HIPAA Expansion: Ensure your practice meets the law’s new provisions

On Feb. 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (commonly referred to as ARRA or the Stimulus Bill) which includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. The HITECH Act includes significant changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) that affect otolaryngologists and other health care providers, as well as those who process or work with health care information. Below is a summary of how these new provisions, many of which go into effect this Feb. 17, will affect your practice.

Medicare Meltdown: Congress Seeks Payment Formula Fix

Presdient Obama signed legislationlast month to temporarily prevent a 12.2 percent Medicare payment cut scheduled to take effect Jan. 1. The freeze lasts until Feb. 28, during which Congress is expected to come up with a permanent solution to what some consider a flawed payment system.

Incorporating Home Sleep Studies into the Diagnostic and Treatment Armamentarium

SAN DIEGO-A change in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) policy for national carrier determination on coverage for continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has created an opportunity for otolaryngologists who want to pursue incorporation of home sleep studies to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) into their practices.

Update on Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergies

With the rising prevalence of food allergies and their associated potentially fatal consequences, understanding the pathophysiology of food allergies along with their diagnosis and treatment remains a critical part of otolaryngologic practice.

Trauma Care and the Otolaryngologist: Roles, Expectations, and Challenges

SAN DIEGO-Trauma care in the United States is on or heading toward life support. Although this may sound hyperbolic, it points to a need, seen by many otolaryngologists and other surgeons, to raise awareness of the growing gap between the numbers of people in need of trauma services and the accessibility of getting those services.

Product Watch

Each month, Product Watch offers readers the latest information on new and innovative products for otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons.