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HIPAA Compliance 
Our HIPAAtraining solution is the fastest, easiest, most economical way to provide your healthcare clinical and administrative staff with the thorough knowledge and understanding of the privacy requirements of HIPAA and how to apply them in their daily tasks. Learn more...

Welcome!

Welcome to the inaugural issue of our monthly newsletter. We intend to provide you with current and useful information you can use to improve your business.

We will report on topics that include HIPAA implementation solutions, Information Technology, Marketing, and recruiting of healthcare professionals.

We encourage your comments and suggestions and hope you enjoy this issue.

HIPAA Solutions for the Small Provider

Affordable on-line solution enables fast-track to compliance.

With HIPAA Compliance deadlines just over the horizon, many practice enterprises are finding themselves lacking the in-house resources and expertise to evaluate the impact of the privacy, security and transactions and code sets regulations and to guide their enterprise through the needed changes to achieve compliance.

While there is no shortage of available HIPAA compliance implementation options that purport to address the needs of these medical practices, most focus only on parts of the whole. Consequently, practices find themselves struggling with piecemeal solutions that complicate what should be a relatively smooth implementation.

Physician practices are beginning to realize that what is
needed is a start to finish compliance implementation
capability. One that acts as an "action-amplifier" for the entire process. Enter HIPAAsteps, the complete implementation solution that easily meets that objective.

HIPAAsteps is an affordable, on-line, subscription-based
solution that presupposes no expert knowledge of HIPAA. HIPAAsteps will efficiently guide any small to medium medical practice to a smooth and orderly implementation of HIPAA Privacy and Security remediation while providing expert guidance on what must be done to comply with the Administrative Simplification mandates of the law. Compliance Officer Training, Baseline assessment, automated Policy and Procedure documentation and staff training are all included along with a FREE website to provide public access to practice policy documentation. HIPAAsteps is available thru DynamicAlliance Consulting, LLC. Find out more...

Transactions and Code Set Extension

The Deadline For Filing An Extension Will Soon Be Upon Us! 

On Thursday, March 28, 2002, the US Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) released the model form for HIPAA-covered entities under the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) -- to request a year's extension in complying with the HIPAA Transaction & Code Set (TCS) rules.

The present TCS compliance deadline is Oct. 16, 2002 (except for small health plans). With the extension, the new deadline will be Oct. 16, 2003. This extension is for Transaction & Code Sets only. It does not change the compliance date for the HIPAA Privacy compliance, which is April 14, 2003.

The model form also may be filed by mail. In that case, DHHS will not acknowledge receipt. DHHS recommends that covered entities filing by mail use a return receipt, so that way they will have proof of filing.

To access the link to the DHHS electronic filing program or a compliant form-fill PDF and DHHS's instructions for filling it out, Click Here!

The extension is not automatic; a covered entity must submit an extension request by Oct. 15, 2002 to receive the extension.

A model form or similar form must be filed with DHHS to obtain the extension. Once filed, the the extension is automatic. DHHS will have an electronic filing system in operation by April 15th. That will provide an electronic acknowledgement and confirmation number.

The Internet And HIPAA

ASP Approach To HIPAA Implementation Advantageous

While the "dot com" craze has subsided and the gaggle of internet companies that were going to be successful just because they were on the internet have disappeared, we are left with a tool for communication, the likes of which have never been seen before. HIPAA is a natural fit for the internet, there are thousands of websites that dispense HIPAA information in one way or another, but one of the most compelling uses of the Internet as it relates to HIPAA is as a compliance solution. Here is why.

Access
As a vehicle to compliance, you can access your information from any where that you have an internet connection and a web browser. This is especially convenient for training your compliance officer and staff. You do not have to send them off-site or coordinate their schedules for a staff meeting,, and they can use the training from office or home.

Cost
The internet is a cost effective way to become compliant. There is no software to load on your office work stations, so the capabilities of your computers are not called into question. There is no CD to burn or packaging to buy, so internet solutions are typically cheaper.

Practicality
It makes sense. It is widely agreed that HIPAA will continue to change, and it is of vital importance that you are aware of those changes. The internet provides the vehicle to communicate these changes and permit you to respond, quickly and efficiently.

So if you have not come up with a good reason to surf the web, dealing with HIPAA might provide you the excuse you have been looking for.

A Consent To Privacy Rule Changes

The most symbolically important change proposed would be the elimination of the need for a written and signed patient consent to allow providers to use protected health information for treatment, payment and operations. Although the requirement is seen as important by patient advocates, its presence is only symbolic since providers cannot provide care to anyone who refuses to give permission. The requirement adds an enormous amount of complexity, and cost with little real benefit. The proposed amendment would require direct treatment providers to use their best efforts to obtain a written acknowledgement of receipt of their notice of privacy practices.

Full Story...