On February 5, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Sylvia Burwell, announced a proposed rule that would update privacy rules regarding substance abuse records--for the first time since 1987. This proposed rule has the potential to ease barriers to streamlined and efficient exchange of patient information across the care spectrum.
Read MoreNLG Partner Rebecca E. Gwilt speaking at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services DATA PRIVACY DAY forum, alongside Maya Bernstein, HHS ASPE Senior Advisor for Privacy Policy and Rogelyn McLean, HHS Office of General Counsel. Rebecca will be sharing her perspective on the role of the government in creating a workable framework for HIPAA compliance and the role of the private sector in respecting privacy, safeguarding data and enabling trust.
Read MorePQRS… VPM... MU… MIPS. These letters represent a complex world of quality reporting requirements that physicians must adhere to if they want to maximize their reimbursement and ensure the sustainability of their practice.
Read MoreHealth IT vendors are under incredible pressure to represent to customers that their hardware and software solutions are impervious to cyber threats. Pick any major trade show and the first line you'll hear from exhibitors is that their solution is HIPAA-compatible, and, even more misleading, HIPAA-compliant. It's important that vendors understand overstating security protocols and capabilities can have major legal and financial implications.
Read MoreOn January 6, 2016, in a dramatic national press conference, President Obama announced several actions by his administration to address gun violence in the US. One of these actions is a long-planned modification to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The same day, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Final Rule adding a permitted disclosure to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which expressly permits a limited number of Covered Entities to disclose protected health information (PHI) of certain individuals to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The modification is aimed at removing one barrier to expanding the quality of the information in NICS, which is used by firearms vendors to disqualify potential purchasers who are federally barred from owning firearms.
Read MoreVIRGINIA, January 4, 2016/Nixon Law Group, LLC/- Nixon Law Group, a Virginia law firm focusing on healthcare law and the Affordable Care Act reforms, kicks off 2016 by welcoming Rebecca Gwilt, Esq. as Partner. Ms. Gwilt brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in health law, serving previously as counsel at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS"). In her new role, she will also lead the Richmond office of Nixon Law Group.
Read MoreOne of the key elements of any healthcare provider’s risk management plan is securing professional liability (also known as “medical malpractice”) insurance coverage. But, all professional liability policies are not created equal. When considering which policy to purchase, physicians and other healthcare providers should thoroughly examine and understand who the policy covers, how coverage is triggered, and the types of patient claims that are eligible for coverage. . . .
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