Archive for June 2021
OIG Work Plan Prioritizes Cybersecurity as Cases Rise
Last October, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)issued a joint cybersecurity advisory regarding ransomware activity targeting the healthcare and public health sector. In it, the agency said it had “credible information of an increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals…
Read MoreOSHA Issues COVID-19 Standards for Healthcare Workers
It took six months, from the time President Joseph Biden issued an Executive Order, until the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) acted, but on June 10, the agency announced the issuance of an emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect healthcare workers from contracting COVID-19. Those who work in healthcare settings…
Read MoreCan Healthcare Providers Offer Covid Vaccination Incentives?
It’s estimated that a little more than 42 percent of Americans have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and nearly 52 percent have had at least one dose. That has prompted President Joseph Biden to announce a “National Month of Action,” in an effort to get at least 70 percent of U.S. adults at least partially…
Read MoreClinical Lab Settles HIPAA Violation Case
A Georgia-based clinical laboratory recently agreed to pay $25,000 to The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule. That rule establishes national standards to protect individuals’ electronic personal health information (PHI) that…
Read MoreDOJ Launches Task Force Targeting COVID-19 Relief Fraud
Healthcare has always been ripe for fraud, so it’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic created a wellspring of opportunities for those looking to make money off a tragedy. But getting away with it likely will become a lot harder, thanks to the creation of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force. Launched in May by…
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