Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
Get Clear on CMS Stance for Unencrypted Email Prohibition
Question: I recently heard that the HIPAA privacy rule was changed and it now prohibits our practice from sending unencrypted emails. Is this accurate? Answer: No, not necessarily. The HIPAA rule published on Jan. 25, 2013 will extend the HIPAA regulations to business associates (including any contractors your practice uses), and they must be in compliance by Sept. 23. However, the encryption standards have not changed, said Leon Rodriguez of HHS’s Office of Civil Rights during a CMS Open Door Forum. “If you are making communication with the patient in this manner, you do need to take appropriate security precautions,” he said. “While there are basic guidelines in the regulation as to what those precautions are, there’s not only one way to do it. However, an unencrypted email would ordinarily be at a level of risk of inappropriate disclosure that would be inconsistent with the HIPAA security requirement, and therefore it would be ill-advised,” he added.
New Hampshire Subscriber
Neurology & Pain Management Coding Alert
- Case Study:
Follow 3 Steps to Drill Down to the Correct Autonomic Function and EMG Test Codes
Be wary of overlaps between services and descriptors. Coding can get tricky when physicians perform [...] - 2014 Physician Fee Schedule:
Prepare for More Fee Cuts if Proposed Fee Schedule Holds
Other news: Recoup some pay if you haven’t joined EHR incentive program yet. The Centers [...] - Practice Management:
Be Proactive When Handling Employee Complaints
Tip: Implement a grievance process to outline appropriate steps. No employer is perfect, which means [...] - ICD-10:
Multiple Sclerosis Code Choice Stays Simple With ICD-10
Heads up: You’ll have more specific choices for Schilder’s disease. Getting a head start on [...] - You Be the Coder:
Bilateral Intra-articular Facet Nerve Blocks
Question: I’m coding for bilateral intra-articular facet nerve blocks to L1, L2, and L3 with [...] - Reader Question:
Don't Miss Your Chance to Earn For Each Vertebroplasty Level
Question: How do we report vertebroplasty at level T10 to L2? Do we report level [...] - Reader Question:
Payer Guides Who Handles Referral Paperwork
Question: In years past, we required patients to bring in their referral/authorization paperwork in order [...] - Reader Question:
Get More Details Before Coding 'RF of the Knee'
Question: One of my physicians wants to perform a radiofrequency of the knee. His recent [...] - Reader Question:
Roles Determine Correct Coding for Anesthesia During Kyphoplasty
Question: Our providers offer kyphoplasty in the office setting. One physician performs the kyphoplasty and [...] - Reader Question:
Get Clear on CMS Stance for Unencrypted Email Prohibition
Question: I recently heard that the HIPAA privacy rule was changed and it now prohibits [...]
