Employer Pays $4.75 Million after Employee Stole, then Sold, Protected Health Information
While HIPAA training may feel tedious and appear to be a waste of time and payroll, it’s crucial not to take shortcuts when it comes to compliance!
Entries by Sara Hathaway, PharmD
FDA Issues Updates to iPLEDGE® REMS Program
Isotretinoin capsules are FDA approved for the treatment of severe recalcitrant nodular acne in non-pregnant patients 12 years of age and older with multiple inflammatory nodules with a diameter of 5 mm or greater. Due to the risk of severe life-threatening birth defects and risk of embryo-fetal toxicity, isotretinoin is only available under the iPLEDGE® Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program.
Law Enforcement Access to Protected Health Information – What’s Your Policy?
Understanding and adhering to the HIPAA Privacy Rule is required for covered entities who handle protected health information (PHI), but because the Privacy Rule was designed to be flexible, implementation of policies and procedures to meet the Privacy Rules can vary from covered entity to covered entity.
News Article with Protected Health Information Led to an $80,000 HIPAA Settlement
According to a November 2023 press release from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Saint Joseph’s Medical Center (“Saint Joseph’s”) of New York state agreed to pay $80,000 and implement a corrective action plan in response to their unauthorized release of Protected Health Information (PHI).
Staying Compliant with House Charge Accounts
BMs require pharmacies to collect patient copayments in full and any deviation from that practice may be considered fraudulent behavior, with limited exceptions.
Avoid the Creon® Chargeback Catastrophe by Following THIS Billing Rule
Creon® is indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis, chronic pancreatitis, pancreatectomy, or other conditions. Claims for these pancreatic enzymes find themselves on audits year after year, and the audit risk has just increased as …
The Power of Clearly Communicated Sanction Policies in HIPAA Compliance
Adequate and thorough training is an essential component to all employee on-boarding and continued employment. One critical topic to discuss is sanctions, because the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules both require sanction policies.
Potential HIPAA Violations Lead to $1.3 Million Settlement
According to a September 11, 2023 news release from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), “L.A. Care, the largest publicly operated health plan in the country paid $1,300,000 to settle” potential HIPAA Security Rule violations.
3…2…1…The Countdown is On to Complete Annual Fraud, Waste & Abuse Training
Now is the time to ensure staff complete their annual Fraud, Waste & Abuse and HIPAA Compliance training since the December 31st deadline will be here before we know it!
NEW PAAS Resource – Printable Signature Logbook
Many pharmacies have made the switch to electronic signature log capture, but paper signature logs have not gone away.
