2015 HIPAA Audit Program Update
April 21, 2015 - Fremont CA USMentorHealth
webinars@mentorhealth.com
Phone:8003851607
Fax:302-288-6884
Overview: In this session we will discuss the HIPAA audit program and how it works, and discuss the areas that caused the most issues in prior audits. We will explore what kind of issues and what kind of entities had the most problems, and show where entities need to improve their compliance the most. We will also explore the typical risk issues that lead to breaches of health information and see how those issues may be a target for auditors in the 2014-2015 round. We will review the contents of the HIPAA Audit Protocol used in 2012 to show what documentation needs to be on hand should your organization be selected for an audit in the 2014-2015 round. The HIPAA Audit Protocol is not easy to use in its incarnation as a Web-based tool, and it does have several deficiencies because of the changes in the rules that became enforceable September 23, 2013, but we will present methods for using the contents of the HIPAA Audit Protocol to build your own compliance plan by extracting and updating the contents and relating your compliance activities directly to the questions that might be asked. In this session we will discuss the HIPAA audit and enforcement regulations and processes, and how they apply to HIPAA covered entities and business associates. We will explain the enforcement regulations and the recent changes that increase fines and create new penalty levels, including new penalties for willful neglect of compliance that begin at $10,000. We will discuss what information and documentation must be prepared in advance so that you can be ready for an audit at any time, including sample information request forms and questions asked at prior audits. The session will also cover how to know if you may become the subject of an audit or enforcement action, and what you can do to help limit your exposure. We will discuss how most enforcement actions come about and what can be done to prevent incidents that lead to enforcement activity. The HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification regulations (and the recent changes to them) and how they will be audited will be explained. Documentation requirements for compliance will be explored and a framework of security policies necessary for compliance will be presented. The HIPAA Audit Protocol questions will be explored and ways of using the content to develop a compliance plan will be discussed. The process of exporting the questions will be shown, and a sample spreadsheet showing the results will be presented. The results of prior HHS audits (and their penalties) will be discussed, including recent actions involving multi-million dollar fines and settlements. A plan for attaining compliance will be presented. The steps to follow to prepare for an audit and respond to an audit request will be outlined. Why should you attend: While in the past, audits had been performed only at entities that reported a breach or had a compliant filed against them, the new rule calls for audits whether or not there is a complaint or breach. This means that the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) can show up and ask to perform an audit on short notice, and your organization will need to provide a response in less than ten business days. Knowing what questions are likely to be asked and have been asked at prior HIPAA compliance audits can make preparing for and surviving a HIPAA audit much easier USDHHS has published the protocol used for the 2012 HIPAA audits by the HHS contractors, and sets of questions asked in audots have become available, so it is possible to know much better now how to prepare for an audit. Nearly any health care covered entity or business associate may be subject to an audit; all entities need to know what kinds of questions they’ll be asked, what information they'll need to provide and how to prevent issues that could lead to violations and fines Areas of weakness as shown in the 2012 audits and as shown by breach reports are likely targets for the next round of audit questions. If your organization is not ready, the HIPAA rules have new, significantly higher fines, including mandatory minimum fines of $10,000 for willful neglect of compliance In addition, HIPAA enforcement has taken on a new importance at HHS; officials have publicly stated that enforcement is now a priority, and that means being ready for an audit is more important than ever. \ MentorHealth Roger Steven contact no: 8003851607 fax no: 302-288-6884 Event Link:http://bit.ly/1B4NMs3 webinars@mentorhealth.com www.mentorhealth.com