Policies Regulation


The highly regulated health care industry must contend with an ever-changing array of mandates from the state and federal governments. In this section, stories cover a broad range of laws that affect privacy and security of health information, the use of medical devices, and initiatives requiring data reporting for quality purposes. In addition, health care reform topics such as accountable care organizations and health insurance exchanges are covered here.


New Content on HHS Consumer Web Sites

Joseph Goedert | Feb 08
Two agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services have introduced new Web-based health management tools for consumers.
Consumer Health
Disease Management

Report: HIEs Need I.T. Help, but Shun HIT Workers from Fed’s Training Programs

Joseph Goedert | Feb 08
Many health information exchanges lack staff with strong information technology skills, but are not likely to hire graduates of a government-funded health I.T. training program, according to a report.
Comments (4)
Health Info Exchange
EHR

Survey Ranks ‘Fairness’ of Payer Reimbursements

Joseph Goedert | Feb 07
A survey from IVANS Inc., a transactions processing vendor, finds large numbers of its provider customers believe Medicare and Medicaid reimburse more fairly than commercial insurers, even though the government plans pay less.
Electronic Data Interchange
Revenue Cycle Management

CSC Report Looks Ahead to Stage 2 Meaningful Use

Joseph Goedert | Feb 07
A new report from Computer Sciences Corp. examines the lessons learned from attesters during Stage 1 of the electronic health records meaningful use program, and looks at criteria changes that could be in Stage 2.
EHR
Group Practices

Health Plan ID, Insurance Exchange Rules Coming Soon

Joseph Goedert | Feb 06
The Department of Health and Human Services expects soon to publish a final rule to govern establishment of state insurance exchanges to provide one-stop shopping for health coverage, and a proposed rule to establish the long-delayed unique identifier for health plans.
Electronic Data Interchange
Consumer Health

CMS Demo Programs Will Require Providers to Do More to Justify Claims

Joseph Goedert | Feb 03
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is getting ready to launch two new data collection programs, affecting providers and their revenue streams by making them further justify claims submitted for payment.
Revenue Cycle Management
Electronic Data Interchange

Hey, HHS: We Need the Stage 2 and Privacy Rules NOW

Joseph Goedert | Feb 03
The proposed rules for Stage 2 of the electronic health records meaningful use program is in the Office of Management and Budget for review, a clear indication that it should be ready for publication soon.
Group Practices
Hospitals

MGMA Asks HHS for More Time, Fixes to HIPAA 5010

Joseph Goedert | Feb 02
The Medical Group Management Association has sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius outlining significant problems with federal reimbursement of claims following the transition to the HIPAA 5010 transaction sets.
Electronic Data Interchange
Coding

AMA to Sebelius: Stop ICD-10

Joseph Goedert | Feb 02
The American Medical Association, which is actively working to stop implementation of the ICD-10 code sets, has sent a letter to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius asking her to immediately halt the implementation process.
Coding
Stimulus

Rule Would Boost Payment for Primary Care

Joseph Goedert | Feb 02
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expects soon to publish a proposed rule that will have significant revenue ramifications for primary care physicians.
Group Practices
Hospitals

Vendors Team for Mock HIPAA Privacy Audits

Joseph Goedert | Feb 01
ID Experts, a data breach prevention and remediation firm, has partnered with consultancy Apgar & Associates to offer mock federal HIPAA privacy/security/compliance audits to health care organizations.
Comments (1)
Data Security
Stimulus

AAFP Hopes “Free” Builds its Networking Site

Joseph Goedert | Feb 01
The American Academy of Family Physicians now is offering its professional networking site, called Delta-Exchange, at no charge to AAFP members.
Group Practices
Health Info Exchange

Information Governance: The Essential Accountability Wrapper

Linda Kloss | Feb 01
Building on the foundational concepts in "Stress Testing Health Information Management and Governance" (January edition, p. 42), this article kicks off a series of "getting specific" discussions on information governance and the building blocks of enterprise information management.
EHR
Document Management

Mobile Health in the Regulatory Crosshairs

Tracy Granzyk Wetzel | Feb 01
The FDA has its sights set on the m-health space, and some fret that regulation will stop innovation in its tracks.
Mobile Technology
Hospitals

Scrambling I.T. to Address Drug Shortages

Joseph Goedert | Feb 01
The daily fight to find critical drugs in chronically short supply isn't getting any easier, and I.T. tools to aid in the search often are lacking.
Medication Management
Hospitals
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