In This Issue:

Audits and Breaches and Fines, Oh My! — Part I By Elizabeth Johnson

It’s time to make sure your HIPAA privacy and security compliance program has a heart Have you ever had that nagging feeling that you needed to take care of something, but you just didn’t have time so you let it go, probably for too long? I usually feel that way about two things: exercise and yard work. Some HIPAA-covered entities feel that way about compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. They are cumbersome, dense, and difficult to fully implement....

Using Cleaning/Maintenance Services or Consultants: Are You Putting Your Company at Unnecessary Risk? By Jennifer Parser

Using an independent contractor or subcontractor whose illegal workforce is on your premises creates an area of vulnerability where Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) can apply sanctions against your company. ICE can deem these workers to be your employees under two circumstances: (1) there are indications of an employer/employee relationship, extremely broadly defined by the amount of control your managers exercise over these workers or (2) if you have actual or “constructive” knowledge that the independent contractor’s workforce is illegal.

Social Media: A Blessing or a Curse for Providers? By Kim Licata

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube…use of social media is growing by leaps and bounds. You can’t go a day without hearing about social media, whether it’s on the television or in a magazine or you are actively using social media. Health-related social media is no different, and for many providers, the potential value of getting their information online is enormous. Before bravely exploring the social media frontier, what do you need to know? After all, it’s a jungle out there!.....