Changes may be afoot for HIPAA if the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has its requests granted. The reform may go a long way towards transitioning from paper medical records to a greater adoption of electronic data sharing required for care coordination based on existing value-based payment models.
The reform is timely as research shows that hospitals remain hurdles for patients attempting to access data in electronic health records, and calls to revamp the law for the modern age have become increasingly loud. Healthcare providers are eager to share data for the purpose of population health improvement, even with the potential for HIPAA impediments. The direction is to proceed with broader data-sharing.
Among the things being evaluated is the practicality for providers compared to the patient benefit. Even with the possibility of reform, the HIPAA Security Rule is expected to remain as is. Covered entities and business associates must have a scalable control solution in place to address risks within an organization. OCR enforcement initiatives will also remain strong.
This update is by Medical Accounts Systems, a full-service healthcare revenue cycle management company providing a number of services including insurance follow up and managed care disputes, physician reimbursement, extended business office services, and more. For additional information on our services or for any questions you may have on topics such as medical bill debt collection, please call 877-759-6315.