ICCOM

International Center for Chiropractic Office Managers

“A Leader in Chiropractic Office Management and Compliance Training”

New Developments in HIPAA Privacy, Are You Ready?

By Edie Hofmann

It is time to remember HIPAA Privacy Compliance. In 2003, we were all scurrying around trying to figure out how we were going to be HIPAA compliant. We had been given ample warning, but oh, procrastination…don’t you love it. We bought workbooks, took seminars, “googled” everything we could think of. Hopefully someone had what we needed and we passed it around to all of our friends. That all worked for the immediate.

What is an Ideal Chiropractic Office Manager?
by Edie Hofmann

The chiropractic office manager traditionally has first been the doctor, then your spouse or a CA that has risen in the ranks with years of experience in the office. If the latter were true when the C.O.M. separated, especially abruptly, the clinic would be left with a large hole that would be costly and take time to fill. This usually leads to a decrease in patient volume and collections as the doctors attention is frantically focused on training a new C.O.M.

HIPAA Privacy, Part 2

By Edie Hofmann

In my last article I broached the fact that most of us have forgotten HIPAA Privacy and making sure we are all compliant. Well, I was asked all kinds of questions that really surprised me. The number one question I received over and over again was: “I was told I do not have to be HIPAA compliant because I don’t file insurance electronically. Is that true?”

Now I understand that not only has HIPAA been forgotten, it is totally misunderstood. HIPAA law addresses several different categories and you are responsible for knowing and implementing all of it.

HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)

Articles

HIPAA Violations and Enforcement

Failure to comply with HIPAA can result in civil and criminal penalties (42 USC § 1320d-5).

Civil Penalties
The “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”(ARRA) that was signed into law on February 17, 2009, established a tiered civil penalty structure for HIPAA violations (see below). The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) still has discretion in determining the amount of the penalty based on the nature and extent of the violation and the nature and extent of the harm resulting from the violation. The Secretary is still prohibited from imposing civil penalties (except in cases of willful neglect) if the violation is corrected within 30 days (this time period may be extended).

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