Healthcare Risk Management – June 1, 2017
June 1, 2017
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Patient Abandonment Can Occur Without Intent
The current healthcare arena, with a constricted provider marketplace and other challenges for patients seeking a new physician, can amplify the risk of inadvertent patient abandonment.
False Claims Case Alleging Forgery, Destroyed Email Moves Forward
A long-running False Claims Act lawsuit against Bon Secours New York Health System and its affiliates is moving forward in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, after physicians came forward to attest that someone forged their signatures on documents required for billing.
Health System Agrees to Restore Deleted Data in False Claims Act Lawsuit
In the case of United States of America et al. v. Bon Secours New York Health System, Inc., et al, a former compliance officer claims she was fired for trying to address healthcare fraud. These details are drawn from the lawsuit and other court documents.
Peer-to-peer Review Would Bring Serious Risks
Peer-to-peer hospital reviews have been proposed as a way to gauge quality and compliance without waiting for the hassle and the potential ramifications of an accreditation survey, but risk managers should carefully consider the potential problems that could arise.
Man-in-middle Attacks Pose Threat in Healthcare
The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights is warning healthcare providers about the risks from “man-in-the-middle” hacking, in which someone hijacks communications between two parties and alters or copies the data without either party knowing.
Good Relations With Marketing Can Benefit Risk Management
Risk managers should open lines of communication with the marketing department to ensure HIPAA compliance and other benefits.
California Hospital Workers Can Waive Required Meal Period
Hospital employees in California are now allowed to waive one of their required meal periods, but risk managers should obtain proper consent before employees skip any meals.
$33 Million Verdict After Doctor Took Stockbroker Call During Delivery
A Florida jury issued a $33.8 million medical malpractice award to the family of a baby who suffered permanent brain damage during a delivery in which the obstetrician paused to take an eight-minute phone call from his stockbroker and tried to cover his tracks by falsifying the mother’s medical record.
HHS Offers Guide on Measuring Compliance Effectiveness
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is offering a guide to measuring the effectiveness of a hospital or health system’s compliance program.
Defendants Prevail on Failed Kidney Transplant Appeal
A defendant hospital prevailed on a suit involving a kidney transplant, in a case that highlights the importance of expert witness testimony.
Unnecessary Surgery Results in $625,000 Verdict
A physician did not confirm the existence of an abdominal mass, resulting in an unnecessary surgery.
What You Think You Know About HIPAA Might Be Wrong
Healthcare organizations take HIPAA seriously and typically devote substantial resources to education and monitoring, but misconceptions about the privacy law still can trip up the best efforts.
HIPAA Not Just About High-tech Security
One of the most common mistakes is to perceive HIPAA compliance as solely or predominately a technology problem.