There are preciously few days left for completing HIPAA compliance activities before the September 23rd enforcement deadline. Technically, all of the regulations are already in effect, but actual enforcement of the 2013 revisions don’t kick in until then. There are no clues to whether this deadline with kick off another round of OCR audits, but … Read more
You may have noticed that we have changed the appearance of the Medlaw.com website to improve its usefulness. We will continue to update features and gradually move many of the resources over from the older archive areas into the new site for ease of search and access. If you have suggestions of something you would … Read more
Saving $449 Million dollars may sound like a good idea, but what if it were to close 800 hospitals and up to 400 rural EMS systems that rely on them? The OIG has issued a report to Congress recommending that Congress allow CMS to stop paying an estimated 800 Critical Access Hospitals an enhanced Medicare … Read more
Apparently the “sequester” and media concern about government abuse of authority and over-regulation have not deterred the USDA from critical regulations requiring home owners to adopt disaster plans for their pet rabbits. The Center For Health Care Emergency Readiness reports: According to a recent article published by the Washington Post, the U.S. Department of Agriculture … Read more
As you may recall, I have participated in some of the Abaris Group’s programs and shared the stage at live presentations with their President Mike Williams. I am passing this information along regarding this new program (I am not involved): The Abaris Group announced it’s upcoming webinar to help prepare for the impact associated with … Read more
04-26-2013 Emory University Hospital (Emory), Georgia, agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve its liability for Civil Monetary Penalties under the patient dumping statute. The OIG alleged that Emory refused to accept appropriate transfer of a patient who required Emory’s specialized capabilities. 04-04-2013 Donalsonville Hospital, Inc. (Donalsonville), Georgia, agreed to pay $25,000 to resolve its liability … Read more
11-13-2012 University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC), IL, agreed to pay $50,000 to resolve its liability for Civil Monetary Penalties under the patient dumping statute. The OIG alleged that UCMC failed to provide appropriate medical screening and stabilizing treatment within its capabilities to a male patient who presented to their emergency department complaining of severe … Read more
12-22-2011 Princeton Baptist Medical Center (PBMC), Alabama, agreed to pay $170,000 to resolve its liability for Civil Monetary Penalties under the patient dumping statute. The OIG alleged that PBMC failed to provide care, within its capabilities, to four individuals who were suffering from emergency medical conditions. Three of the individuals presented to PBMC’s emergency department … Read more
12-23-2010 North Fulton Hospital (North Fulton), Georgia, agreed to pay $40,000 to resolve its liability for Civil Monetary Penalties under the patient dumping statute. The OIG alleged that North Fulton failed to provide a medical screening examination or stabilizing treatment to a patient that presented to its emergency department (ED). The patient was 30 weeks … Read more
The Chicago Tribune carried the headline “Stroke Victim: Hospital Didn’t Help” on a half-page story that raises questions of a possible EMTALA violation in one of the scenarios that hospitals seem to have forgotten. According to the Tribune, the stroke victim was driving his sister to the airport on August 20, 2012, when he became … Read more