1 CE Credit Hour. Live. Interactive Seminar. Group Practice-Focused Content. Sponsored by Person Centered Tech, so registration is at no cost.
Developed by: Roy Huggins, LPC NCC; Liath Dalton
Presented By: Roy Huggins, LPC NCC; Liath Dalton
Course Description
It’s about time again to review what is happening in federal regulations which impact mental health professionals in the group practice setting!
The HIPAA people have put out their second draft of proposed changes to HIPAA’s Privacy Rule. The Federal Health IT agency (called the “ONC”) has a brand-new rule coming up in April 2021 called “Information Blocking,” which is impacting some group practices in oblique ways and others in much more direct ways. Also, HIPAA enforcement has followed some specific patterns in the latter half of 2020 and we believe group practices are more likely than solo practices to be impacted by them.
This presentation for Counselors, Clinical Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Psychologists who lead group practices will explore both recent actions and upcoming changes to federal rules, including HIPAA and the newly-minted Information Blocking Rule (aka “The Open Notes Rule.”)
Attendees will receive a checklist of items to cover when preparing for HIPAA compliance and compliance with the Information Blocking (aka “Open Notes”) Rule.
Reviewing rules and regulations is not everyone’s favorite thing to do, but we try to make it interesting if not fun. We’ll see you there!
Vital Info
April 2, 2021 online via webinar.
- 10:00AM – 11:00AM Pacific
- 11:00AM – Noon Mountain
- Noon – 1:00PM Central
- 1:00PM – 2:00PM Eastern
Cost: No charge. This event is being sponsored by Person Centered Tech, who will give a brief presentation about their services during the 5-minute break.
This event will be live-only. There will be no recorded replay.
Educational Objectives
- Describe how the proposed changes to HIPAA’s Privacy Rule will affect mental health standards of care around disclosing client information and providing releases of information
- Prepare clinicians to comply with the Information Blocking rule while also preventing harm to clients
- Describe the HIPAA Right of Access Initiative and other reasons for recent HIPAA enforcement actions
- Create a plan for being able to demonstrate partial or full compliance with HIPAA
Syllabus
- Selected portions of proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule
- Information sharing
- Releases of information
- The Information Blocking, aka “Open Notes,” Rule
- Relevance to clinical practice
- How the rule will impact practices depending on the software tools they use
- Resources for learning about research on Open Notes
- How to be HIPAA compliant and avoid enforcement actions
- The most common reasons for HIPAA enforcement actions and how they are likely to show up in group mental health practices
- How to be HIPAA compliant both individually and organizationally
References
- Information Blocking and the ONC Health IT Certification Program: Extension of Compliance Dates and Timeframes in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, 85 FR 70064 (November 4, 2020) (to be codified at 45 CFR parts 170, 171)
- US Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2006). HIPAA Administrative Simplification. Washington, DC: Author.
- US Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2013). HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule. Washington, DC: Author.
- US Dept. of Health and Human Services. (2020). Proposed Modifications to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement. Retrieved January 08, 2021, from https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/hhs-ocr-hipaa-nprm.pdf
Presented/Developed By
Roy Huggins, LPC NCC, is a counselor in private practice who also directs Person-Centered Tech. Roy worked as a professional Web developer for 7 years before changing paths, and makes it his mission to grow clinicians’ understanding of the Internet and other electronic communications mediums for the future of our practices and our professions.
Roy is an adjunct instructor at the Portland State University Counseling program where he teaches Ethics, and is a member of the Zur Institute advisory board. He has acted as a subject matter expert on HIPAA, security and clinical use of technology for Counseling licensure boards and both state and national mental health professional organizations. He has co-authored or authored 2 book chapters, and he routinely consults with mental health colleagues on ethical and practical issues surrounding tech in clinical practice. He served for 5 years on the board of the Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association and then the Oregon Counseling Association as the Technology Committee Chair.
He really likes this stuff.
Course Co-Presenters
Liath Dalton is PCT’s deputy director and a co-owner. Liath is especially passionate about helping therapists be resourced and supported in navigating the security compliance process and identifying the solutions and processes that meet the particular needs of their practices. Liath’s consultation area of expertise is focused on selecting the right combination of services and tech that not only meet the legal-ethical needs of mental health practices, but also the functionality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness needs as well.
Program Notices
Accuracy, Utility, and Risks Statement: This program discusses strategies for complying with HIPAA and some other US Federal rules. It may not include information on all applicable state laws. Misapplication of the materials, or errors in the materials, could result in data breaches or non-compliance with applicable laws or ethics codes.
Conflicts of Interest: Person Centered Tech Inc. is sponsoring this event and will give a brief commercial presentation during the break.
Commercial Support: None.
This course is subject to our cancellation/refund policy and complaint policy.