Americans could soon access their medical history just as fast as they order takeout. But new rules regarding electronic medical data have sparked debate over whether easier access would hurt or help consumers.
The current fight comes from new information-sharing policies from the federal government, which would allow health care providers to send medical information to third-party apps once a patient gives their consent.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, more than 1.3 million Americans occupy more than 15,000 nursing homes throughout the nation. As the baby boomer generation ages, these numbers will skyrocket. Their families will want them to receive the best care, and—unlike previous generations—their families will be much more fluent in researching what is and is not acceptable.
As a health care provider, we know that you want what’s best for those in your care as well. However, with a busy staff and patients who often struggle with conditions that affect memory and bodily functions, things can get challenging.
When you run a medical practice, you are subject to a lot of government oversight, especially when handling federal health care patients. One law that physicians and medical practices must abide by is the Stark Law, a federal statute first passed in 1989 and revised three times since then. Each revision has added more provisions and exceptions to the law, making it sometimes difficult to comply with.
Medical laboratories, doctors and other healthcare professionals have begun struggling with gnarly ethical questions brought on by DNA testing. With the technology now widely available and its meanings fast evolving, medical professionals may see the legal risks only when a lawsuit is filed.
Experts in law, public policy, medicine and genetics are scrambling to think about these questions before they’re raised in court, not to mention the clinical setting.
The prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine doctrine isn't necessarily a law or passage in the Texas Constitution, but rather a legal doctrine. That is, it's a principle expressed as a set of rules or procedures that developed over multiple rulings.
This doctrine prohibits corporations from making or influencing medical decisions, and therefore from practicing medicine in any sense in Texas.
Today, healthcare providers face more regulations than ever. One particular form of regulation that has become more common in the past decade are Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) audits.
These audits were designed to enforce Medicare regulations and deter improper billing practices. They can lead to allegations of fraud which may bring a healthcare organization civil or criminal charges.
Whether due to a hostile attitude, refusal to follow medical advice, anger over a diagnosis or more, many doctors, nurses and other health care professionals have encountered difficult patients at some point. Dealing with these individuals can be complicated, especially when you fear that an unfounded or unreasonable complaint could jeopardize your medical license.
Managing difficult patients requires patience and a constant commitment to acting in the best interests of the patient. Because fighting to protect your license can take considerable time and resources from your Texas practice, attempt to gain control of the situation before it escalates. Here are a few tips to ease the tension:
It happens sometimes – you file a claim with Medicare and because of insufficient documentation, duplicate payments or administrative errors, you get paid too much money.
What happens next? Medicare usually asks you to pay the money back. But you do have options.
Licensed nurses rely on their accreditation for their living. If your license is revoked, Texas has a lengthy reinstatement process for you to undergo before you can work as a nurse again.
The reinstatement process includes these steps before you’re able to work as a nurse again:
Physicians rely on the trust of multiple people, including patients, employees and members of the public. Unfortunately, some unscrupulous doctors abuse this trust to commit acts of fraud. However, there is sometimes a gray area where a trustworthy physician inadvertently commits unlawful activity.
If you suspect that you or another staff member accidentally violated the law, it may be in your best interest to voluntarily self-disclose this to the Office of Inspector General. The OIG has a set of protocol to follow that physicians can follow to potentially avoid or mitigate civil or administrative penalties.
Bold labels are required.
7000 North Mopac Expressway
Suite 200
Austin,
TX
78731
Phone:
512-937-1128
Fax:
888-320-0589
San Antonio Office
17806 IH 10
Suite 300
San Antonio,
TX
78257
Map & Directions
