W.J. Flynn and Associates affilliate KnowHIPAA.com provides HIPAA compliance tools and services to employers and business associates. For more information go to www.KnowHIPAA.com

Services include:

• HIPAA Privacy and Security Consulting
• HIPAA Privacy and Security Manual for Employer Sponsored Health Plans
• HIPAA Privacy and Security Manual for Business Associates

HIPAA Breach Notification Requirements

The Department of Health and Human Services has published an interim final rule regarding the breach notification rules. For details download our summary of the new rules here.

On August 24th, 2009 HHS published interim final regulations on the breach notification requirements contained in the HITECH Act.  The requirements go into effect only 30 days after their publication.  Covered Entities and Business Associates must act quickly to implement the neccesary policies and procedures to comply with these new rules..

Breach Notification Highlights

• Individuals must be notified in writing after many forms of improper use of their PHI
• If a breach involves more than 500 individuals HHS and the media must be notified immedialty
• An annual summary of all breaches must be provided to HHS regardless of the number of individuals effected
• HHS will publish a list of breaches on a publ;icaly avaialble website

Click here for a summary of the new rules.

A number of our clients have contacted our firm for advice on communicating with their employees relative to the previously called "Swine Flu" or now, H1N1 Novel Influenza. In light of the many questions we have received, we thought it might be helpful to provide a  resource site from the Minnesota Department of Health for your review. You can access the MDH site at: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/idepc/diseases/flu/swine/basics.htm.

Our firm's current advice is that it is best to provide some level of communication to your employees assuring them that you (your organization) are closely monitoring the situation and that you are prepared to respond appropriately, depending on where this situation heads. In the meantime encouraging your employees to practice good personal hygiene, as the MDH site indicates, looks like the best approach to dealing with the situation at this time.

W.J. Flynn and Assocaites, LLC has released the 2009/2010 version of the Minnesota Physician Group & Medical Clinic Benefits and Compensation Survey.  This year over 70 clinics and physician groups from across the state participated.  Survey participants have received their copy of the results of the survey at no cost thanks to the sponsors of this years survey:

• The MMIC Group
• Lurie Besikoff Lapidus & Company, LLP
• Corporate Health Systems
• Seven Hills Benefit Partners

The survey results are avaialble for purchase for $295 by contacting Bob Radecki, W.J. Flynn & Associates, LLC at 651-287-2371 or bob.radecki at wjflynnandassociates.com

Congress has expanded the COBRA subsidy from 9 to 15 months and extended eligibiliy through Feb. 28, 2010.  Click here for more details.

The IRS has released IRS Notice 2009-27 which contains additional guidance on the COBRA subsidy rules.  Notably, the Q&A section of the notice includes nine questions dealing with the definition of "involuntary termination".  A copy of the notice can be found on the DOL COBRA subsidy website www.dol.gov/COBRA or at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-09-27.pdf.

 The Economic Stimulus Bill singed into law by President Obama on February 17th includes a COBRA premium subsidy for eligible individuals  who have lost their job since 9/1/08.  Employer must act quickly to comply with the new rules.  Employer must send a special notice and the premium assistance is available for coverage as early as March 1st.

Attend the W.J. Flynn and Associates COBRA Subsidy Webinar to learn more:

• Who is eligible for the subsidy?
• How will employers recover premiums paid?
• What are new new special notice requirements?
• Much More

All attendees will receive model notices and a guide to complying with the new rules