Archive for HIPAA News
If you think your facility is safe because of strong breach prevention programs, think again. It can happen — anywhere, from one simple mistake.
Following the recent declaration for H1N1 flu as a national health emergency, the government posted a number of documents that have HIPAA implications, says Frank Ruelas, director of compliance and risk management at Maryvale Hospital and principal, HIPAA Boot Camp, in Casa Grande, AZ.
Ruelas points to this document on the CDC Web site that summarizes other related documents online.
“Many of these documents help clear up questions on whether the subsequent 1135 waivers suspend HIPAA, the time frame related to these waivers, and those provisions of the HIPAA privacy rule where the Secretary of HHS may waive sanctions and penalties,” Ruelas says.
Check out our new white HIPAA whitepaper, “HHS breach notification interim final rule: Form your incident response team, set policies and procedures to comply with new federal HIPAA Regulations. November, 2009.”
HHS published in the Federal Register today the HIPAA enforcement interim final rule as part of the provisions in the HITECH Act, according to an OCR press release.
No major changes to HITECH enforcement. Just some slight language changes.
The interim final rule becomes effective November 30. HHS has invited public comments on the interim final rule, which will be considered if received by December 29.
We have a board of directors member who comes out to “make rounds” during the night. He wanders through the ED and Med/Surg floor asking staff members if there are any problems he can help them with, etc.
Some of the staff members, especially those in the ED, are concerned about confidentiality. Should this person be asked to discontinue his “rounds”?
Joan Sessions
HIM Director/HIPAA Privacy Officer
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