2017

Recap of 2017 HIPAA Cases and Guidance

In 2017, the OCR assessed fines and exacted settlements in 10 cases that it reported on its website, and also issued new guidance on 5...

What's New in Chronic Pain for 2018

UDT Confirmation Reimbursement. Medicare reimbursement for confirmation codes G0480-83 will be reduced 10% per year for the next 3...

The Colonoscopy Conundrum

1. Code Deletions and Additions. For 2018, ASA codes 00740 (upper GI) and 00810 (lower GI) are deleted, and in their place are 5 new...

Reduced UDT Rates Proposed by CMS

On September 22, 2017, CMS released a proposed material reduction to the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (“CLFS”), affecting urine drug...

Stopping Medicare Recoupment on Appeal

Medicare released a new MedLearn Article (MM9815) on September 1, 2017 clarifying the rules on stopping Medicare from recouping money...

New QMB Guidance

On June 28, 2017, Medicare issued an amendment to the QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) rules. It is illegal to bill a QMB (patient...

New Guidance from OCR on Cyber Attacks

On June 8, 2017, the OCR released 2 documents designed to instruct CEs (Covered Entities) and BAs (Business Associates) what to do in the...

2017 HIPAA Settlements To Date

During 2017, the following HIPAA settlements have occurred. 1. $475,000 for an untimely notification to the OCR of a breach. Under the...

Update of Lab Reporting for POLs

This is an update to our March 1, 2017 article titled “Lab Reporting Requirements to CMS.” This update is due to changes made by CMS last...

Lab Reporting Requirements to CMS

The deadline for physician office labs and independent labs to report their private payor rates to CMS began on January 1, 2017, ends on...

$475,000 Fine for Untimely Breach Notification

1. Breach Notification Rule. On January 9, 2017, DHHS issued a press release assessing a penalty - for the first time - for the failure...