HCAC e-news
June 2002 ~ Published by Home Care Association
of Colorado
ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT HIPAA?
(otherwise known as Health Insurance
Portability and
Accountability Act)
Well stop your worrying. Following are a few quick, simple steps to make sure
your home care agency is in compliance with HIPAA requirements:
1. FILE YOUR HIPAA EXTENSION TODAY! J
The Administrative Simplification Compliance Act gave home care
agencies and other “covered health care entities” an extension beyond the
original compliance deadline of October 2002. The extension gives you until
October 16, 2003 to be in full compliance with HIPAA.
BUT you must submit a completed application form along with your proposed
compliance plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS
strongly encourages you to file your extension electronically on the CMS Web
site. A confirmation number will be assigned at that time as proof of
submission.
The form is available online at www.cms.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/ASCAForm.asp.
There is also a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section at this web site for
help with the HIPAA rules.
2. PURCHASE “The HIPAA Privacy Rule: Compliance
Resources for Home Care.” J
This highly acclaimed manual has all of the information and template
forms that you will need to be in compliance with HIPAA requirements. The
manual’s Table of Contents can be read at www.homecarehipaaresources.com.
As a member of HCAC and/or NAHC, you will receive a 15 percent discount off the
$350 purchase price. E-mail your order form to HCAC at hcac@assnoffice.com.
3. PARTICIPATE IN CMS WEBCAST AND SATELLITE BROADCAST
ON JUNE 18TH!
J
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that
it will air a webcast and satellite broadcast, "Meeting the HIPAA
Challenge: Implementing HIPAA Standards and the Administrative Simplification
Compliance Act" on June 18 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. (MDT) The
broadcast will contain the following information: (1) how to develop
implementation plans for the extended compliance date of October 16, 2003, (2)
how to request an extension to the compliance date, (3) demonstration of how to
fill out the Compliance Form including covered entities and tax ID, (4) updates
on changes to the HIPAA Transaction and Code Set Standards, (5) information on
Medicare testing and HIPAA implementation, (6) tools to develop a road map to
HIPAA implementation, and (7) panel discussion with CMS HIPAA experts. For more
information, go to: http://www.hcfa.gov/medlearn/broadcast.htm.
4. PLAN TO ATTEND HCAC’S HIPAA SEMINAR ON TUESDAY,
AUGUST 20 IN DENVER. J
Mark your calendar and plan to have at least one member of your staff
attend HCAC’s “home care specific” HIPAA seminar on Tuesday, August 20th
in Denver. Popular speaker and home care expert Gene Tischer, Esq., will speak
on “HIPAA Regulations For the Home Care Manager.” Tischer is executive
director of Associated Home Health Industries of Florida, the trade association
representing home care agencies in that state.
5. DON’T FORGET TO READ OR RE-READ ELIZABETH
HOGUE’S ARTICLE ENTITLED “HIPAA Compliance Without Heartache” ON PAGE
18-20 OF THE SPRING 2002 MANAGEMENT REPORT. J
Elizabeth Hogue, health care attorney, has capsulized HIPAA in an
excellent article that appeared in the Spring 2002 management report. You can
access this publication at HCAC’s web site at www.hcaconline.org.
VISIT HCAC’S WEB SITE TODAY!
Another Membership Benefit Brought to You
by
The Home Care Association of Colorado