Author: Greene, Adam H

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2016

In 2009, CONGRESS passed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which granted individuals a right to have a copy of their records sent to a third party, according to 42 U.S.C. § 17935(e) of the regulation.


Unfortunately, many attorn....

Author: Downing, Kathy; McMillan, Mac

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: October 2013

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, in section 13411, requires the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct periodic audits to ensure covered entities and business associates are meeting HIPAA compliance requirements.


The findings of....

Author: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Source: Government (U.S.)

Publication Date: July 15, 2009

Author: AHIMA Advocacy and Policy Team

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2015

OIG's 90-page work plan for fiscal year 2015 (FY15) offers a high-level view of the office's continued monitoring of various HHS programs and initiatives, particularly those designed to ensure the appropriateness of Medicare and Medicaid payments. The work plan also outlines many of the government's activities in FY15 designed to ensure care quality and safety in hospitals and other healthcare settings.

Author: Viola, Allison F.

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2011

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' meaningful use program includes a set of requirements for the exchange of clinical information. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT outlined the EHR standards and certification requirements necessary to enable clinical informatio....

Author: Downing, Kathy; Mason, Jessica

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2015

A NEW REPORT to Congress from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), released in April, has put information blocking in the spotlight.1 The ONC report comes out on the heels of a recent article written by five US senators titled, “Where Is HITECH’s $35 Billion Dollar....

Author: Hicks, Andrew

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: April 2014

Some healthcare business associates are still asking if HITECH-HIPAA impacts them. The answer is just as important to their affiliated healthcare providers.


Thousands of companies are now legally obligated to comply with the HITECH-HIPAA regulations because of their busines....

Author: Dimick, Chris

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: May 2012

Large health systems and their IT vendors are creating private information exchange networks at a time when federally funded state operations are gearing up for launch. Is there room for private and public offerings in the new HIE marketplace?

Many state level health information....

Author: Bronnert, June; Daube, Julie L; Jopp, Gretchen; Peterson, Kathleen; Rihanek, Theresa; Scichilone, Rita A; Tucker, Vanna

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2014

Electronic health records (EHR) have changed the landscape for data representation. For many years health information management (HIM) professionals have relied on classifications for data representation and the support of clinical documentation. SNOMED CT is a data standard frequently used in electronic systems and has been included in the requirements for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) “meaningful use” EHR Incentive Program. SNOMED CT is maintained and distributed by the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organisation (IHTSDO). SNOMED CT is recognized throughout the world, and the terminology is available at no cost. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) serves as the US release center and the IHTSDO member country representative.

Author: Don, Hardwick; Twiggs, Mariela; Braden, James H

Source: Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: February 2015

A mere two decades ago, healthcare providers didn’t face significant penalties for improperly disclosing protected health information (PHI). Since then, regulations surrounding the privacy and security of PHI have evolved to include strict requirements and corresponding steep financial pe....