11/14 ONC NeHC Unviersity Program To Focus Privacy & Patient Consent

Here’s the latest from the National Institutes of Health Health Information Spotlight:

Weighing in on dietary fats: Some fats are healthier than others

Scientists have developed a way to neutralize HIV in mice

Discover and explore the world of science with some fun and games on NIEHS Kids’ Pages.

December 19, 2011 at 2:57 pm

11/14 ONC NeHC Unviersity Program To Focus Privacy & Patient Consent

On Monday, November 14, 2011 at 1 p.m. EST, NeHC University will continue its HIE Leader Roundtable series with a session on privacy and patient consent. This roundtable will feature insight from some of NeHC’s HIE Leaders about how they are working to manage privacy and patient consent, as well as the associated challenges. Additional speakers, including ONC’s Chief Privacy Officer Joy Pritts, will contribute to a one-of-a-kind discussion on how the efforts of these HIE leaders work hand-in-hand with the efforts of ONC and other leading privacy advocates to ensure patient privacy is protected and patient consent is appropriately managed.

 Click here to register.  For information about other NeHC University programs, see  Fall 2011 NeHC University semester schedule!

For Help With Monitoring Developments, Compliance, Investigations Or Other Needs

If you need assistance monitoring federal health reform, policy or enforcement developments, or to review or respond to these or other health care or health IT related risk management, compliance, enforcement or management concerns, the author of this update, attorney Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, may be able to help. Vice President of the North Texas Health Care Compliance Professionals Association, Past Chair of the ABA Health Law Section Managed Care & Insurance Section and the former Board Compliance Chair of the National Kidney Foundation of North Texas, Ms. Stamer has more than 23 years experience advising health industry clients about these and other matters. Ms. Stamer has extensive experience advising and assisting health care providers and other health industry clients to establish and administer medical privacy and other compliance and risk management policies, to health care industry investigation, enforcement and other compliance, public policy, regulatory, staffing, and other operations and risk management concerns. A popular lecturer and widely published author on health industry concerns, Ms. Stamer continuously advises health industry clients about compliance and internal controls, workforce and medical staff performance, quality, governance, reimbursement, and other risk management and operational matters. Ms. Stamer also publishes and speaks extensively on health and managed care industry regulatory, staffing and human resources, compensation and benefits, technology, public policy, reimbursement and other operations and risk management concerns/ She also regularly designs and presents risk management, compliance and other training for health care providers, professional associations and others including highly popular programs on “Sex Drugs & Rock ‘N Role: Managing Personal Misconduct in Health Care,” “Managing Physician Performance” and others..   Her publications and insights appear in the Health Care Compliance Association, Atlantic Information Service, Bureau of National Affairs, World At Work, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insurance, the Dallas Morning News, Modern Health Care, Managed Healthcare, Health Leaders, and a many other national and local publications.  You can get more information about her health industry experience here. If you need assistance with these or other compliance concerns, wish to inquire about arranging for compliance audit or training, or need legal representation on other matters please contact Ms. Stamer at (469) 767-8872 or via e-mail here.

About Solutions Law Press

Solutions Law Press™ provides business risk management, legal compliance, management effectiveness and other resources, training and education on human resources, employee benefits, compensation, data security and privacy, health care, insurance, and other key compliance, risk management, internal controls and other key operational concerns. If you find this of interest, you also be interested reviewing some of our other Solutions Law Press resources including:

If you or someone else you know would like to receive future updates about developments on these and other concerns, please be sure that we have your current contact information – including your preferred e-mail – by creating or updating your profile here. For important information concerning this communication click here. 

THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER IS INCLUDED TO COMPLY WITH AND IN RESPONSE TO U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230 REGULATIONS.  ANY STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY THE WRITER TO BE USED, AND NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN CAN BE USED BY YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FOR THE PURPOSE OF (1) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW, OR (2) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY TAX-RELATED TRANSACTION OR MATTER ADDRESSED HEREIN.

©2011 Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, P.C.  Non-exclusive license to republish granted to Solutions Law Press.  All other rights reserved.

November 10, 2011 at 7:30 pm

5/18 Deadline to Register for 5/19 CMS Call on Medicare & Medicaid EHR Meaningful Use Incentive Programs

Wish you knew more about how to use electronic health records (EHRs) to earn incentive payments from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?  CMS plans to host a  national provider education call to help you learn more about meaningful use on Thursday, May 19 at 2:30 p.m. EDT.   During the call, CMS plans to discuss:

In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. EDT on May 18, 2011, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. In order to register, you should:

  1. Visit the registration page.
  2. Fill in all required information and click “Register.”
  3. You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Please save this page in case your server blocks the confirmation emails. (If you do not receive the confirmation email, check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.)
  4. If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed, please email medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than three business days before the call.

Prior to the call, presentation materials will be made available in the “Upcoming Events” section of the Spotlight page on the CMS EHR website.

Register for the call today.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

Sixty-two CMS EHR Incentive Programs. To locate an REC near you, visit http://www.healthit

For Help With Monitoring Developments, Compliance, Investigations Or Other Needs

If you need assistance monitoring federal health reform, policy or enforcement developments, or to review or respond to these or other health care or health IT related risk management, compliance, enforcement or management concerns, the author of this update, attorney Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, may be able to help. Vice President of the North Texas Health Care Compliance Professionals Association, Past Chair of the ABA Health Law Section Managed Care & Insurance Section and the former Board Compliance Chair of the National Kidney Foundation of North Texas, Ms. Stamer has more than 23 years experience advising health industry clients about these and other matters. Ms. Stamer has extensive experience advising and assisting health care providers and other health industry clients to establish and administer medical privacy and other compliance and risk management policies, to health care industry investigation, enforcement and other compliance, public policy, regulatory, staffing, and other operations and risk management concerns. A popular lecturer and widely published author on health industry concerns, Ms. Stamer continuously advises health industry clients about compliance and internal controls, workforce and medical staff performance, quality, governance, reimbursement, and other risk management and operational matters. Ms. Stamer also publishes and speaks extensively on health and managed care industry regulatory, staffing and human resources, compensation and benefits, technology, public policy, reimbursement and other operations and risk management concerns/ She also regularly designs and presents risk management, compliance and other training for health care providers, professional associations and others including highly popular programs on “Sex Drugs & Rock ‘N Role: Managing Personal Misconduct in Health Care,” “Managing Physician Performance” and others..   Her publications and insights appear in the Health Care Compliance Association, Atlantic Information Service, Bureau of National Affairs, World At Work, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insurance, the Dallas Morning News, Modern Health Care, Managed Healthcare, Health Leaders, and a many other national and local publications.  You can get more information about her health industry experience here. If you need assistance with these or other compliance concerns, wish to inquire about arranging for compliance audit or training, or need legal representation on other matters please contact Ms. Stamer at (469) 767-8872 or via e-mail here.

About Solutions Law Press

Solutions Law Press™ provides business risk management, legal compliance, management effectiveness and other resources, training and education on human resources, employee benefits, compensation, data security and privacy, health care, insurance, and other key compliance, risk management, internal controls and other key operational concerns. If you find this of interest, you also be interested reviewing some of our other Solutions Law Press resources including:

If you or someone else you know would like to receive future updates about developments on these and other concerns, please be sure that we have your current contact information – including your preferred e-mail – by creating or updating your profile here. For important information concerning this communication click here. 

THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER IS INCLUDED TO COMPLY WITH AND IN RESPONSE TO U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230 REGULATIONS.  ANY STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY THE WRITER TO BE USED, AND NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN CAN BE USED BY YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FOR THE PURPOSE OF (1) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW, OR (2) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY TAX-RELATED TRANSACTION OR MATTER ADDRESSED HEREIN.

©2011 Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, P.C.  Non-exclusive license to republish granted to Solutions Law Press.  All other rights reserved.

May 17, 2011 at 10:05 pm

NIST/OCR To Make Conference Presentations On Safeguarding Health Information: Building Assurance through HIPAA SecurityAvailable On Line

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) are making presentations from the 4th annual conference on “Safeguarding Health Information: Building Assurance through HIPAA Security” co-hosted in Washington, D.C. on May 10 & 11, 2011 available on line for review.  The training is part of a series of continuing efforts by the agencies to outreach to various parties on the Privacy and Security Rules of the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996, as amended (HIPAA).

 The Security Rule sets federal standards to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information by requiring HIPAA covered entities and their business associates to implement and maintain administrative, physical and technical safeguards. Presentations cover a variety of current topics including updates on HHS health information privacy and security initiatives, OCR’s enforcement of health information privacy and security activities, integrating security safeguards into health IT and security automation, insider threat trends and safeguards, and more.

The conference is designed to explore the current health information technology security landscape and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule, the agencies share their practical strategies, tips and techniques for implementing the HIPAA Security Rule.

For details about reviewing the presentations, see the 2011 HIPAA Conference website here.

For Help With Monitoring Developments, Compliance, Investigations Or Other Needs

If you need assistance monitoring federal health reform, policy or enforcement developments, or to review or respond to these or other health care or health IT related risk management, compliance, enforcement or management concerns, the author of this update, attorney Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, may be able to help. Vice President of the North Texas Health Care Compliance Professionals Association, Past Chair of the ABA Health Law Section Managed Care & Insurance Section and the former Board Compliance Chair of the National Kidney Foundation of North Texas, Ms. Stamer has more than 23 years experience advising health industry clients about these and other matters. Ms. Stamer has extensive experience advising and assisting health care providers and other health industry clients to establish and administer medical privacy and other compliance and risk management policies, to health care industry investigation, enforcement and other compliance, public policy, regulatory, staffing, and other operations and risk management concerns. A popular lecturer and widely published author on health industry concerns, Ms. Stamer continuously advises health industry clients about compliance and internal controls, workforce and medical staff performance, quality, governance, reimbursement, and other risk management and operational matters. Ms. Stamer also publishes and speaks extensively on health and managed care industry regulatory, staffing and human resources, compensation and benefits, technology, public policy, reimbursement and other operations and risk management concerns/ She also regularly designs and presents risk management, compliance and other training for health care providers, professional associations and others including highly popular programs on “Sex Drugs & Rock ‘N Role: Managing Personal Misconduct in Health Care,” “Managing Physician Performance” and others..   Her publications and insights appear in the Health Care Compliance Association, Atlantic Information Service, Bureau of National Affairs, World At Work, The Wall Street Journal, Business Insurance, the Dallas Morning News, Modern Health Care, Managed Healthcare, Health Leaders, and a many other national and local publications.  You can get more information about her health industry experience here. If you need assistance with these or other compliance concerns, wish to inquire about arranging for compliance audit or training, or need legal representation on other matters please contact Ms. Stamer at (469) 767-8872 or via e-mail here.

About Solutions Law Press

Solutions Law Press™ provides business risk management, legal compliance, management effectiveness and other resources, training and education on human resources, employee benefits, compensation, data security and privacy, health care, insurance, and other key compliance, risk management, internal controls and other key operational concerns. If you find this of interest, you also be interested reviewing some of our other Solutions Law Press resources including:

If you or someone else you know would like to receive future updates about developments on these and other concerns, please be sure that we have your current contact information – including your preferred e-mail – by creating or updating your profile here. For important information concerning this communication click here. 

THE FOLLOWING DISCLAIMER IS INCLUDED TO COMPLY WITH AND IN RESPONSE TO U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR 230 REGULATIONS.  ANY STATEMENTS CONTAINED HEREIN ARE NOT INTENDED OR WRITTEN BY THE WRITER TO BE USED, AND NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN CAN BE USED BY YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON, FOR THE PURPOSE OF (1) AVOIDING PENALTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UNDER FEDERAL TAX LAW, OR (2) PROMOTING, MARKETING OR RECOMMENDING TO ANOTHER PARTY ANY TAX-RELATED TRANSACTION OR MATTER ADDRESSED HEREIN.

©2011 Cynthia Marcotte Stamer, P.C.  Non-exclusive license to republish granted to Solutions Law Press.  All other rights reserved.

May 11, 2011 at 2:33 am

ONC Says Studies Show HITECH Act Investment In Health IT Justified

ONC Says Studies Show HITECH Act Investment In Health IT Justified

Continue Reading March 20, 2011 at 4:51 pm

1st HIPAA Privacy Civil Penalty of $4.3 Million Signals CMS Serious About HIPAA Enforcement

A $4.3 million civil monetary penalty (CMP) imposed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) against Cignet Health of Prince George’s County, Md., (Cignet) signals the growing need for health plans and their sponsors, health care providers, health care clearinghouses and their business associates covered by the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to get serious about HIPAA compliance.

Continue Reading February 23, 2011 at 6:54 am

Red Flag Rule Relief For Health Care Providers, Lawyers & Other Service Providers Awaits President’s Signature

Congress has approved and sent to the President for signature legislation exempting doctors, dentists, hospitals, veterinarians, and other health care providers, lawyers, accountants, consultants and other service providers that allow customers to pay for their services and supplies over time from the burdensome “Red Flag Rules” of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA). However, Health industry and other businesses expectingto enjoy relief from the Red Flag Rules as a result the Act should review contractual and other obligations to properly understand their continuing legal responsibilities and, where warranted, consider seeking the removal of contract amendments to remove provisions incorporated into contracts solely in anticipation of Red Flag Rules mandates.

Continue Reading December 8, 2010 at 1:02 pm

Rite Aid Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case As Office of Civil Rights Proposes Tighter HIPAA Privacy & Security Regulations

One of the nation’s largest drug store chains, Rite Aid Corporation and its 40 affiliated entities (Rite Aid) will pay $1 million to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights announcement of the HIPAA resolution agreement with Rite Aid and the concurrent negotiation of a separate consent order of potential FTC Act violations between Rite Aid and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) follows HHS’ announcement of proposed changes to its HIPAA Privacy Rules and associated penalties in response to changes enacted under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (HITECH Act). The Rite Aid settlement and the proposed Privacy Rule changes illustrate the growing penalty risks that health care providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and their business associates (Covered Entities) face for violating the Privacy Rules.

Continue Reading August 4, 2010 at 1:20 am

CMS OK’s Medicare Advantage/Part D Optional Use of NCPDP SCRIPT 10.6 For E-Prescribing

CMS OK’s Medicare Advantage/Part D Optional Use of NCPDP SCRIPT 10.6 For E-Prescribing

Continue Reading July 1, 2010 at 12:44 pm

Stamer Speaks To CPAs About “Privacy & Information Security: Managing Your Accounting Practice’s Liabilities & Counseling Your Clients” January 12, 2010

Cynthia Marcotte Stamer will speak about “Privacy & Information Security: Managing Your Accounting Practice’s Liabilities & Counseling Your Clients” to members of the Dallas CPA Society on January 12, 2010 beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Continue Reading December 28, 2009 at 10:11 pm

Health Plans Should Act Quickly To Manage Heightened HIPAA Privacy Obligations & Liabilities

Health plans and their business associates should review and update their practices and policies concerning the use access and disclosure of protected health information in response to changing requirements and expanding enforcement exposures under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. As these rules evolve, OCR and DOJ enforcement actions show willingness to enforce rules and penalties.

Continue Reading December 26, 2009 at 5:44 am

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Accepting Grant Applications Under 2 Health IT Education Grant Programs

The Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is accepting new heatlh education training program grant applications under two new programs.

Continue Reading December 2, 2009 at 11:17 pm

HIT Policy Committee Nationwide Health Information Network Workgroup Announces December 16 Meeting

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) HIT Policy Committee’s Nationwide Health Information Network Workgroup will hold a public meeting on December 16, 2009. The meeting is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m./Eastern Time at the OMNI Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street, NW., Washington, DC.

Continue Reading December 1, 2009 at 4:18 am

ONC HIT Standards Committee Meeting Set For October 14

HIT Standards Committee to meet on October 14 to continue their work to design America’s future health IT system.

Continue Reading September 29, 2009 at 6:47 pm

ONC Shares HIT Committee August Meeting Recommendations, Announcements Opportunity To Comment On Recommendations At September 15 HIT Committee Meeting

During its August 20, 2009 meeting, ONC reports that the Committee’s recommendations focused on Clinical Quality, Clinical Operations and Privacy and Security. Individuals wishing to make comments on the Committee’s August 20, 2009, recommendations may present oral comments at the Committee’s next meeting on September 15, 2009.

Continue Reading September 10, 2009 at 12:08 am

2 New HIPAA Criminal Actions Highlight Risks From Wrongful Use/Access of Health Information

Two recent separate criminal actions against hospital workers for wrongfully accessed medical records in violation of the medical privacy provisions of HI are the latest reminders to health care providers, health plans, health care clearinghouses, their business associates and members of their workforce that the criminal provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rules have teeth.Participate In September 9 or September 17 Briefings on New HIPAA Data Breach Rules for updates on new breach notification requirements and other recent developments.

Continue Reading September 8, 2009 at 10:30 pm

HITECH Act Health Data Security & Breach Update: Register Now To Learn What You Must Do By September 23 To Comply With New Health Data Breach Regulations

Learn What You Must Do By September 24 To Comply With New Health Data Breach Regulations. Register Now For September 9 HITECH Act Health Data Security & Breach Update, September 10, 2009 – Noon to 1:30 P.M. Central Time, Participate In Person or Via Remote!

Continue Reading September 3, 2009 at 4:33 am

Sept 23 Deadline For HIPAA-Covered Entities & Business Associates To Comply With New HHS Health Information Data Breach Rules Published Today

Employer and other health plans, health care providers, health clearinghouses and their business associates must start complying with new federal data breach notification rules on September 24, 2009 contained in regulations published in today’s Federal Register. You are invited to catch up on what these new rules mean for your organization and how it must respond by participating in the “HITECH Act Health Data Security & Breach Update” on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from Noon to 1:30 P.M. Central Time.

Continue Reading August 24, 2009 at 3:39 pm

Health Providers, Other HIPAA-Covered Entites Must Comply With New Data Breach Notification Rules Beginning September 23; Register to Participate In September 10th Briefing on New Rules In Person or Via Telephone

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) yesterday (August 19, 2009) issued “breach notification” regulations requiring health care providers, health plans and other covered entities (Covered Entities) under the personal health information privacy and security rules of the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability (HIPAA) to notify affected individuals following a “breach” of “unsecured” protected health information. Scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on August 24, 2009, the new breach notification regulations are part of a series of new rules that implement new electronic personal health information data security and data breach notification requirements for Covered Entities added to HIPAA under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act signed into law on February 17, 2009 as part of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Covered entities must begin complying with the new rules no later than September 24, 2009. Interested persons are invited to participate in a briefing on these new protected health information data security and data breach rules on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from Noon to 1:30 P.M. Central Time. For a registration fee of $45.00, registrants will have the option to participate via teleconference or in person at the offices of Curran Tomko Tarski LLP, 2001 Bryan Street, Suite 2050, Dallas Texas 75201. For more information, e-mail here.

Continue Reading August 20, 2009 at 6:24 pm

OCR Expanding HIPAA Privacy & Security Enforcement Team

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week announced additional job openings on its Office For Civil Rights (OCR) Health Information Privacy Enforcement Team. The announcements come as HHS reassigns enforcement responsibility to OCR from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and moves to enhance other enforcement efforts.

Continue Reading August 4, 2009 at 12:30 am

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