INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions
and recent articles we have written.
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA)
Congress has passed a law regarding pregnant workers that will go into effect June 27, 2023. While short notice, an explanation will show that the impact of this law is not as far-reaching as some blogs and HR “specialists” have reported. What Does The Law Say? The...
Common Audit Triggers and How To Avoid Them
Unfortunately, too much of the billing and coding education in healthcare focuses on gaming the system to get the most out of insurers. This has led significant fraud waste and abuse in healthcare. In fact, the Department of Justice estimates it may be as much as $100...
Handling suspected substance abuse in the office
Recently PCS was contacted by 2 unrelated practices dealing with potential substance abuse issues. Our advice to them could be helpful in general. The first step is to make sure that there is evidence to take additional steps. Doctors/managers should carefully monitor...
Are Your Website and Social Media Platform Communications HIPAA Compliant?
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights recently issued updated comments regarding HIPAA-compliant patient communication. Patient communication and protection of health information have been significant areas of attention in the past two...
Update on Mask Requirements in US Healthcare
While most feel the pandemic has subsided, there are still mounting cases of COVID and other SARS-related cases throughout the US. OSHA has eliminated most all COVID-specific regulations, reverting to standard infection control principles that have always been in...
Virtual Assistants – Legal but Beware
Outsourcing certain practice operations is nothing new. Remote billing services have been around for a long time. Novel companies are offering programs where remote individuals, typically outside the US borders, can assist with a variety of practice operations –...
Healthcare Compliance in the Corporate Eyecare World
We are frequently asked how laws like HIPAA, OSHA, Fraud and Abuse, and others relate to an eyecare business under the designation of “corporate. We are also frequently told by some corporate eyecare business owners these laws simply do not apply to them. Nothing...
Do you have to change your software to comply with the CURES act?
The CURES and the 21st Century Act are all about interoperability and the exchange of information (typically through highly regulated APIs). The goal is to someday have seamless ways for patient information to move from provider to payer, provider to lab, provider to...
CDC Updates Infection Prevention and Control…. Finally
In late September, CDC finally updated the interim infection prevention and control recommendations for healthcare providers. This is the first update to these recommendations since last summer. In general, CDC has taken the stance that current measures should be...
What Is A Real Security Risk Assessment?
You’ve all heard about HIPAA’s mandatory risk assessment. Maybe, likely you have heard a good deal of conflicting information. Are you confused? Seem overwhelming? We totally understand. This topic is constantly made more complicated than it has to be – by IT...
Big Changes in Use of I-9 Form and the E-Verify System
Employee identity and employment eligibility verification have been in effect since 1986 when Congress passed the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Verification for all employees is mandated with penalties for non-compliance up to $2,507 per employee. In 2017,...
Avoid potential inducement to refer violations surrounding free CE
For over a decade, PCS has been warning optometrists regarding the potential inducement to refer violations surrounding free CE provided to optometrists by ophthalmology groups. The Anti-Kickback Statute has always been very clear on this issue, stating that...
My Employee Violated HIPAA. Am I Responsible?
When healthcare privacy breaches occur, it’s not always malicious. In fact, it’s often because of carelessness or a lack of understanding of HIPAA rules. To prevent HIPAA violations, healthcare organizations should ensure employees…
What do ODs need to know about information blocking?
Information blocking is anything that interferes with, prevents, or materially discourages access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). The concept was defined by Congress in the 21st Century Cures Act, and the ONC is responsible for defining what...
BEWARE – DEA Cybercriminal Scams
A year ago, we were noting predatory actions by imposters posing as DEA, police and FBI agents. Doctors were being contacted by email and phone with threatening messages. It appears the cybercriminals are at it again. The cybercriminals will relay some URGENT story...
Presbyopia Eye Drops – Can I Get Paid?
With the release of new FDA approved eye drops to improve near vision, questions are pouring in on the legal ways to get paid for this service. The AOA sent out a correct but complex explanation and as usual, the blogs are already full of "ideas". We can make this...
SCOTUS Ruling Update On Vaccination Requirements
Today, January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled on the challenges to President Biden’s Executive Orders related to vaccination mandates for healthcare workers. For a review of the important data that led to this, refer to the prior PCS article. Twenty-four states...
What you need to know about 10DLC
10DLC (or 10 digit long code number registration) is a channel created by mobile carriers for business-to-consumer messaging (also known as A2P or application to person messaging) where businesses can use a local landline phone number to text customers. In an...
Interim Guidance for Managing Healthcare Personnel with SARS-CoV-2 Infection or Exposure to SARS-CoV-2
In response to the increase in Omicron variant cases, suspected increased transmissibility of the variant, and evidence of decreased disease severity with the variant, CDC has published significant changes in their COVID response recommendations. There has been a...
All the Surprises in the “No Surprises Act”
A tremendous amount of confusion abounds from numerous sources and blogs regarding the application of the "No Surprises Act" with optometric practice. This confusion stems from: The late changes made to the initial No Surprises Act under Presidential Order 14036 The...
