All Blog Posts (1,472)

Instances of cyberattacks that lead to disruption of service, data theft or compromise and even ransomware are making the news headlines of late with alarming frequency. Cyberattacks are carried out because computer systems used in highly regulated companies house very sensitive and valuable information.

Data relating to valuable electronic submissions, clinical information, medical device design control records, legal information, and other such information are usually placed in…

Software as a Service, SaaS, is a way by which applications are delivered over the Net. It provides Software as a Service using just the Internet, and hence the name. SaaS applications are known by varied names. On-demand software, hosted software, and web-based software are some of these.

Where SaaS differs as a method of delivering applications is that there is…

HHS withdrew three proposed rules Tuesday, including one that would have tested a new Medicare Part B drug payment model. Here are six things to know about the proposed rules. 1. CMS withdrew a proposal to test new Medicare Part B drug payment models. Medicare Part B covers prescription drugs administered in a physician’s office or hospital outpatient department. Medicare currently pays physicians and outpatient departments the average sales price of a drug, plus a 6 percent add-on. In March…

When a major security incident, such as the recent massive Equifax data breach, grabs headlines, CEOs start asking more questions about data security.

See Also: Addressing the Identity Risk Factor in the Age…

A proper understanding of the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) is completely necessary for healthcare providers and professionals.  It is among the strongest weapons in the government arsenal for enforcing the federal fraud and abuse laws. Along with Stark II (the federal physician anti-referral law), the Anti-Kickback Statute can be and is being used as the basis for an action brought under the Federal False Claims…

The basic reason for which analytical methods and procedures need to be validated is to ensure that analytical data have consistency, accuracy and reliability. This becomes possible when laboratories employ proper scientific methods and procedures and validate analytical methods and procedures. This is the only means to ensure that the analytical data are reliable, consistent and accurate.

The aim of doing so is to substantiate the suitability of…

The basic reason for which analytical methods and procedures need to be validated is to ensure that analytical data have consistency, accuracy and reliability. This becomes possible when laboratories employ proper scientific methods and procedures and validate analytical methods and procedures. This is the only means to ensure that the analytical data are reliable, consistent and accurate.

The aim of doing so is to substantiate the suitability of…

After natural disasters, HHS sometimes waives certain HIPAA privacy rule requirements. That’s not usually the case after man-made disasters, such as Sunday night’s massacre in Las Vegas, where more than 50 were killed and hundreds were wounded after a gunman opened fire at a music festival.

Because the HIPAA privacy rule already allows information disclosure in certain…

For any product that is being produced using the extrusion process; raw materials and their characteristics are the most important variable.

Grasp of why things happen as they do in the process and why the process and product being produced react as they do, can come about only when there is a basic understanding of the raw materials and how they flow, cook and potentially over-process.

Since different types of ingredients have different properties; each ingredient reacts very…

The major reason for which there are widespread violations of the HIPAA Rules for communicating with patients by unencrypted email and text message is that healthcare providers and Covered Entities and their Business Associates are ignorant of the rules. Although the HIPAA Rules are pretty straightforward and easy to follow; providers and Business Associates who don’t implement them in accordance…

Researchers are seeking about 500 NHS patients to try out a new “universal” vaccine against seasonal flu.

The experimental vaccine works differently from the one currently available, which has to be remade each year based on a “best guess” of what type of flu is likely to be about.

The new jab targets part of the virus that does not change each year.

This means the vaccine should work against human, bird and swine flu,…