Hospital Access Management 2003-05-01

HIPAA deadline may have come and gone, but privacy concerns continue

Although the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy standard became effective in April, hospitals will be improving and refining their HIPAA policies for some time to come.

Take a deep breath, now prepare for EDI deadline

Just as access managers take a breath after rushing to make sure their hospitals are in compliance with the privacy standard, its time to kick into gear for the upcoming HIPAA transaction code-set deadline, which is Oct. 16, 2003.

HIPAA interest, expertise leads to job expansion

While providing headaches to many health care professionals across the nation, the challenges of HIPAA implementation led to a promotion and career expansion for at least one access services director.

Still need HIPAA help? Check out on-line sites

As hospitals fine-tune their HIPAA compliance policies and procedures, savvy access managers continue to find the Internet a rich source of information. Its particularly helpful for those who might still be involved in a crash course in HIPAA readiness.

Does statute require MSE for scheduled tests in ED?

Editors note: This column runs occasionally in Hospital Access Management and addresses questions regarding the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

New access director looks at ED collection

Lori Judge, MS, HAS, director of patient financial services at St. Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead, KY, offers some feedback on her hospitals efforts at cash collection in the emergency department (ED).

News Briefs

HCA changes policies give more financial aid; More ED crowding seen at large, urban hospitals.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: HIPAA compliance: Technology plus culture plus operations

For Baystate Health System, a $1 billion integrated health system operating in western Massachusetts, HIPAA compliance has been seen as more than a technology issue. It also is a major cultural and operational issue that has an impact on systemwide operations and the way the system and its staff interact with patients.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: CMS issues HIPAA checklist for provider compliance

The Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a checklist to help health care providers who do business electronically and their business partners to comply with the administrative simplification requirements of HIPAA.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Payment processes could be changed

Medical Banking Project founder John Casillas says that one of the changes in the final HIPAA security rule eliminated any requirement to encrypt electronically transmitted protected health information, even over the Internet or other open networks.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: Physician groups scared of HIPAA

San Francisco-area attorney Steven Fleisher, who is HIPAA consultant to the California Medical Association and provides compliance services to providers and employers, says that health care providers working in solo and small groups have the fewest resources available to deal with HIPAA compliance and are experiencing fear and loathing on the HIPAA trail.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: 5 ways to comply with HIPAA oral privacy regs

When an orthopedic resident was paged repeatedly to assess a patient with an open fracture of the forearm, he failed to respond. The resident was paged multiple times and took more than an hour to get to the emergency department (ED).

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: URAC accreditation standards out for comment

URAC has released a draft set of HIPAA Security Accreditation standards for public comment. Once the program is completed, it will enable health care organizations to display a commitment to information security and demonstrate that they have adopted the necessary policies and procedures to ensure health information security in accordance with the HIPAA security rule, says URAC president Garry Carneal.

HIPAA Regulatory Alert: News Briefs

Time needed to document security compliance; OCR pushes for voluntary compliance; Help available for employers

Hospital Access Management – May 1, 2003

May 1, 2003