Take too long to release a patient’s medical record – or provide it the wrong way – and you can get hit with an $85,000 HIPAA penalty. Patient right-to-access.
All it takes is just one patient to feel like you’re not meeting her medical record’s provisioning needs and file a complaint for you to be in the audit hot seat. Patient complaints have led to the first two settlements issued by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) from the Department of Health and Human Services new HIPAA Right of Access enforcement initiative. Making the same mistakes can result in the identification of costly medical records’ access violations at your practice.
Practices just like yours are being held accountable for these easy-to-make HIPAA violations, but there is help available. During her 60-minute online training, healthcare compliance attorney and HIPAA expert, Gina Campanella, Esq, FACHE, will walk you through how to best avoid patient right-to-access complaints (and head off the resultant audits, fines and penalties).
Here is a sample of the no-nonsense HIPAA patient right-to-access medical records compliance strategies you’ll receive by attending this 60-minute online training:
- Decipher what “timely” release of patient information is to stop complaints in their tracks
- Clinch acceptable records access handling for delayed COVID-19 test results
- Identify your obligations regarding record formats when patients ask for access
- Ease patient frustrations when records are legitimately delayed
- Provide a medical record summary that meets patient’s needs and protects your practice
- Enact protocols for staff to adhere to parent’s access rights for minors
- Reveal how to determine whether State or Federal right-to-access laws apply
- Determine when and how much you can charge for patient record duplication requests
- Documentation advice to audit-proof your actions and overcome violation allegations
- Lock down patient communication musts that keep you out of hot water
- Respond to investigations with specific steps to stop financial damage
- Pin down when you really can implement “information blocking” guidelines
- Verify when you really can, and should, deny a patient access to their records
- Establish clear staff guidelines when personal representatives request patient records
- Implement documentation standards regarding patient access dates
- And so much more…
Government HIPAA Patient right-to-access enforcement is increasing
In fact, it is now easier than ever for your patients to file a HIPAA access compliant online – they simply have to click a button. And considering that about a third of HIPAA complaints involve incorrectly handling records requests, you can’t afford not to attend this training. This session is essential for everyone at your practice who manages the disclosure of patient information.
Like most providers, you probably associate HIPAA violations exclusively with a lost laptop, or leaving patient information in plain view, but it is so much more than that.
You must also take action to ensure that you provide patients with access to their medical records based on the “right-to-access” laws. It is essential that you implement compliance standards to adhere to these laws immediately.
Don’t wait, register for this online training today and eliminate worry and stress about patient complaints and right-to-access fines. Patient right-to-access.
Ms. Campanella focuses her practice on business law, healthcare regulatory and transactional matters. She assists her clients with transactional services and regulatory compliance consulting, as well as general counsel services to small and large businesses, medical practices, and professional societies. Clients seek her expertise related to HIPAA compliance, contracting, employment agreements, commercial leases, new practice formation, and surgical center licensing and registration. Ms. Campanella is a nationally respected regulatory compliance specialist who dedicates herself to educating professionals nationwide on issues of healthcare business transactions and regulatory compliance.
Ms. Campanella graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seton Hall University with a Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2012 and earned her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law in 2005. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (New Jersey Chapter), the American Health Lawyers Association, and the New York City Bar. Several of her certifications include earning the status of Certified HIPAA Administrator from the HIPAA Academy and Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Campanella is also an Adjunct Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences.
Great examples. The webinar was very helpful!
Nancy Budzinski
Joliet Oncology-Hematology Associates
The webinar was done very well! It was very refreshing and provided important information.
Estela Muhammad
Heartland Alliance
