The HHS Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) recently published an announcement describing the next phase of HIPAA audits of covered entities and business associates. As part of this second phase …
Websites and The Americans With Disabilities Act – An Often Unrecognized Risk
When most physical therapists think of the Americans with Disabilities Act, their first thought is presumably not related to a rehabilitation provider’s website. However, this particular area of ADA Compliance …
HHS Publishes Guidance on Patient Access to Records under HIPAA
On January 7, 2016 the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released a fact sheet and a series of frequently asked questions to help to clarify an individual’s right …
Provider of Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy Services Agrees to $38,000,000 False Claims Act Settlement
PROVIDER OF PHYSICAL, SPEECH, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SERVICES AGREES TO $38,000,000 FALSE CLAIMS ACT SETTLEMENT As announced in an recent press release, Extended Care Health Services, Inc. (“Extendicare”), an operator …
A Free Ride To PT – What’s The Risk?
A Free Ride To PT – What’s The Risk? Physical therapy private practices may, for many reasons, consider offering free transportation to patients of the practice so that the patients …
HIPAA Compliance Help – The Security Risk Assessment Tool
For those readers struggling with HIPAA compliance, a HIPAA security risk assessment (SRA) tool was recently made available through HHS. The tool was developed as a collaborative effort between the …
Physical Therapy Provider Enters into HIPAA Settlement
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently announced yet another enforcement action. Specifically, OCR opened a compliance review of Concentra Health Services (Concentra) upon …
OCR Preparing For Next Round Of HIPAA Audits
In a February 24, 2014 notice published in the Federal Register, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a pre-audit survey of HIPAA covered entities and business associates. The …
Windows XP and HIPAA Compliance – Are the Two Compatible?
Microsoft recently announced that, after April 8, 2014, it will not longer provide security updates or technical support for Windows XP. Microsoft’s statement that “businesses that are governed by regulatory obligations such …