IN-PERSON SIGNING GUIDELINES DURING COVID-19
Wilson Worley PC is committed to doing our part to protect the health and safety of our customers, employees, and communities during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. To that end, we ask that, when possible, only essential parties to the signing attend the signing appointment and that everyone attending a signing appointment adhere to the following guidelines: Prior to the signing appointment, we ask that everyone attending a signing appointment consider the following questions: 1. Have you or anyone in your household had any cold or flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath, within the last 14 days? 2. Have
Despite Administrative Turnover, HIPAA Enforcement Highly Active
Last year the HHS Office for Civil Rights continued its current phase of HIPAA enforcement in earnest by increasing focus on audits for healthcare providers and business associates nationwide. As a result, 2016 was a record year for HIPAA enforcement actions and settlements with roughly $22,855,300 paid to OCR as a result of HIPAA violations. While speculation exists that the new administration’s focus on deregulation will eventually lessen HIPAA enforcement, all signs indicate that the OCR has no intention of slowing. The OCR currently has more than 200 ongoing audits for 2017, with five settlements already announced. The most expensive settlement
HIPAA Compliance – Not Just for Healthcare Providers
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPPA”) is designed to require the protection and confidential handling of protected health information by mandating a certain standards for its transmission and storage. Generally, Protected Health Information is individually identifiable information that is transmitted by electronic media, maintained in electronic media, or transmitted or maintained in any other medium. It is important to note that many businesses that are not healthcare providers still transmit or receive Protected Health Information and therefore must be HIPAA compliant. Entities that fall under this definition are typically “business associates.” A business associate is an entity
Vaccine Injury Compensation program Serves Manufacturers And The Public
The National Childhood Vaccination Injury Act of 1986 (NCVIA), as amended, created the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). Congress created the VICP primarily to protect our nation’s vaccine supply. In the 1980's, public attention was focused on the allegation that vaccines were causing injuries to children. Many parents sued vaccine manufacturers for alleged injuries. The few vaccine manufacturers in existence at that time were on the verge of going out of business because of lawsuits. Due to the threat to the nation’s health, Congress enacted the NCVIA. The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program is essentially a "no-fault" program. Congress created a
Recent Medical Malpractice Ruling
On May 29, 2015 the Tennessee Supreme Court filed an opinion resolving a question that may seem trivial, but teaches an important lesson. Some background: Bringing a healthcare liability action requires some technical steps not required in other types of cases. For example, Tennessee Code Annotated § 29-26-122 states that the plaintiff in a healthcare liability action in which expert testimony is required must file a certificate of good faith. The certificate must recite certain information, including the number of times the person executing the certificate has violated the section, i.e. failed to file a certificate of good faith in a