The recent HIPAA Waiver that was included in the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act passed on March 15, 2020 has caused a bit of confusion among some in the healthcare community. Does this mean HIPAA rules do not apply for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic? Are the rules for safeguarding PHI also suspended during this period? In this blog, we are going to offer our readers a closer look at the current state of HIPAA and PHI safeguards during the COVID-19 pandemic so everyone can stay secure and compliant.

The COVID-19 pandemic, it is pretty safe to say, has most of us feeling a little on edge right now. Those in the healthcare industry are being taxed especially hard, from trying to adjust to increased telehealth visits to caring for emergency patients. However, it is important to take the time to understand the need for self-care by learning to understand stress and anxiety as well as how to properly manage it and cope effectively. To assist our readers in finding healthy ways to process their feelings during the COVID-19 crisis, this blog will offer tips on dealing with stress and anxiety.

On March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the implementation of sweeping temporary regulatory changes that are intended to better equip the American healthcare system for dealing with the current COVID-19 pandemic. As the number of patients presenting to hospitals continues to surge, these new rules and waivers of preexisting federal requirements are designed to make sure hospitals and healthcare organizations have the capacity they need to adequately respond.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on March 14, 2020. Then last week Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. As expected, it was signed into law by President Trump on Friday, March 27, 2020. While the FFCRA is intended to make it easier for businesses to provide employees with sick leave and family leave, the $2 trillion CARES Act stimulus package is intended to lessen the financial and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis on both businesses and individuals.

While it is true that most specialty practices are currently faced with partial closures due to COVID-19 isolation orders, many providers are still doing what they can to care for their patients. To help our readers minimize the risk of exposure in their practices while still providing necessary care, we’ve outlined several suggestions for safeguarding both patient and practice health.

Managing a remote team of employees can be difficult, especially for managers who have always been able to see their employees in the office during the work week. How do you delegate tasks properly? How do you maintain order and efficiency? How do you know your employees are even working when you have no way to watch them? These are all common concerns for those new to the management of remote teams. In order to better serve healthcare providers, this blog article is intended to provide our readers with basic tips and best practices for forming, organizing, and maintaining your team in a remote work environment.

On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, the Trump Administration announced a number of temporary measures that are meant to help combat the spread of COVID-19 under a newly passed bill called the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. Unanimously approved by Congress, parts of this bill are intended to expand the uses of telehealth while relaxing HIPAA constraints for healthcare providers. In this blog, we will take a look at these temporary measures in order to keep our readers informed on maintaining compliance during the current COVID-19 public health state of emergency.

For specialty providers, the odds of needing to actually treat patients with COVID-19 are incredibly low. However, there are still certain actions that specialty providers should be taking to minimize the risk of exposure for staff, patients and themselves.