RENEWED: US Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

By Ahmed Aboulenein

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States on Wednesday renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency, allowing millions of Americans to keep getting free tests, vaccines and treatments for at least three more months.

The public health emergency was initially declared in January 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic began. It has been renewed each quarter since and was due to expire on April 16.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a statement said it was extending the public health emergency and that it will give states 60 days notice prior to termination or expiration.

This could be the last time HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra extends it, policy experts have said.

MORE: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-renews-covid-19-public-health-emergency/ar-AAWbaqa?li=BBnb7Kz

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COMMENTS APPRECIATED

Thank You

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The Federal Strategic Plan to Reduce Health IT Disparities

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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[By Staff Reporters]

Working to ensure all Americans benefit from health IT is one of the principles guiding the development and execution of the federal health IT strategy. The Federal Health IT Strategic Plan that was released for public comment on March 25, 2011, states that we will strive to: Support health information technology (heath IT) benefits for all.

All Americans should have equal access to quality health care. This includes the benefits conferred by health IT.: The government will endeavor to assure that underserved and at-risk individuals enjoy these benefits to the same extent as all other citizens.

Health IT Disparities Workgroup

For the past few months, the Health IT Disparities Workgroup — comprised of staff from agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): with strategic and operational programs in health IT and co-chaired by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) — has led a focused effort to further define the federal government’s strategies and tactics to reduce health IT disparities within underserved communities. The result of this process will reflect our commitment to do more to reduce health IT disparities.

The Health IT Disparities Workgroup is developing a federal plan to reduce health IT disparities.: A draft set of strategies/tactics — aligned with the five goals of the Federal Health IT Strategic Plan — is included below: We hope you will assist us by providing comments on the following questions:

  • What do you think of the draft strategies / tactics listed below?
  • What specific activities would you like to see the federal government take on to reduce health IT disparities?

HIT

Health information technologies — such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, mobile health, and electronic disease registries — have been identified as effective means of helping to deliver safe, effective, affordable health care services; coordinate care across providers and clinical settings; and provide critical population data that may catalyze further policy and delivery system innovations.

Meaningful Use

The growing adoption and meaningful use of health IT is even more critical within the context of underserved communities. Within both rural and urban underserved communities, access to primary and specialty health care resources can be limited. This scarcity in many instances contributes to reduced quality of health care and of health outcomes for people residing in these communities. Within underserved communities, the use of health IT has demonstrated it can improve health outcomes, both from an individual and community-/system-wide perspective.

Federal Planning

Federal planning efforts focused at reducing health disparities, including The National Stakeholder’s Strategy and the HHS Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, highlight the proliferation of meaningful use of health IT within underserved communities as a critical objective. This draft set of strategies/tactics (see below) for the federal plan to reduce health IT disparities aims to ensure that underserved communities realize the full benefits of health IT.

Assessment

Read more: http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/from-the-onc-desk/federal-strategic-plan-disparities/#ixzz1X7U1WnCQ

Conclusion

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Tightening Payment Rules for Non-Physicians

Posted on August 30, 2009 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Understanding the Medicare “Incident To” Rules

By Staff ReportersGator

Under the “incident to” rules, Medicare Part B pays for some services that are billed by physicians, but performed by non-physicians. And, the Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS] and Office of Inspector General [OIG] says that some of these services might be used improperly.

Suggestions to CMS

The agency recommends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services [CMS] perform the following:

  • Revise the “incident to” rule to require that physicians who bill Medicare, but don’t perform the services themselves, ensure that the services are provided by a licensed physician, or a non-physician with the necessary training, certification or licensure.
  • Require that physicians who use non-physician services identify this with a service code modifier on bills.
  • Take appropriate action to detect when physicians bill for “incident to” services that are not covered under the rule.

Assessment

In the current healthcare reform environment, Medicare services by non-physicians are coming under increased scrutiny. And, the OIG is finding that the “incident to” rule is allowing medical care to be provided by non-physicians who may lack the necessary qualifications. This may be a healthcare financial, insurance and quality breach. So, don’t let this trap “bite” you.

Source: HHS Office of Inspector General (www.oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/oei-09-06-00430.pdf)

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On PHI Security Breaches

Posted on August 28, 2009 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

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New HHS Regulations

[By Staff Reporters]

Effective September 23, 2009, new regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) will require covered entities to notify affected individuals and HHS following the discovery of a breach of patient information. These regulations are more expansive than other notification laws that may already exist. Under these new regulations, covered entities must analyze every privacy and/or security incident to determine whether a notification requirement exists and then satisfy detailed notice requirements.

Breach Defined 

According to Garfunkel, Wild and Travis PC, a “breach” may be defined as the unauthorized acquisition, access, use or disclosure of unsecured Protected Health Information (“PHI”) which compromises the security or privacy of the PHI. It is important to note that this definition of breach is broader than most state notification laws under which most covered entities have already been operating for a number of years. While state notification laws may only require notification when there is an unauthorized disclosure of social security numbers or other specific kinds of personal information, under these new Federal regulations, unauthorized access, acquisition, use or disclosure of any PHI, not just social security number, is a potential breach. Furthermore; unauthorized uses of PHI, not just access or disclosure, requires notification.

Assessment

For more info: http://www.gwtlaw.com

Conclusion

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