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.

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:

• CMS Finalizes Allotments To States To Pay Medicaid Part B Premiums For Qualifying Individuals
• Sexual Misconduct Investigation Prompts Medical Board Suspension of Texas Doctor
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• HHS Imposes 1st HIPAA Privacy Civil Penalty of $4.3 million
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• ONC Giving Small Critical Access And Rural Hospitals Added Electronic Health Records Funds
• Health Care Employer’s NLRB Settlement Shows Care Necessary When Using Social Networking & Other Policies Restricting Employee Communications
• Medicare Proposes To Require Providers To Notify Patients Of Quality Of Care Complaint Rights
• OIG Launch of Health Care Fraud “Most Wanted” List Sign of Enforcement Risks
• Rhode Island DHS Must Provide Translation, Other Services For Limited English, Other Language Impaired Persons
• Texas Doctor, Pharmacy Suspension Reminder of Pain Management Prescribing Risks
• Supreme Court Ruling Medical Resident Stipend Are Wages Highlights Advisability of Compliance Review
• CMS Physician Compare Tool Gives Patients New Info On Physicians & Other Providers
• Minimum Wage, Overtime Risks Highlighted By Labor Department Strike Force Targeting Residential Care & Group Homes
• Health Care Fraud Enforcement Packs New Heat
• President Signs Long-Sought Red Flag Rule Exemption Into Law
• Quality, Recordkeeping & Unprofessional Conduct Lead Reasons For Medical Board Discipline of Physicians
• DEA Cautions Practitioners Must Restrict Delegation of Controlled Substance Prescribing Functions, Urges Adoption of Written Policies & Agreements
• EEOC Attacks Medical Leave Denials As Prohibited Disability Discrimination
• Affordable Care Act’s Health Plan External & Internal Review Safe Harbor & Other Regulations Require Health Plan Updates
• Employers Concerned About New Union Powers As NLRB Orders Union Elections In 31 California Health Care Facilities To Proceed
• HHS Announces Adjustments to Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates
• Rite Aid Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case As OCR Moves To Tighten Privacy Rules
• CMS Adopts ESRD Facility Prospective Payment System & Proposes New Quality Incentive Program
• CMS Rule Clarifies When Outpatient Services Subject to 3-Day Rule & Finalizes FY 2011 Inpatient Payment Rates

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.

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:

• The definition of meaningful use
• The requirements for Stage 1 of meaningful use (2011 and 2012)
• How to attest to having met meaningful use
• Overview of the meaningful use objectives specification sheets
  • Stage 1 EHR Meaningful Use Specification Sheets for Eligible Professionals
  • Stage 1 EHR Meaningful Use Specification Sheets for Eligible Hospitals
• Q&A about meaningful use

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 Regional Extension Centers (RECs) across the nation are prepared to offer customized, on-the-ground assistance for eligible professionals and hospitals registering for the 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:

• CMS Finalizes Allotments To States To Pay Medicaid Part B Premiums For Qualifying Individuals
• Sexual Misconduct Investigation Prompts Medical Board Suspension of Texas Doctor
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• HHS Imposes 1st HIPAA Privacy Civil Penalty of $4.3 million
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• ONC Giving Small Critical Access And Rural Hospitals Added Electronic Health Records Funds
• Health Care Employer’s NLRB Settlement Shows Care Necessary When Using Social Networking & Other Policies Restricting Employee Communications
• Medicare Proposes To Require Providers To Notify Patients Of Quality Of Care Complaint Rights
• OIG Launch of Health Care Fraud “Most Wanted” List Sign of Enforcement Risks
• Rhode Island DHS Must Provide Translation, Other Services For Limited English, Other Language Impaired Persons
• Texas Doctor, Pharmacy Suspension Reminder of Pain Management Prescribing Risks
• Supreme Court Ruling Medical Resident Stipend Are Wages Highlights Advisability of Compliance Review
• CMS Physician Compare Tool Gives Patients New Info On Physicians & Other Providers
• Minimum Wage, Overtime Risks Highlighted By Labor Department Strike Force Targeting Residential Care & Group Homes
• Health Care Fraud Enforcement Packs New Heat
• President Signs Long-Sought Red Flag Rule Exemption Into Law
• Quality, Recordkeeping & Unprofessional Conduct Lead Reasons For Medical Board Discipline of Physicians
• DEA Cautions Practitioners Must Restrict Delegation of Controlled Substance Prescribing Functions, Urges Adoption of Written Policies & Agreements
• EEOC Attacks Medical Leave Denials As Prohibited Disability Discrimination
• Affordable Care Act’s Health Plan External & Internal Review Safe Harbor & Other Regulations Require Health Plan Updates
• Employers Concerned About New Union Powers As NLRB Orders Union Elections In 31 California Health Care Facilities To Proceed
• HHS Announces Adjustments to Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates
• Rite Aid Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case As OCR Moves To Tighten Privacy Rules
• CMS Adopts ESRD Facility Prospective Payment System & Proposes New Quality Incentive Program
• CMS Rule Clarifies When Outpatient Services Subject to 3-Day Rule & Finalizes FY 2011 Inpatient Payment Rates

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.

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:

• CMS Finalizes Allotments To States To Pay Medicaid Part B Premiums For Qualifying Individuals
• Sexual Misconduct Investigation Prompts Medical Board Suspension of Texas Doctor
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• HHS Imposes 1st HIPAA Privacy Civil Penalty of $4.3 million
• States Get More Info On Affordable Care Act Medicaid Eligibility Maintenance Of Effort; Payers & Providers Must Monitor
• Health Care Providers Brace For New HIPAA Enforcement AS OCR Announces Hospital Resolution Agreement Requiring $1 Million Settlement Payment
• ONC Giving Small Critical Access And Rural Hospitals Added Electronic Health Records Funds
• Health Care Employer’s NLRB Settlement Shows Care Necessary When Using Social Networking & Other Policies Restricting Employee Communications
• Medicare Proposes To Require Providers To Notify Patients Of Quality Of Care Complaint Rights
• OIG Launch of Health Care Fraud “Most Wanted” List Sign of Enforcement Risks
• Rhode Island DHS Must Provide Translation, Other Services For Limited English, Other Language Impaired Persons
• Texas Doctor, Pharmacy Suspension Reminder of Pain Management Prescribing Risks
• Supreme Court Ruling Medical Resident Stipend Are Wages Highlights Advisability of Compliance Review
• CMS Physician Compare Tool Gives Patients New Info On Physicians & Other Providers
• Minimum Wage, Overtime Risks Highlighted By Labor Department Strike Force Targeting Residential Care & Group Homes
• Health Care Fraud Enforcement Packs New Heat
• President Signs Long-Sought Red Flag Rule Exemption Into Law
• Quality, Recordkeeping & Unprofessional Conduct Lead Reasons For Medical Board Discipline of Physicians
• DEA Cautions Practitioners Must Restrict Delegation of Controlled Substance Prescribing Functions, Urges Adoption of Written Policies & Agreements
• EEOC Attacks Medical Leave Denials As Prohibited Disability Discrimination
• Affordable Care Act’s Health Plan External & Internal Review Safe Harbor & Other Regulations Require Health Plan Updates
• Employers Concerned About New Union Powers As NLRB Orders Union Elections In 31 California Health Care Facilities To Proceed
• HHS Announces Adjustments to Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) Rates
• Rite Aid Agrees to Pay $1 Million to Settle HIPAA Privacy Case As OCR Moves To Tighten Privacy Rules
• CMS Adopts ESRD Facility Prospective Payment System & Proposes New Quality Incentive Program
• CMS Rule Clarifies When Outpatient Services Subject to 3-Day Rule & Finalizes FY 2011 Inpatient Payment Rates

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.

ONC Says Studies Show HITECH Act Investment In Health IT Justified

ONC Says Studies Show HITECH Act Investment In Health IT Justified

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.

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.

Office of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Invites Input on Meaningful Use Of Electronic Medical Records For Purposes of Definition

Friday, June 26. 2009 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time is the deadline to submit comments to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on the recommendations about what should be considered the term “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs) by a health care provider under the HITECH Act provisions of the Stimulus Bill.