Health Care Law Blog

Showing 12 posts in Privacy.

January 30, 2014

Health Plans Take Notice: Compliance with HIPAA Administrative Simplification Rules is still Required

On Jan. 2, 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued a proposed rule related to the Administrative Simplification requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).  Specifically, it delayed the date by which health plans must certify compliance with certain operating rules imposed by the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”).   

The ACA required the Secretary of HHS to adopt operating rules related to claims status, eligibility, electronic funds transfers ("EFT") and health care payment and remittance advice transactions ("ERA").  Health plans (and other covered entities) were required to comply with the claims status and eligibility operating rules by Jan. 1, 2013 and the EFT and ERA operating rules by Jan. 1, 2014.  Additionally, health plans were required to file a statement with HHS certifying that the health plan is in compliance with the operating rules.  This certification statement was due by Dec. 31, 2013.  Read More ›

Categories: Billing/Payment, Compliance, Health Care Reform, HIPAA, Insurance, Privacy, Providers

Posted by: Mindi M. Johnson

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January 18, 2013

Long-Awaited Privacy Rules Just Published

The Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Health and Human Services recently released its final rule (the "Rule") modifying the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") and implementing the statutory requirements of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”).  (The Rule was originally expected to be released in February of 2010 when HITECH became effective.) In short, the Rule: modifies HIPAA’s privacy, security and enforcement rules; changes HIPAA’s enforcement rules to increase penalties consistent with HITECH; provides a final rule on breach notification; and modifies HIPAA as required by the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

The new rule is approximately 563 pages and can be accessed here.  If you have any questions about how the Rule may impact your health care practice, please contact Nicole Stratton at (517) 371-8140 or by using the form below.

Categories: Compliance, HIPAA, HITECH Act, Hospitals, Physicians, Privacy, Regulatory

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