical Therapy Association submitted a letter in support of the legislation, according to the Bulletin.