Several physicians conducted a study that was recently published in JAMA Open Network:  Ransomware Attack Associated with Disruptions at Adjacent Emergency Departments in the US ..read more

The U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division, publishes a guidance document: Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs (ECCP). The DOJ has updated the guidance multiple times, most recently in March 2023. This guidance is used in two ways: Federal prosecutors conducting criminal fraud or misconduct investigations (including healthcare fraud) use it to evaluate the effectiveness of a corporation’s compliance program. An effective program has the potential to reduce financial penalties imposed. Corporations, including healthcare providers, use the ECCP as a resource when implementi ..read more

When it rains, we don’t walk around saying “Oh, no! I’m so worried I might get struck by lightning. I better stay inside all day and change my whole day around.” Nobody says that. When it rains, I DO hear people saying “It’s raining – this is so good for my garden.” Or the grass or the flowers. Or the basil plants. Why? Because the odds of getting struck by lightning are LOW. The odds of the rain nurturing plants, however, is HIGH. It’s pretty much guaranteed. Why, then, when we talk about compliance with leadership and the board room, do we tend to focus so much on penalties? Yes, penalties ..read more

4.5 NAB CEUs! 4 AHIMA CEUs! April 26th, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. CST ..read more

Everyone knows email phishing scams are common. A CISA advisory provides details of a new email phishing scam that uses remote management software to steal money.   According to a recent Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) joint advisory, the attacks were directed at federal civilian employees. But it is noteworthy because similar strategies can be used to target anyone, including healthcare providers. On January 25, 2023, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a National Cyber Awareness System Alert, “Protecting Against Malicious Use of Remote ..read more

The scheme 25 people were charged with wire fraud – administrators and employees of three Florida nursing schools as well as recruiters. The recruiters sought out individuals that were willing to pay $10,000 to $15,000 for fake nursing school documents that allowed them to take national nursing licensure examinations. A total of 7,600 fake nursing diplomas and transcripts (completion of required courses and clinicals) were provided to individuals from all over the US. The buyers wanted to take licensing exams to become registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, or licensed vocational nurs ..read more

The OCR notes serious concerns with Banner Health’s pervasive noncompliance with the HIPAA Security Rule Banner Health OCR’s investigation of Banner’s data breach in 2016 found evidence of long-term, pervasive noncompliance with the HIPAA Security Rule across Banner Health’s organization, a serious concern given the size of this covered entity. Banner Health is one of the largest non-profit health systems in the country, with over 50,000 employees and operating in six states. Findings No analysis to determine risks and vulnerabilities to electronic protected health information (ePHI) acros ..read more

  When my family gets together, we play games. Specifically, we play Cards Against Humanity: Family Edition. In this game, one person selects a black card with a question or incomplete phrase. Everyone else selects a white card, with words or a phrase to complete the question or phrase on the black card. The person with the black card selects the funniest white card/black card combination, and the person who put down that white card is the winner. The last time we played, someone chose a black card that said: “What really killed the dinosaurs?” And the top white card for this round said ..read more

    Sign up for MPA's FREE Compliance & HIPAA webinars: All webinars start at 11:00 a.m. CST and are presented by Margaret Scavotto and Scott Gima   Plan a Successful Compliance Week in 2023 February 22, 2023 90 minutes 1.8 CCB CEUs 1.5 NAB CEUs Your compliance program is only as strong as the culture behind it - and the knowledge and buy-in of your team. It takes year-round activities and awareness to support that culture. In this webinar, we will discuss approaches to plan a fun and engaging Compliance Week for your staff. Whether it's been a year since you held Complian ..read more

    Sign up for MPA's FREE Compliance & HIPAA webinars: All webinars start at 11:00 a.m. CST and are presented by Margaret Scavotto and Scott Gima HIPAA Security Update January 25, 2023 90 minutes 1.8 CCB CEUs Healthcare is the #1 target of cyber-attacks, and the threat continually increases. Your HIPAA security program is your defense, and the key to maintaining continuity of care. In this webinar, we will illustrate why the HIPAA Security Risk Analysis is the best way to identify and reduce security risks and prevent cyber-attacks. We will also address the 2021 HITECH amendme ..read more