Safeguarding patients' electronic health information is an employment matter Q: In preparation for an employee or other members of a health care company's workforce quitting, what preventive steps can be taken to ensure that patients' health information is protected? A: Two particular measures are critical to health care providers, in their role as employers, to protect the private patient information. Those are preparation and training. First, advance preparation is essential. Administrative, technical and physical safeguards are mandated by HIPAA (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and its amendments, and just as we recommend with regard to all types of health care compliance and regulations, a compliance plan should be in place to provide security for protected health information electronically maintained. The person responsible for a health care practice or company's IT should perform periodic risk assessments, and sufficient access termination procedures … [Read more...] about For health care providers, safeguarding patients’ electronic health information is also an employment matter
Health information act
Health Care Act worries small businesses who say they’re not ready for new law
(CBS News) Some small business owners are worried about the new health care law, dubbed "Obamacare." Among those fearing what it will mean to their bottom line is one businessman who once supported health care reform. The Affordable Care Act will be fully implemented by Jan. 1, 2014. But right now, it's causing concern and anxiety for small business owners who say they don't understand how the new law works or how they're going to pay for it. Hans Rockenwagner's bakery is known throughout Los Angeles for its artisan breads. But looming provisions in the new law have the small business owner worried about his company's future. Rockenwagner said, "The employees are asking: How is this going to affect me? How do I need to budget myself?" Because Rockenwagner employs more than 50 people, he is required by the law to offer health insurance or pay a fine every year of $2,000 per employee. Rockenwager and other small business owners worry the cost to provide coverage could consume their … [Read more...] about Health Care Act worries small businesses who say they’re not ready for new law
Health information executives beg for help on cyber
With help from Arthur Allen (@arthurallen202) and Darius Tahir (@dariustahir) HEALTH INFORMATION EXECS BEG FOR HELP ON CYBER: Health IT executives think HHS needs to carve out a regulatory exception to Medicare's Stark Law and anti-kickback statutes that would let groups donate cyber labor and services to care providers, they wrote in a letter to the department’s inspector general yesterday. Members of CHIME and its cybersecurity professional organization argue that physician practices don’t have the resources to maintain their own cyber defenses, and are often hackers’ access points to larger health systems. Story Continued Below The laws barring health care organizations from donating money or services to independent practices were created to prevent conflicts of interest, but the OIG has the authority to make certain exceptions. More for Pros here. WHITE HOUSE TO HOLD OPIOID SUMMIT THURSDAY: On the heels of a Senate HELP Committee hearing on ways technology and … [Read more...] about Health information executives beg for help on cyber
New federal office to protect consciences, religious objections of health care professionals
Hospitals, doctors and other health care workers could get support in their opposition to performing abortions, euthanasia or procedures on transgender people through a new federal office on "Conscience and Religious Freedom." The new division will be part of the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and will help medical professionals who object to certain procedures on religious grounds. "The Founding Fathers knew that a nation that respects conscience rights is more diverse and more free, and OCR’s new division will help make that vision a reality," said acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan in prepared remarks.The office of civil rights is a law enforcement agency within HHS that enforces federal laws protecting civil rights and conscience in health and human services, and the security and privacy of people’s health information. OCR already has enforcement authority over federal "conscience protection … [Read more...] about New federal office to protect consciences, religious objections of health care professionals
Oklahoma Watch: Health agency ‘bloat’ included Fallin push to remake public health
Seven years ago, with Oklahoma stuck near the bottom in key public health rankings, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and Gov. Mary Fallin set out to reshape the strategy for markedly improving health outcomes for Oklahomans. The approach would involve new health department initiatives, partnerships, educational efforts and other programs. There was just one problem: The money to pay for them could run out. And ultimately, that’s what started to happen. Whether health department leaders and Fallin foresaw those financial risks early on is unclear. But department officials, including the current interim health commissioner and other agency leaders who raised alarms, said this attempt to try new approaches to improving Oklahomans’ health was a factor in the department’s tumble into a cash crisis in late 2017. “These were initiatives that there was interest in from the governor’s office as well as almost from a national level of how to approach … [Read more...] about Oklahoma Watch: Health agency ‘bloat’ included Fallin push to remake public health
Amid health concerns, Trump doctor claims he’s in ‘excellent health’
Bryan Logan, provided by Published 6:27 pm, Friday, January 12, 2018 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20', … [Read more...] about Amid health concerns, Trump doctor claims he’s in ‘excellent health’
Jail screening new arrivals’ mental health
At desks inside the intake bay of the Pulaski County jail, sheriff's deputies probe the mindsets of arrestees sitting next to them. "Have there ever been a few weeks when you felt you were useless, sinful or guilty?" "Do you tend to hold grudges or give people the silent treatment for days at a time?" "Have you ever had worries that you just can't get rid of?" Questions like these compose two surveys, one for men and one for women, that are filled out for every person who is processed at the 1,210-bed facility on West Roosevelt Road in Little Rock. The Correctional Mental Health Screen for Men and for Women, developed by two professors with a grant from the National Institute of Justice, are meant to quickly identify people who could have serious mental illness. A serious mental illness is categorized, generally, as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder or other forms of psychosis. Jail staff members began using the screening tool in August. … [Read more...] about Jail screening new arrivals’ mental health
Illinois suspends second Outcome Health tax break deal
The state has suspended a second tax credit agreement with Outcome Health as the tech company faces allegations of fraud. Outcome Health has received about $1.3 million in tax credits from the agreement, signed in 2013 under the administration of then-Gov. Pat Quinn, said Jacquelyn Reineke, a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The suspension is a result of the company’s recent legal troubles, Reineke said. In November, big-name investors sued the company, CEO Rishi Shah and President Shradha Agarwal, alleging fraud as the company secured $487.5 million in funding and rose to a valuation of about $5.5 billion. The investors — including units of Goldman Sachs and Google and a fund co-founded by Illinois gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker — have filed court documents indicating they have received subpoenas from the Justice Department. On Tuesday the Tribune reported that the state had suspended a tax credit agreement … [Read more...] about Illinois suspends second Outcome Health tax break deal
FDA chief: I’m surprised it took big tech this long to get into health care
The FDA's new commissioner Scott Gottlieb has been described as a "bright spot" in the current administration. He's made allies in Big Pharma and the technology sector by ushering along a variety of programs to reduce the cost and complexity of bringing new medical products to market. Gottlieb is a former venture capitalist, a doctor and a cancer survivor. Some of his major goals for his time in office are to speed up the approvals process, drive down the cost of prescription drugs and do what he can to address the opiate crisis. We caught up with Gottlieb earlier this month to talk digital health, cybersecurity and more. This interview has been edited for brevity. CNBC: Let's jump in by talking about the digital medicine trend, which some view as the future of the health sector. How would you regulate … [Read more...] about FDA chief: I’m surprised it took big tech this long to get into health care
GOP health law repeal thwarted, but ‘Trumpcare’ already under way
By Catherine Ho Updated 7:02 am, Saturday, March 25, 2017 window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-9', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 9', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Orlin Wagner, Associated Press Image 1of/9 CaptionClose Image 1 of 9 Janella Williams watches television for news on the healthcare vote while receiving treatment at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kan., Friday, March 24, 2017. The 45-year-old graphic designer receives medication from an intravenous drip for a neurological disorder, getting the drugs … [Read more...] about GOP health law repeal thwarted, but ‘Trumpcare’ already under way