Violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) are serious offenses that will likely result in heavy fines. If an employee compromises a patient’s private health information, your facility must follow guidelines for reporting that violation. However, it is possible to catch violations before they happen. If a patient’s protected health information (such […]
Those who work in healthcare have to know every aspect of their jobs, but must also handle the additional responsibility of protecting the privacy of patients. If an employee’s actions result in a HIPAA violation, it will not only affect that employee, but also potentially jeopardize the entire organization. Healthcare facilities can face severe penalties […]
The usefulness of social media for business cannot be overstated. These websites and apps allow companies to connect with clients immediately and to advertise their services to a wide audience. Although these are great developments, as with any new technology, there is a good side and a bad side. For many people, social media also […]
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires hospitals and other medical institutions to implement security procedures as safeguards for patient information. Poorly guarded information could lead to identity theft, as well as professional and personal consequences for people with compromising medical conditions or histories. The penalties for HIPAA violations are also severe for […]
No matter the kind of business you run, you will definitely face competition. How you compare with your competitors when it comes to things like the quality of service you offer is something you may question. This competition is why you should consider hiring an independent review organization (IRO). An independent review organization (IRO) is […]
Physicians have been confused about Stark Law and how it applies to them. Some believe the law applies to all fraud and abuse violations, but it is only relevant when it comes to particular healthcare services and Medicare beneficiaries. The law also applies indirectly to referrals of Medicaid beneficiaries, but for simplicity, we will only […]
There are many advantages to sending your medical reviews to an Independent Review Organization (IRO), from faster turnaround times to accessing more specialty knowledge. Once you have made the decision to use an IRO, it is important to have an understanding of how to get the best results. The following tips can help you get […]
IRO stands for independent review organization. This type of organization is present in many industries, providing peer review and judgement of a person’s work, production, performance, or related behavior. The use of IROs has become a leading practice in the healthcare industry in the past few years. Using an IRO is a great way to […]
The False Claims Act allows the government to recover losses from private entities that overcharge the government for services. The Obama Administration placed a high priority on fighting healthcare fraud, which has led to numerous investigations and large recoveries against the healthcare industry. In 2015, the administration recovered over 3.5 billion dollars. Qui tam is […]
Instituting a HIPAA compliance program is only the beginning. Staying HIPAA compliant takes time and commitment. It is critical to review the various departments in your practice and make sure that your policies remain up to date. You may be surprised at how quickly technology evolves and leaves your policies outdated. You may also be […]
The attorneys at Brown & Fortunato, P.C. are licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas. Some of the Attorneys are licensed in other states as noted in the attorney profiles. Except where noted, they are not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
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