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Employee’s HIPAA Violation Results in $1.44 Million Jury Verdict Against Employer

Last month, the Indiana Court of Appeals upheld a $1.44 million jury verdictagainst Walgreens and a pharmacist employed by Walgreens for breaching their duties to keep customer prescription history private. In this case, the pharmacist used private customer prescription history […]

OIG 2015 Work Plan Summary – Part 3

This is the last of three blog posts summarizing the fiscal year 2015 plans of theOffice of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The first two posts (post one, post two) covered the […]

OIG 2015 Work Plan Summary – Part 2

This is the second of a three-part blog series summarizing the fiscal year 2015 work plan of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The first blog post described the OIG’s […]

OIG 2015 Work Plan Summary – Part 1

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) releases an annual work plan for each fiscal year, which provides a blueprint to the OIG’s upcoming oversight and enforcement efforts. The latest […]

OIG Proposes Revisions to Safe Harbors and CMPs

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently published a proposed rule that provides new and modified regulatory safe harbors to the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), amends regulatory provisions related to enforcement of the Beneficiary […]

Physicians: What to Consider When Joining a New Practice Group

Due to healthcare reform and the increased complexities of operating amedical practice, many private physicians are electing to consolidate with other practitioners or to become hospital employees. This shift makes sense as group practices tend to reduce overhead, increase negotiating […]

HIPAA “BYOD” Rule Changes: What You Need to Know

What is BYOD?

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) appears to be a win-win for companies andemployees: employers save money on smart phone, tablet and laptop costs and employees enjoy the freedom of choosing their own device while enhancing communications and mobile […]

OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA Privacy Rule Obligations for Same-Sex Couples

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently issued written guidance on the obligations health care providers face under HIPAA to couples in legally valid same-sex marriages.

 

United States v. Windsor Ruling

As previously drafted, Section […]