An October 27 report from the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General states that “limited actions” by CMS have “not provided effective oversight or encouraged enforcement of the HIPAA Security Rule by covered entities.”
The main concern of the report is that CMS relies on complaints in order to identify organizations to investigate for failure to comply with HIPAA regulations.
The HHS Inspector General admits that the audit cited in the report was performed in 2007, before CMS signed a contract in January 2008 with PriceWaterhouseCoopers to assist with compliance reviews. However, it still stands behind its recommendation that CMS take a more proactive approach to identifying HIPAA compliance issues.
CMS disagrees with the report. While compliance reviews would be beneficial, CMS believes that the complaint-driven system encourages voluntary compliance. It also stated that the Inspector General's report fails to highlight other steps taken by CMS to improve HIPAA compliance such as industry outreach, education, and complaint investigation and resolution.
Source: Government Health IT
http://www.govhealthit.com/online/news/350651-1.html
Click here to view the HHS Inspector General's report:
http://oig.hhs.gov/oas/reports/region4/40705064.pdf
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
CMS Sends Out Clarification Memo on Standing Orders
CMS sent an October 24, 2008 memo to State Survey Directors clarifying standing order documentation guidance that was issued in February and April.
The memo includes guidance revisions issued to physicians who use preprinted forms for standing orders. It also provides the following clarification regarding the use of rubber signature stamps:
"The CoPs [Conditions of Participation] do not prohibit the use of rubber stamps in a hospital setting, when properly controlled, for authentication of medical record entries. However, as a point of information for surveyors and providers, we are taking this opportunity to add an information-only statement to the interpretive guidance for §482.24(c)(1) to note that some payers, including Medicare, may not accept such stamps as sufficient documentation to support a claim for payment. "
Click here for the full memo: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/downloads/SCLetter09-10.pdf
The memo includes guidance revisions issued to physicians who use preprinted forms for standing orders. It also provides the following clarification regarding the use of rubber signature stamps:
"The CoPs [Conditions of Participation] do not prohibit the use of rubber stamps in a hospital setting, when properly controlled, for authentication of medical record entries. However, as a point of information for surveyors and providers, we are taking this opportunity to add an information-only statement to the interpretive guidance for §482.24(c)(1) to note that some payers, including Medicare, may not accept such stamps as sufficient documentation to support a claim for payment. "
Click here for the full memo: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/downloads/SCLetter09-10.pdf
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Joint Commission CAH Accreditation Receives Conditional Approval from CMS
The Oct. 24 Federal Register by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states "the Joint Commission received conditional approval for its critical-access hospital (CAH) accreditation program, but the program was placed on probation until it fixes the gaps between its standards and Medicare's conditions of participation."
Under updated "conditions, critical-access hospitals are allowed to provide inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation services in a distinct-part unit as long as those services comply with hospital requirements in other sections of Medicare's conditions of participation." After the Joint Commission "has submitted its revised distinct-part unit standards [to reflect the updated conditions], the CMS will conduct a survey to validate the changes."
The Joint Commission CAH accreditation pro has been placed under a 180 day probationary period from November 21, 2008 through May 28, 2009 to revise its accreditation standards to meet or exceed CMS standards set forth in the Medicare conditions of participation. The conditional approval period applies to TJC CAH accreditation granted between November 21, 2008 through November 21, 2001.
The full Federal Register announcement can be found here:
http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=457935302722+1+1+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Under updated "conditions, critical-access hospitals are allowed to provide inpatient psychiatric or rehabilitation services in a distinct-part unit as long as those services comply with hospital requirements in other sections of Medicare's conditions of participation." After the Joint Commission "has submitted its revised distinct-part unit standards [to reflect the updated conditions], the CMS will conduct a survey to validate the changes."
The Joint Commission CAH accreditation pro has been placed under a 180 day probationary period from November 21, 2008 through May 28, 2009 to revise its accreditation standards to meet or exceed CMS standards set forth in the Medicare conditions of participation. The conditional approval period applies to TJC CAH accreditation granted between November 21, 2008 through November 21, 2001.
The full Federal Register announcement can be found here:
http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/TEXTgate.cgi?WAISdocID=457935302722+1+1+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Frist to Step Down from HCA Board
According to a securities filing, Thomas Frist, Jr. will step down from the Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) board effective January 1 and will be replaced by his son, William Frist, who will serve on the company’s patient safety and qualiy of care committee.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
October 29 Health Care Staffing Certification Call Hosted by The Joint Commission
"Health Care Staffing Certification – What’s New?
Ask the Experts!"
In this one-hour call Michele Sacco and Joint Commission staff will discuss the latest information about changes to certification, and give you plenty of
time to ask questions about the following topics:
- 2009 changes to scoring and decision rules
- Certification participation requirements
- The CMIP (Certification Measurement Information Process)
- Performance measurement requirements
- Standards interpretation.
This call will be helpful to both certified and not-yet-certified organizations.
Wednesday, October 29
11:30 am (Central Time)
To register, please go to
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gg8KLdhMoonkrM_2bq2e3NGw_3d_3d
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
State Report Outlines Challenges of E-Health Implementation
The first annual report of the State Alliance for E-Health, a panel created by the National Governor's Association, called on states and the federal government to work together to implement improvements in health information technology (HIT).
The variation of state provider licensure requirements was cited as one of the challenges of implementing a national HIT system for licensing. Recommendations offered by the report include:
The variation of state provider licensure requirements was cited as one of the challenges of implementing a national HIT system for licensing. Recommendations offered by the report include:
- The adoption of a core licensure application in every state based on the Federation of State Medical Board's Common Licensure Application Form
- Promoting the use of online licensure applications
- Developing a national core set of credentialing parameters
- Directing each state professional board to select a central CVO for primary source verification
- Directing each state professional board to require state and federal criminal background checks for all applicants seeking a state license
- Standardization of the regulatory framework for each field of advanced practice nursing
The full report can be found here: http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0809EHEALTHREPORT.PDF
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Norway-based Company Granted CMS Deeming Authority
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) granted deeming authority to Det Norske Veritas (DNV) , a Norway-based company. DNV joins The Joint Commission and the American Osteopathic Association as the newest organization to receive hospital accreditation authority in 30 years.
DNV is recognized for its integration of international quality standards with the Medicare Conditions of Participation.
Source: Healthcare Finance News
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/story.cms?id=8693&page=1
DNV is recognized for its integration of international quality standards with the Medicare Conditions of Participation.
Source: Healthcare Finance News
http://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/story.cms?id=8693&page=1
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