August 9th 2024
Each practice should learn from the result of this HIPAA case.
June 20th 2024
Allowing employees to use their own devices at work could raise privacy concerns.
June 6th 2024
Don't let the summer fun get in the way of protecting patient privacy.
February 28th 2024
A rebuttal to a 2019 article on HIPAA.
February 16th 2024
Neglecting insider threats can be equally as costly as ransomware and other cyberattacks.
The cost of not conducting a risk analysis
A recent HIPAA fine and HHS’s healthcare app guidance underscore the importance of conducting risk analyses to protect personal health information.
There’s a new Anti-Kickback Statute that most practices don’t know about
Is your practice compliant with the Eliminating Kickbacks and Recovery Act of 2018 (EKRA)? If you don't know what EKRA is, you are not alone-and that is part of the problem.
Practices risk hefty fines when employees snoop in EHRs
Nosy employees poking around in medical records or sharing passwords can put your practice at risk of HIPAA violations, lawsuits, and broken agreements with affiliate hospitals or practices.
How to protect your reputation and medical practice against defamatory online reviews
As patients increasingly rely on the internet to determine which provider is best for them, online reviews play a critical role in the success - or failure - of modern medical practices.
Current threats to physician assets
Current events once again illustrate the wide range of legal and physical threats to physicians' assets.
The dangers of online reviews - and what to do about them
Don’t feel attacked by negative online reviews or strung out by false reviews. Learn what your legal options are, then fight back.
Caring for patients as they enter adulthood
The legality of caring for minor patients once they turn 18.
Don’t give employees unrestricted access to medical records
Lax policies regarding medical records and ordering prescriptions and tests puts physicians-and their practices-at risk of DEA and HIPAA violations.
California and Colorado update laws on protected health information
A trend to watch: Last year, two states made significant changes to laws related to personally identifiable information and protected health information.
The dangers of self-prescribing
Physicians who write a script for themselves, or their friends and family, risk a suspended license-unless they have a record of proper documentation.
Why an annual risk assessment should be at the top of your New Year’s resolutions
A look over the Office for Civil Rights’ recent HIPAA actions reveal why privacy and security safeguards are a must for medical practices.
Cybersecurity and medical devices: What physicians need to know
Although physicians may not be involved with the cybersecurity of medical devices, they are still obligated to comply with HIPAA and the HITECH Act.
A legal look at the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule
Proper billing and coding under CMS’s final rule is important not only for reimbursement but also to avoid potential lawsuits.
If it could happen to Anthem, could it happen to you?
Insurance giant Anthem was recently tagged with a $16 million-dollar HIPAA penalty. What can you do to keep your solo or small practice from getting hit?
What OIRA’s HIPAA agenda means for providers
Following the Anthem settlement, the Fall 2018 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions doubles down on HIPAA privacy and enforcement efforts.
Why PHI is considered a trade secret
The suspension of a New York nurse highlights the intersection between HIPAA and trade secrets.
Disclosing PHI: What’s legal vs. what’s illegal
Legal insights from both sides of the aisle about what to do when protected health information (PHI) has been disclosed or when law enforcement requests it in a legal proceeding.
Jury convicts physician of HIPAA violations
Despite express prohibition regarding the use and/or the sale of PHI by unauthorized individuals, doctors and companies still did it-and paid.
HIPAA and the Importance of Data Availability
A recent case in New York shows physicians how expensive a major data breach can be from a financial, reputational and legal standpoint.
Paper Still Matters in Healthcare
Regardless of the level of technology available, paper still matters in healthcare.
mHealth and Adolescents: Deciding Privacy vs. Patient Needs
Technology is blurring healthcare's privacy lines. There's no better example of this than a tech-savvy adolescent reaching out to a physician for medical help.
Recent HIPAA Infractions
It's always important to be on top of HIPAA requirements, here's what physicians need to know for 2018.
Medical License Retention Tips
How to keep to your license and stay out of prison. Advice from the front lines of the DEA's war on prescribers.
Telemedicine is Too Cutting Edge for Some Practices
Telemedicine is convenient and easy, but that doesn’t mean it's for every practice. This practice found that out the hard way.
Doctors: Get Serious About HIPAA!
Texting, Facebook, Skype - these technologies can all put you in the crosshairs of the government for failing to comply with HIPAA.
Data Security in the Digital Age a Lingering Concern
The digitization of health data is a good, but it brings concerns over how hard it is to protect patient data.
SAMSHA Final Rule: What Docs Need to Know
The recently released SAMSHA Final Rule broadens disclosure rules, while a recent case underscores that inaccurate travel expenses submitted to Medicare result in liability.
9 Priorities for Practice Management in 2018
Looking to set your long-term goals for the coming year? Here are a few that will help get you started.
Quick Technology Risk Checklist for Your Practice
Here are five tactics to reduce many of the more common risks of data loss at your practice. Make sure you're up to date.
9 Costly HIPAA Settlements in 2017
This year's HIPAA settlements ran the monetary gamut and included the first ever fine levied due to untimely breach reporting. Here's an overview.