Tools to assure that your practice is fully compliant with all regulations for HIPAA, employment law, patient privacy and protected health information, as well as insurance coverage.
News
Medicare Targets ASCs in Infection-Control Efforts
$9 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) is available to state survey agencies in 43 states for ASC inspections. The onsite reviews are designed to ensure that ASCs are following Medicare’s health and safety standards. State surveyors will use a new CMS survey process that implements a tool developed in conjunction with the CDC. In addition, the CDC is making available $40 million to state public health departments to: - Create or expand state-based health care associated infection (HAI) prevention and surveillance efforts; and
- Strengthen the public health workforce trained to prevent HAIs.
These funds support the Department of Health and Human Services’ 2009 action plan to prevent HAIs. The impact of inspections on ophthalmology-based ASCs has not been determined.
HITECH Act Information: Effective Sept. 15, 2009 the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act imposes data breach notification requirements for HIPAA-covered entities and their business associates.
FTC further delays enforcement of ‘Red Flags’ rule until June 1, 2010
New ASC Conditions for Coverage now in effect Read the CMS Memorandum (PDF 1.87MB)
Healthcare fraud cases rise 30 percent Read story from FierceHealthcare
President Unveils Anti-Fraud Initiative for Government Programs
On March 11, President Obama announced a new effort to crack down on waste and fraud in Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs through the expanded use of payment-recapture audits above and beyond the Recovery Audit Contractors currently operating. The initiative offers specialized private auditors financial incentives to root out improper payments. The president signed a presidential memorandum that directs all federal departments and agencies to expand and intensify their use of payment-recapture audits under their current authority.
Resources On-Call Compensation for Ophthalmologists An Academy statement on the inherent responsibility of community ophthalmologists to be available for emergency eye care and on-call compensation for ophthalmologists was issued November 2009.
New or updated compliance assistance products available from OSHA
Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)
OMIC Risk Management Recommendations and Sample Informed Consent Documents
Review audit standards from U.S. Gov't Accountability Office
Educating Your Patients Academy's new Web page
OIG Compliance Plan For Individual & Small Group Physician Practices (PDF 345K)
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Articles NEW! Compliance & Risk Management article archive View back issues of AAOE and Academy publications organized by topic.
Read article on Health Information Privacy as published in the New York Times.
Free Content available to all AAO and AAOE Members:
HIPAA Information
HIPAA links: - HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Other Compliance/Risk Management Resources:
- OMIC Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company
- OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- CLIA CMS - Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments
- and law regarding interpreters
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