The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has updated the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. This change, driven by the Biden-Harris administration through the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), follows the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. As a result, 21…
Revealing the Texas Medical Billing Law: What You Need to Know Texas has recently rolled out a new law, Senate Bill 490, which became effective on September 1, 2023. This law brings more transparency to medical billing, particularly when healthcare providers are seeking payment from patients after giving them medical services. In simple terms, it…
October 13, 2023, the Texas Senate made a significant move by approving Senate Bill 7. This legislation restricts COVID-19 vaccine mandates for employees in private businesses, except for medical facilities that can employ alternative safety measures. Senator Mayes Middleton, a Republican from Galveston, authored the bill, which includes penalties for private employers penalizing unvaccinated employees….
In recent years, IV hydration clinics have become more popular because they can quickly and effectively address problems like dehydration, tiredness, and vitamin deficiencies. However, the rules and regulations for these clinics in Texas have become more complicated as well. This article aims to explain the important rules that IV hydration clinics in Texas must…
In the world of healthcare, one of the most important things is making sure that pharmacies follow the rules and regulations, which is known as pharmacy compliance. The rules for pharmacies are always changing, and it’s crucial to follow them carefully. Pharmacy compliance isn’t just about following the law; it’s also about keeping patients safe,…
In most businesses, it’s normal to refer clients, but in healthcare, referring patients is closely watched, especially if the person referring gets paid or gets something in return. The federal Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute mostly apply to Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal healthcare programs. These laws are there to stop and punish situations where…
Creating a compliance plan is super important, especially in healthcare. This plan acts like a safety net to make sure everything is done right, there’s good oversight, and everyone’s private info is protected, plus they get billed correctly. Not having a strong compliance plan can lead to big issues, like fines and unhappy patients when…
Healthcare employers have a responsibility to establish compliance policies and educate their employees about the importance of reporting suspected violations. However, implementing policies alone is not enough. Employers should also ensure that employees can easily communicate compliance concerns and remind them regularly of the available methods. Maintaining clear lines of communication is essential when investigating…
What are the mandatory requirements for training healthcare employees on compliance and how can you determine if the training meets the required standards? Owning a healthcare practice requires providing training to employees on subjects such as HIPAA, fraud, harassment, discrimination, etc. You may ask, what does it take to meet the standards set by enforcement…