Monthly Archives: January 2012

Is Your Research Data Safe? Aligning HIPAA and the Common Rule

  Last summer, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sought comments on potential revisions to the Common Rule [PDF] after over two decades of virtually no change. In the advanced notice of proposed rule making [PDF] related to the Common Rule, HHS sought to address concerns about institutional review boards’ (IRBs) (...) [Read More]

HIPAA Considerations in Evaluating Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is a hot topic in business (including the health care business) due in large measure to the potential cost savings involved. Health care providers, however, have to consider more than just cost savings. At base, cloud computing is not a new concept and the HIPAA security risks it poses are not new. However, (...) [Read More]

Uncertainty Regarding ERX Hardship Exemption Requests to Continue 2012

2012 will not, unfortunately, bring certainty to the many providers who submitted hardship exemption requests for the electronic prescribing incentive program (commonly called “eRx”). Although the deadline for submissions for hardship exemptions was extended (as is further described in our bulletin), recent emailed notices from CMS indicate that the overwhelming number of requests will prevent (...) [Read More]

Getting Paid Faster and Easier: New HIPAA Electronic Transfer Standards Rule

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), as part of its cost containment efforts, empowered the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adopt electronic transfer standards in an interim final rule with comment period amending the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) electronic transaction standards. HHS did so on (...) [Read More]

California (And Texas) Increase Privacy Requirements

In 2012, new statutes in California and Texas will require that providers make state-specific changes to their existing privacy compliance procedures. The changes made in California are detailed below. Texas’s new law is addressed in “Texas (and California) Increase Privacy Requirements.“ California’s Senate Bill 24 (SB 24), which took effect on January 1, 2012, makes (...) [Read More]