Monthly Archives: July 2012

Freemire Interviewed by BNA regarding Meaningful Use Audits

Joshua Freemire was recently interviewed by BNA with regard to the Meaningful Use Audits.  The resulting article is here: http://www.bna.com/meaningful-participants-begin-n12884910824/

Josh Freemire’s Q&A with EHR Intelligence on the Meaningful Use Audits

I spoke today with an editor at EHR Intelligence regarding the hospital and professional audits of Meaningful Use program compliance being conducted by Figloiozzi & Company.  You can read the full interview here:  http://ehrintelligence.com/2012/07/26/meaningful-use-audits-qa-with-oberkalers-joshua-freeman/

Figloiozzi and Company Begin Meaningful Use Audits as CMS Designee

A number of health care providers that attested to Meaningful Use for Stage 1 have received a letter from an Figloiozzi and Company, acting as CMS’s auditor for the EHR Incentive Program (the “Program” or “Meaningful Use Program”), requesting certain records related to the attestation. CMS has not, as of this writing, made any announcement (...) [Read More]

Recently Released HIPAA Audit Protocol Offers Insight As to Audit Priorities, Best Practices

Covered Entities and Business Associates may be breathing a little easier lately, after the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) made public the detailed audit protocols used by KPMG during the first round of random audits. The protocols contain some surprises, but, at a minimum, their publication ends what (...) [Read More]

Connecticut Medical Examining Board Fines Physician $20,000 for HIPAA Violations

A recent action by the Connecticut Medical Examining Board (a unit of that state’s Department of Public Health) should serve to remind covered entities and business associates that it is not only the federal government that can act to enforce HIPAA’s privacy requirements. In a consent order dated the 21st of March [PDF] but officially (...) [Read More]

FDA Safety and Innovation Act Includes Important Provision Regarding Mobile Health Care Technology

On July 9, 2012 President Obama signed into law the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act [PDF] (FDASIA). [At press-time, a public law version of the bill was not available. The link provided here leads to the "enrolled bill" version of the law which was approved by both the House and Senate and (...) [Read More]

Medicaid Pays $1,700,000 to Settle HIPAA Security Violations

In its first enforcement action against a state agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) settled last month with Alaska’s Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) for HIPAA security violations it reported as required by HITECH. DHSS entered into a settlement agreement and agreed to pay $1,700,000 (...) [Read More]