Compliance news and information

Health insurers face a new requirement to rapidly communicate electronically with providers whether a patient has coverage and how much treatment will cost the patient in co-pays and deductibles.
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Northwestern University has agreed to pay nearly $3 million to settle a whistle-blower's allegations that a cancer researcher formerly at the school was misusing federal grant money.
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Hospitals—even those with loads of experience using health information technology—are still having a tough time using electronic health-record systems to gather and report clinical quality measures, according to a new report summarizing a study by the American Hospital Association.
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The hedge fund operated by embattled billionaire Steven A. Cohen made hundreds of millions of dollars illegally and allowed unprecedented and pervasive insider trading to go unchecked for years, federal prosecutors said in an indictment unsealed Thursday.
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Industry groups and privacy advocates on Thursday were near agreement on voluntary guidelines for mobile apps that should make it easier for consumers to know what personal information is getting sucked from their smartphone or tablet and passed along to marketers.
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The U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Florida on Monday, accusing the state of unnecessarily institutionalizing about 200 disabled children in nursing homes and cutting services that would allow them to receive care at home.
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Hospitals have fretted for years over how to make sure doctors, nurses and staff keep their hands clean, but with only limited success. Now, some are turning to technology — beepers, buzzers, lights and tracking systems that remind workers to sanitize, and chart those who don't.
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Huge list prices charged by hospitals are drawing increased attention, but a federal law meant to limit what the most financially vulnerable patients can be billed doesn't seem to be making much difference.
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A confluence of events signals HHS will launch its anticipated healthcare reform law education and outreach campaign next week.
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Hospitals are self-auditing to make sure they properly navigate the “gray zone” of medical necessity.
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