While the primary purpose of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is to enhance health insurance accessibility for people changing jobs or leaving the workforce, provisions in the act impose privacy and security requirements. HIPAA gave the federal government the ability to mandate how health care organizations and medical practices maintain and transmit an individual's personal information. Every neurosurgical practice must comply with these requirements, following a mandated schedule.

Visit this area often for the latest compliance information.

Current News

• Top Story on HIPAA From American Medical News
  Two-week payment penalty threatens as HIPAA claims deadline looms
  Beginning July 1, doctors will see a reimbursement delay if they or their claims
  processor isn't complying.

• Now Available - AANS Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Manual
  This electronic manual explains the regulations, provides you with over 140 pages of a step-by-step approach to understanding, implementing and complying with the HIPAA Security Rule. To facilitate compliance with the Security Rule, this manual includes detailed checklists, “how to” guides and sample documents to ensure compliance with HIPAA. To order your copies now call (888) 566-AANS (2267) or visit the Online Marketplace.

• Medicare Announces Plan to Accept HIPAA Non-Compliant Electronic Transactions After October 16 Compliance Deadline
  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a contingency plan to accept noncompliant electronic transactions after the October 16, 2003 compliance deadline. This plan will ensure continued processing of claims from thousands of providers who will not be able to meet the deadline and otherwise would have had their Medicare claims rejected.

• HIPAA Security Standard and Modifications to the Transaction and Code Set Standard
  The CMS published in the Federal Register the HIPAA Security Standard and Modifications to the Transaction and Code Set Standard on February 20, 2003.

AANS News

• DHHS OCR Issues New Guidance On HIPAA Privacy Rule
  On December 4, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued additional guidance on the HIPAA Privacy Rule as modified August 14, 2002. The guidance is broken into fourteen sections, which discuss various key aspects of the Rule, including incidental uses and disclosures, the minimum necessary standard, business associates, marketing, and research. In the document, OCR also provides new guidance on disclosures for public health activities and disclosures for workers' compensation purposes. Each section includes background information and a discussion of how the Rule works, followed by a list of frequently asked questions regarding the particular segment of the Rule.
  
  
• Privacy Rules: Second HIPAA "Administrative Simplification" Compliance Date Nears AANS Bulletin, Fall 2002
  
  
• Computer Ease: Your Handy Handheld and HIPAA -- Should Patient Data on Your PDA Concern You?AANS Bulletin, Fall 2002
  
  
• The HIPAA Train is Here: Getting on Board Now can Help Your Practice AANS Bulletin, Summer 2002
  
  
• New Privacy Standards: Impact on Neurosurgeons will be profound AANS Bulletin, Spring 2001
  
  
• Important HIPAA Deadlines

Other News & Information

• Healthcare Guidelines for Online Communication
  Healthcare guidelines for online communication have been developed by an eRisk Working Group for Healthcare, a consortium of professional liability carriers, medical societies and state board representatives.
  
  
• HIPAA Transaction Extension
  Statement Of Ruben J. King-Shaw, Jr., Chief Operating Officer, Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services on HIPAA Transaction Extensions

AANS Products & Services

• AANS HIPAA Privacy Manual
  A How-To Guide for Your Practice
  
  
• Managing Coding & Reimbursement Challenges: Course Schedule
  These often sold-out courses not only teach neurosurgeons, their nurses and office staffs how to code accurately to maximize and expedite reimbursement, but also to implement two items practices need to comply with HIPAA requirements.

Valuable Links

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS):
  www.cms.hhs.gov
  
  
• CMS general information regarding HIPAA:
  www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa
  
  
• Extension form & instructions:
  www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/ascaform.asp

Other Compliance Programs

• AANS MediKey Program -- a complete compliance program partnered with preferred member rates on billing and errors omissions insurance.