Protect Deceased Patient Medical Records for Decades or Face Massive Fines
10:00 AM PDT | 01:00 PM EDT
Overview:
The presenter will walk you through all of the rules surrounding deceased patient medical records authorized release and storage.
You'll get a plain-English breakdown of how to comply with HIPAA Privacy Laws and state requirements, so you head off thousands of dollars in violations.
Why you should Attend:
HIPAA compliance is one of the most cited and least understood laws in the typical medical practice. Although HIPAA has been in place for decades, it has changed rapidly in the last ten years due to the rapid proliferation of technology in medicine.
In addition to these progressive changes, the law itself underwent a major overhaul in 2013 resulting in any practice that has not updated their HIPAA materials since that time being out of compliance. One of these major changes included how a practice must treat the records of their deceased patients.
Per HIPAA, you must keep medical records for deceased patients confidential DECADES longer than regular federal and state patient medical record retention laws require. To make your job even more challenging, you often have to make your medical information release decisions without the patient's authorization.
Remember, the $50,000 fine applies to each access or storage violation you make, so your penalties can easily add up to into the six figures. You really can't afford to not know the unique deceased patient medical record access and retention rules and scenarios. Fortunately, you are not alone in figuring them out.
Areas Covered in the Session:
Here are just a few of the deceased patient medical records questions you'll get answered during this upcoming 60-minute webinar:
- How long are you required to retain records for your deceased patients?
- Where can you locate your state laws on medical records for patients who have died?
- What legal documents should you require before you release a deceased patient medical record?
- Under what HIPAA exceptions can you disclose a deceased patient's personal health information?
- Do you follow HIPAA Privacy Rule or state law when releasing medical records for deceased patients?
- How much can you charge to process deceased patient medical records?
- If a personal representative or executor of the estate dies, who gets legal access to the medical records?
- Are there different rules for how you handle behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse records?
- Who has legal access to health records when a deceased patient didn't name a personal representative?
- What role does state law play in determining who is authorized to receive deceased patient medical records?
- What's the difference between an executor, administrator, and personal representative?
- How can you coach living patients to designate a personal representative to ease your medical record burden?
This training is beneficial for EVERYONE at your practice or billing company who makes decisions about how your patient information is released and maintained. In only 60 minutes, you'll learn how to comply with the EXACT requirements of deceased patient medical record access and retention laws. Remember, the longer you keep records, the harder it is to keep them safe and secure. With deceased medical record privacy laws applying for DECADES, you simply can't afford not to have this step-by-step guidance. You want to help family members who need immediate access to patient medical information. By attending this online training, you'll know the exact actions you can – and can't take - to uphold HIPAA and state laws, so your practice is protected from massive fines.
Who Will Benefit:
- Physicians
- PAs/APNs
- Practice Managers
- Health Care Providers
- Pharmaceutical Representatives
- Billing & Coding Professionals
- Financial Managers/Advisors
- Compliance Officers
Speaker Profile
Clients seek her expertise when reviewing employment agreements, commercial leases, formation of new businesses and medical practices, separation from and sale of businesses and medical practices, business structuring, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and surgical center licensing and registration, including preparation for Department of Health, AAAHC and AAAASF surveys of licensed and Medicare deemed facilities, as well as preparation and implementation of resulting plans of correction.
Ms. Campanella is a nationally respected regulatory compliance specialist who dedicates herself to educating professionals nationwide on issues of business transactions and regulatory compliance.
Ms. Campanella graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seton Hall University with a Masters in Healthcare Administration in 2012 and earned her Juris Doctor from Seton Hall Law in 2005. In 2002, she graduated with Honors from Union College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She is also a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (New Jersey Chapter), the American Health Lawyers Association, and the New York City Bar Association.
Ms. Campanella has been admitted to practice law in New Jersey and United States District Court for the District of New Jersey since 2006, the District of Columbia since 2013, New York since 2013, Pennsylvania since 2017 and Vermont since 2018.
Ms. Campanella was recognized by New Jersey Super LawyersTM as a Rising Star in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020, a “Best of Bergen” attorney by Bergen Magazine in 2017, 2018 & 2019, an “Awesome Attorney” by South Jersey Magazine in 2019, and is recognized by AVVO as a Clients’ Choice Attorney in 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019 with an AVVO rating of “10 out of 10”.* Her additional certifications include earning the status of Certified HIPAA Administrator from the HIPAA Academy and she is a Fellow in the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Campanella is also an Adjunct Professor at the Seton Hall University School of Health and Medical Sciences.