The goal of OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) is to “ensure that the hazards of all chemicals produced or imported are evaluated and that information concerning their hazards is transmitted…
Theft Tops Data Breach Incidents IN 2014
The OCR reports 54 data breach incidents affecting more than 500 people in first six months of 2014. About half are related to theft, most commonly involving laptops, desktop computers…
Did you register in the Open Payments System yet??
Physician registration is completely voluntary but this is the only way to review and possibly dispute the data submitted about you before it is made public on September 30, 2014.…
Does A Patient Own Their Imaging?
The answer is no. So who does? Healthcare providers and health plans are the owners of medical records. With respect to the imaging portion of the record, the facility creating…
Improper Payments for Evaluation & Management Services Cost Medicare Billions in 2010
According to the Office of the Inspector General’s report for 2010, Evaluation and Management services accounted for 30% of Medicare Part B payments, a total cost of $32.3 billion. However,…
What Would The Office Of Civil Rights Most Likely Find In a HIPAA/HITECH Audit?
Looking back at past audits by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) is the best place to start. The OCR enforces the HIPAA Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule…
What Should You Do If An Employee Has An Exposure Incident
According to the OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, an exposure incident occurs with blood or other potentially infectious material (OPIM) coming in contact with the eye, mouth, mucous membranes, non-intact skin…
HIPAA Enforcement Data
The OCR is responsible for enforcement of HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. These standards allow patients access to their medical record and control over uses and disclosures of their protected…
What The Medicare Claims Data Could Mean To Your Practice
The recently released information on physicians’ billing practices with Medicare has sparked some interesting discussion on the data analysis. In 2012, 880,000 healthcare providers billed Medicare for $77B. A rheumatologist…
OSHA’s Small Entity Compliance Guide for Employers that Use Hazardous Chemicals
Since the initiation of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS), acute illness and injuries due to chemical exposures have decreased by over 40%. This improvement in workplace safety is directly related…