A Harassment-Free Workplace vs the Right to Engage in Concerted Activity

1st Talk Compliance features guest Lauren Moak Russell, Counsel at Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor, LLP in Wilmington, Delaware, on the topic of “A Harassment-Free Workplace vs the Right to Engage in Concerted Activity.” Lauren joins our host Catherine Short to discuss how the National Labor Relations Board under the Biden Administration has expressed a renewed interest in expanding its influence into non-unionized work forces. This includes reviewing and–in the right circumstances challenging–employers’ use of workplace civility, confidentiality, and anti-harassment policies. Listen as we discuss what you need to know to safely navigate the National Labor Relations Act while ensuring that your employees enjoy a safe and respectful work environment.

A Practical Approach to The Safe Harbor Law

1st Talk Compliance features guest Raymond Ribble, CEO and Founder at SPHER, Inc., on the topic of A Practical Approach to The Safe Harbor Law. Ray joins our host Catherine Short to discuss how HIPAA data breach penalties typically get measured in millions of dollars, even following an organization implementing NIST cybersecurity framework measures. However, with the new HIPAA Safe Harbor Law, signed in January 2021, HHS and OCR may consider some penalty mitigation. It is important to understand that the Safe Harbor Law, while offering substantial protection, does not provide a true safe harbor and only offers some protection. This episode will examine what the established security practices for healthcare are, and how to pivot your organization’s security profile to mitigate breach penalties if an event occurs.

DMEPOS – In Compliance with CMS

1st Talk Compliance features guest Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, P.L.L.C., on the topic “DMEPOS – In Compliance with CMS.” Rachel joins our host Catherine Short to discuss special payment rules associated with durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies. DMEPOS products must meet quality standards, suppliers need to be accepted by Medicare to participate, similar to providers, and are subject to fraud, waste, and abuse laws. This episode will provide an overview of participation and quality requirements, relay the latest compliance and requirements updates, and discuss the consequences of non-compliance, as well as submitting false and fraudulent claims. 

Employee Snooping & Insider Threats

1st Talk Compliance features guest Raymond Ribble, CEO and Founder at SPHER, Inc., on the topic of “Employee Snooping & Insider Threats.” Ray joins our host Catherine Short to discuss snooping and insider threats and why user monitoring and ePHI access strategies are vital to the security of sensitive patient information and data protection. With so much attention and money surrounding cybersecurity in the healthcare industry, malicious employees may decide to purposefully disclose patient information. Since employees and contractors may have knowledge of your network setup, vulnerabilities, and access codes, snooping employees with malicious intent hold the key to exposing your organization to a series of unwanted risks and threats. Listen as we identify signs of unauthorized access, provide guidelines to prevent snooping, and offer procedures to detect insider threats.

Snooping Webinar

How to Prevent Employee Snooping and Insider Threats – Audio Version of the Webinar

Raymond Ribble is the CEO and Founder at SPHER, Inc. a market-leading compliance analytics, cyber-security solution addressing: HIPAA compliance, State Privacy Laws, and ePHI security threats and our presenter for this webinar. Snooping and Insider threats are exactly why user monitoring and ePHI access strategies are vital to the security of sensitive patient information and data protection. While it is an unsettling thought, not all cybersecurity incidents are traced from employee negligence. With so much attention and money surrounding cybersecurity in the healthcare industry, malicious employees may decide to purposefully disclose patient information. Since employees and contractors may have knowledge of your network setup, vulnerabilities, and access codes, snooping employees with malicious intent hold the key to exposing your organization to a series of unwanted risks and threats.

Medical Error & Patient Advocacy – How Can We Have More Candor?

1st Talk Compliance features guest Kathleen W. McNicholas, MD, JD, CHC, CCEP, Consultant and Patient Advocate with Medical Legal Patient Advocacy Inc., on the topic of “Medical Error & Patient Advocacy – How Can We Have More Candor?” Kathleen joins our host, Catherine Short to review medical error and provide an approach to harmed patients. The CANDOR program of Communication and Optimal Resolution will be explained. CANDOR is well established and has been successfully adopted by many medical centers. Without CANDOR in place, patients may benefit from the use of the principles and the help of a board-certified patient advocate.

DMEPOS Webinar

DMEPOS – CMS Compliance and Requirements Updates: Audio Version of the Webinar

Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, P.L.L.C., Houston, TX presents this very timely subject for us. Durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) includes an “entity or individual, including a physician or a Part A provider, which sells or rents Part B covered items to Medicare beneficiaries.” There are special payment rules associated with DMEPOS. DMEPOS products have to meet quality standards, DMEPOS suppliers need to be accepted by Medicare to participate (similar to providers), and are subject to fraud, waste, and abuse laws. The purpose of this webinar to provide an overview of participation and quality requirements, relay the latest compliance and requirements updates, and address False Claims Act cases involving DMEPOS companies.

Ethics and Compliance on the Road

Ethics and Compliance on the Road

Kathleen W. McNicholas, MD, JD, CHC, CCEP, Consultant and Patient Advocate with Medical Legal Patient Advocacy Inc., will present Ethics and Compliance on the Road at the upcoming Virtual Healthcare Compliance Symposium on April 28. Join us for this interesting day of learning to earn CEUS and CLE from the convenience of your home or office.

No Surprises Act Webinar

The No Surprises Act – What You Need to Know: Audio Version of the Webinar

Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, P.L.L.C., Houston, TX presents this very timely subject for us. Effective January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act has implications for patients, providers, and insurance companies alike. The impetus behind the legislation, as well as the regulations, is to prevent patients from receiving bills for certain services that were performed or delivered by providers out of their plan’s network. The scope is limited and providers and plans alike need to take steps to understand the appeal process when a payment or claim is challenged. The purpose of this presentation is to provide a brief overview of the evolution of the United States’ healthcare system and its relevance to the No Surprises Act. From there, the No Surprises Act and regulations will be explained, along with the appeal process. Finally, compliance tips will round out the presentation.