RISC Management and Consulting

Identity theft and identity fraud are similar in that they pertain to all types of crime where someone wrongfully obtain and use another person’s information without their consent. The information is usually used for economic gain involving fraud and deception. Fingerprints or other biometrics are unique to you and cannot be given to someone else for their own use, however your sensitive information such as your Social Security Number, date of birth, etc. can be used by others to apply for credit. In the United States and Canada, there are numerous reports of unauthorized people removing funds from innocent citizens without their knowledge. The impression is lasting from acquiring vast debts and being accused of crimes that they did not commit. Lastly, the out of pocket financial loss from trying to restore their reputation and correcting erroneous information created by criminals can be exhausting mentally, physically and financially.

A good example of identity theft was recounted by the convicted felon who incurred over $100,000 credit card debt, obtained a federal home loan, and bought homes, motorcycles, and handguns in the victim’s name. This convicted felon even called the victim and taunted him. The victim and his wife spent $15,000 from their own funds trying to restore their credit and reputation. The process took over four years and in the meantime the guilty party only served a brief sentence and did not have to pay restitution to the victim for the harm he had caused. This was one of many cases that induced Congress in 1998 to create an updated federal offense of identity theft. Earlier last month, both the White House and Congress responded by drafting a legislation to undertake the nation’s increasing data security challenges called the Data Security and Breach Notification Act.

Here is a short video created by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp_8cvNm_vE&feature=youtu.be

RISC and VA in HIMSS15

References

Congress.gov. (2015, January 13). Legislation: S.177. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/senate-bill/177

U.S.Dept. of Justice. (n.d.). Identity theft and identity fraud. Retrieved from http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/websites/idtheft.html

New rules expected to arrive sometime this spring should reduce the 2015 Meaningful Use reporting period to just 90 days from the previously required full year. Many hospitals and health IT organizations were clamoring for a change to reduce the reporting burden for eligible providers and hospitals.

This change and the other proposals listed below will potentially help many providers who have already made steps towards implementing EHR systems but were not capable of reporting for the full year.

Realigning hospital reporting periods to the calendar year to allow eligible hospitals more time to incorporate 2014 Edition software into their workflows and to better align with other quality program.
Modifying other aspects of the programs to match long-term goals, reduce complexity and lessen providers’ reporting burden

The new rules are a welcome reaction to a letter written to CMS this past September co-signed by healthcare industry heavyweights CHIME, HIMSS, MGMA, AHA, and the AMA, urging the agency to address 2015 reporting period requirements. While adoption of EHRs has risen steadily since the first year of the EHR Incentive Program, many providers are struggling to provide all the necessary information in the time frame required. The letter proposed that HHS should “provide for a shortened, 90-day EHR reporting period in 2015, which would give time for providers to continue their transition without having to drop out of the program.”

The new rule “would be intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other related concerns in 2015,” wrote Patrick Conway, MD, chief medical officer at CMS, in a Jan. 29 blog post announcing the agency’s decision. “It would also be intended to propose changes reflective of developments in the industry and progress toward program goals achieved since the program began in 2011.”

Source: http://blog.cms.gov/2015/01/29/cms-intends-to-modify-requirements-for-meaningful-use/