An emergency operations plan (EOP) is your best defense against a disaster, lawsuit, and repetitional damage. In 2017, CMS outlined to17 healthcare entities that to participate in CMS, they must have a plan. Though physician practices are not part of the 17, it is...
First Proposed HIPAA Privacy Rules Changes in 8 Years
In a response to the healthcare community’s desire to lessen the administrative burden on HIPAA covered entities, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued a request of information (RFI) in December of 2018. Two years later, after this RFI comment period closed, the OCR...
Welcome to HCN ELEMENTS, our publication of information and insights on the everchanging regulatory compliance landscape.
ELEMENTS may seem like an unusual name for a newsletter but for us, the word is pretty much of a North Star. We use the “7 Elements of Compliance “to guide everything we do. A little history by way of explanation. In the mid 1990’s the CDC, OSHA and other government...
Lessons Learned from the First Wave of COVID: How to Navigate the Second Wave and Implement Lasting Changes to Benefit your Practice
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached our shores, it instantly changed the way we lived and worked. Many businesses were shuttered, and most people have yet to return to their offices since the March 2020 lockdowns. Virtual meetings, remote learning and limited socially...
As the Feds Get Tough on Workplace Safety, HCN Can Help Your Practice Stay Compliant
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid services has recently proposed dramatic changes to the evaluation and management (E/M) guidelines and payment methodology.
The proposed rule includes a single payment for new and established patient office visits, elimination of the history and physical examination documentation requirements, and heightened emphasis on the medical decision-making (MDM) and time elements....
Does the Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance apply to your practice?
GDPR is similar in concept to HIPAA/HITECH for the United States, but not only does it protect an individual’s health information (PHI), but it covers all personal data.
Proper way to manage chemical waste
The Environmental Protection Agency now regulates how you treat, store and or dispose of those chemical wastes.
Uber Health: Changing the No-Show Equation
Uber has created a service called Uber Health. It is a way for them to partner with healthcare organizations to provide reliable, comfortable transportation for patients.
Are you doing weekly spore testing?
Sterilization procedures should be monitored using biological, mechanical, and chemical indicators