The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights will be begin phase two of audits of covered entities which includes dental offices. While a dental practice would be considered a “covered entity” if they use an electronic claims solution with a third party, using electronic claims is not the only thing… Continue Reading Government audits to begin… Are you HIPAA compliant?
A new guideline issued by the Office for Civil Rights clarifies that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is not violated when a patient requests their dentist to use an unsecure email to send their records to them. However, the practice must provide a warning of the risks associated with using an unsecured email.… Continue Reading HIPAA clarification and use of patients’ unsecure email
Effective March 1, 2016, the Dentistry Examining Board updated Chapter DE 14 relating to informed consent and Chapter DE 15 certification of a dental hygienist to administer nitrous oxide inhalation analgesia. Prior to the passage of 2013 Wisconsin Act 345, obtaining informed consent had not been codified. Act 345 makes it the duty of dentists… Continue Reading Important Dentistry Examining Board updates on informed consent and administering nitrous oxide
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to enroll or opt-out of Medicare has been delayed again to Jan. 1, 2019. All providers make their decision and submit their applications to allow time for processing. In order for Medicare to pay for prescriptions you write to your Medicare eligible patients, you must either enroll as… Continue Reading Reminder: Deadline to opt-in/opt-out for Medicare is Jan. 1, 2019 (updated)
Dental providers must implement Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act privacy and security measures into their practices to protect patients’ protected health information from a security breach. Along with implementing measures, a HIPAA point person must be assigned the task of making sure policies and procedures are followed to reduce the chance of a breach… Continue Reading Privacy and security training games
Members want to know if they must sign up for MetLife’s new policy that requires providers to accept reimbursements by electronic funds transfer or EFT. Any dentist who has received MetLife payments in the past received this letter. The American Dental Association’s Practice Institute staff has explained to MetLife that EFT makes it more difficult… Continue Reading MetLife pushing for electronic funds transfer