“Eliminating Kick-Backs and Recovery Act of 2018” (EKRA) is a part of a group of laws recently passed by Congress to expand the law enforcement spectrum available to fight the opioid epidemic. EKRA is part of approximately 70 separate actions referred to as the SUPPORT Act, i.e. Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and
November 2018
2018 National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook
By Michael Cassidy on
In October 2018, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) published the third edition of the NPDB Guidebook.
NPDB publishes monthly “NPDB insights”. I could not send the link to that, but I have attached a copy of the page announcing the new Guidebook here: NPDB Insights.
I am also attaching a link to the…
Allergy Practice Pays $125,000 HIPAA Settlement for Disclosing Patient Protected Health Information to Reporter
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in HIPAA, HIT, and EHR
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“HHS”) just announced a $125,000 settlement for a disclosure of patient protected health information (“PHI”) to a reporter.
In 2015, a patient of Allergy Associates of Hartford, P.C. (“Allergy Associates”) contacted a local TV station about a dispute that the patient had with…
2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Provides Future “Telehealth” or “Communication-Based” Billing Opportunities
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Medicare & Reimbursement
The final Medicare 2019 Physician Fee Schedule https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-Fee-for-Service-Payment/PhysicianFeeSched/index.html rule was posted on November 1, 2019, to be effective January 1, 2019. It includes Section II(D) entitled “Modernizing Medicare Physician Payment by Recognizing Communication Technology-Based Services”, with several subsections.
- Brief communication technology-based services (EG Virtual Check-In) (HCPCS Code G2012)
- Remote evaluation of prerecorded patient information (HCPCS
…
Opioid Update: New Federal Law
By ahurley on
Posted in Articles, Long Term Care
Opioid Update: New Federal Law – The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act
On October 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act…