On June 28, 2023, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act No. 23-97, “An Act Concerning Health and Wellness for Connecticut Residents.” The Act includes a wide range of provisions aimed at supporting health care workforce development and improving access to health care. Some of the provisions of the Act are summarized below.
Continue Reading Connecticut Adds Requirements for Opioid Prescribing and Expands Provider Licensure and Credentialing AvenuesREMINDER: October 6 Deadline for Information Blocking Rules Approaches
Health care providers subject to the Information Blocking rules issued under the 21st Century Cures Act, Pub.L. 114–255, are reminded that such Information Blocking rules will apply to an expanded set of information beginning on October 6, 2022. The Information Blocking rules currently apply only to a limited portion of electronic health information (EHI) represented by the specific data elements identified in the United States Core Data for Interoperability version 1 standard (commonly referred to as USCDIv1). Effective October 6, 2022, the Information Blocking rules will apply to all EHI, which is defined as all electronic protected health information (as defined by HIPAA) to the extent that such electronic protected health information is included in a designated record set (also as defined by HIPAA), and excluding psychotherapy notes and information compiled in reasonable anticipation of, or for use in, a civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding.
Continue Reading REMINDER: October 6 Deadline for Information Blocking Rules ApproachesONC Information Blocking Data Show Majority of Claims Against Health Care Providers
By Conor Duffy on
Posted in Academic Medical Centers, Antitrust, Government Enforcement, Health Information Exchanges and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), Health Information Technology, Health Policy, HIPAA, Hospitals and Health Systems, Legislation, Office of Inspector General, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals, Privacy and Security
On February 28, 2022, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued data on information blocking claims received since April 5, 2021, the effective date of information blocking regulations enacted under the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act). As a reminder, in accordance with the Cures Act’s prohibition on certain information blocking practices, in 2020 ONC issued a pair of rules (available here and here) to implement information blocking regulations (now found at 45 CFR Part 171). Due to COVID-related delays, ONC ultimately set a compliance date for such regulations of April 5, 2021. ONC is now sharing preliminary data on the information blocking claims received for the first time.
Continue Reading ONC Information Blocking Data Show Majority of Claims Against Health Care Providers
COVID-19: HHS Issues FAQs on HIPAA and Telehealth to Help Providers Maintain Access to Care During the Pandemic
By Conor Duffy & Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group on
Posted in Academic Medical Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC), COVID-19, Government Enforcement, Health Information Exchanges and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs), Health Information Technology, Healthcare Technology, HIPAA, Hospitals and Health Systems, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals, Privacy and Security, Reimbursement, Telehealth
On March 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued additional guidance in the form of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on HIPAA and telehealth services to help providers furnish care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The FAQs follow and provide further information on the Notification of Enforcement Discretion issued by HHS on March 17 (Notification), in which HHS indicated that it would not penalize providers for using popular video chat applications, such as FaceTime and Skype, in good faith to provide telehealth services amid the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS has emphasized, however, that the Notification does not allow the use of public-facing communications products, such as Facebook live or other livestreaming applications.
Continue Reading COVID-19: HHS Issues FAQs on HIPAA and Telehealth to Help Providers Maintain Access to Care During the Pandemic