*Is working at home a threat to HIPAA compliance?
*Documenting medical necessity

Online processing at home could be an even bigger risk than transporting hard records. How the information is actually processed is a big concern. Is the home computer functioning as a "terminal" not storing any information, or is it a "client" storing information for processing? Even a "thin" client may store and display some information it receives, like when a browser stores a temporary copy of visited Web pages for later access. Your information technology department or software vendor can tell you if you need to address this problem.

If a computer stores patient information during processing, you could be opening the door to unwanted disclosures. HIPAA requires you to assess the risks involved before allowing work from home. Remember, electronic information can be disseminated widely and rapidly.

If you do allow online access from home, protective measures like password security, limiting access to applicable records, clearing the screen when not using the information, not allowing anyone to see the screen, and a logout procedure will keep your records a little safer.

Additionally, the following policies apply to online users at home:

This question answered by Marion Neal, President of HIPAASimple.com.
marion@hipaasimple.com

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WE NEED YOUR EXPERTISE!

Join the Compliance Monitor Team! Compliance Monitor Q&A relies upon experts just like you to answer pressing compliance questions. We're looking for experts in coding, billing, documentation, HIPAA, EMTALA, Stark, laboratories, and many other areas of compliance.

If you are interested in answering questions from your peers, please e-mail Compliance Monitor editor Kate Alvarez.

Tips, examples, and recommendations for planning your compliance focus areas and audit topics for the coming year

HCPro can help you use the 2004 Work Plan to your best advantage. Attend the 90-minute live audioconference, "2004 OIG Initiatives: How to Get Ready and Stay in Compliance." Here is what Andy Navarro, Legal Counsel at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, TX, had to say about last year's HCPro program on the 2003 Work Plan for Hospitals:

"Excellent program! This is a must for compliance professionals!"

This program will be held on 12/10/2003. To register, or learn more, click here or call 800/650-6787 and mention source code EZ23867H.

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Click here to take our quick survey on your financial policies and procedures.

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To find out more on measuring privacy program effectiveness, order the pay-per-view article "Strategies for measuring privacy compliance effectiveness." The cost is $10. Subscribers to the online version of Health Care Auditing Strategies have free access to this article. Subscribers to the print edition can find it in their November issues.

A $30 steal.
You can read this article and much more in the November issue of Health Care Auditing Strategies. Your cost: Five stories for only $30. You'll also learn how to audit the charge capture process, how to follow the government's lead for this year's audits, and you can check out a sample audit program for your organization's research costs.

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Top prosecutor gives practical strategies for pharma compliance

Help your pharmaceutical reps meet their sales goals while staying in compliance. Get your team together and listen to the HCPro 90-minute live audioconference, "Successful Pharma Sales: How to Meet Sales Goals and Prevent Fraudulent Activity."

This program will be held on Thursday, December 4, 2003. Can't get your team together? We'll also be offering this program on tape, so everyone can listen and learn at their convenience!

To register, or learn more, click here or call 800/650-6787. Be sure to mention source code EZ23584B.

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A: To read the answer to this question, click here.

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To submit your answer, go to the Question of the Week at Complianceinfo.com.

Here are the answers to the last survey:

When will your organization begin auditing its HIPAA compliance program?

• Within the next six months: 68%
• In 7 to 12 months: 17%
• In 12+ months: 9%
• We do not plan to audit: 6%

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Network with your audit colleagues

"Audit Talk" is a new, moderated chat forum that members can use to post messages or questions for their peers 24-hours-a-day. "Audit Talk" offers a free forum to network, share ideas, and solve problems for those in the audit industry. Getting involved is easy. To subscribe, just send your request to this e-mail: owner-audit_talk@hcpro.com.

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Share the news

You've been benefiting from our informative e-mail newsletter, so why not pass on this resource to your peers? Sign up a colleague and get $20 off your next purchase on HCPro's Healthcare Marketplace!

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Send your comments and questions about Compliance Monitor Q&A to:

Kate Alvarez
Editorial Assistant
kalvarez@hcpro.com