SMS HIPAA Central

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: David Rosenthal
Health Care Compliance Strategies, Inc.
516-933-2000 phone
dmr@hccs.com

HIPAA TRAINING COURSEWARE RELEASED BY HCCS IN UPDATED MULTIMEDIA FORMAT

-- For educating healthcare employees on the HIPAA regulations

-- Eliminates The Stress Of Required HIPAA Training

-- Browser-based with three Viewing Modes, sensitive to bandwidth and computer limitations

http://www.hccs.com

JERICHO NY USA -- Nov. 6, 2002 -- HCCS (Health Care Compliance Strategies, Inc.) today announced the release of an updated version of "HIPAA Compliance," multimedia training courseware for educating healthcare employees on the HIPAA regulations. The new version of the courseware contains the final privacy rule and offers user selectable content delivery modes.

Developed by leading HIPAA experts, the software combines video scenarios, audio, text and interactive exercises, to create an engaging and cost effective method of educating healthcare employees on the requirements of HIPAA.

Each employee can select a viewing mode that will match the capabilities of their computer and Internet connection. The modes are Full Multimedia (video/audio), Slideshow with Audio, or Text and graphics.

HCCS courseware is currently in use at hundreds of healthcare facilities nationwide with over 200,000 registered users. Prestigious organizations such as The Greater New York Hospital Association, The American Academy of Ophthalmic Executives, IBM Mindspan Division, and Computer Horizons Corporation represent HCCS courseware to their members and clients.

TRAIN ALL HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES:

The HCCS HIPAA Compliance courseware is designed for all healthcare employees mandated by government rules requiring HIPAA training. This includes all staff at hospitals, health systems, long term care, home health care, ambulatory care, physician practices and groups, health plans, managed care organizations, HMOs, pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare entities.

COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING TO COMPLY WITH THE MANDATE:

HCCS' "HIPAA Compliance" program provides a comprehensive overview of the HIPAA regulations, from 30 minutes to 2 hours of content, depending upon the employee's job responsibilities. From the introductory HIPAA Awareness module, through the job-function-specific Privacy, Security and Electronic Transactions modules, the course offers general and detailed rules, procedures, safeguards, suggestions and exercises through video scenarios, interactive exercises, and extensive background material.

AUTOMATICALLY KEPT UP-TO-DATE:

The courseware contains the final privacy regulations and is automatically kept up-to-date.

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TOPICS COVERED INCLUDE:

-- Overview of HIPAA Administrative Simplification

-- Introduction of key Administrative Simplification concepts

-- Covered Entities

-- Protected Health Information (PHI)

-- Notice of Privacy Practices

-- Privacy and Security Policy and Procedure Development

-- Reasonable Safeguards

-- Password Protections

-- Electronic Transaction Formats

-- Code Sets

-- Enforcement and Penalties for Violations

-- Reviews definitions of Privacy Rule key terms

-- PHI and IIHI

-- De-identification

-- Privacy Notice information

-- Routine and non-routine uses and disclosures of PHI

-- Authorization Form requirements and when they are needed

-- Rights to PHI for unemancipated minors

-- Patient right to access, inspect and/or copy personal PHI

-- Requests by patients to amend PHI

-- Accounting of non-routine disclosures

-- Requirements for Business Associates contracts

-- Liability for Business Associates misuse of PHI

-- Security rule introduction

-- Administrative procedures

-- Security policies & procedures

-- Security issues

-- Security training requirements

-- Physical Safeguards

-- Computer system and facility security and control, and workstation security

-- Technical Security Services & Mechanisms

-- Electronic signatures overview

-- Electronic Transactions Introduction Sub-Module

-- Implementation deadlines

-- Eight transaction format categories

-- Implementation Suggestions

-- Importance of information flow

-- Examples of information that should be included in the process

=======================

MEASUREMENT & ACCREDITATION:

Each section contains multimedia scenarios that demonstrate compliance risk areas and solutions. Short multiple choice quizzes at the end of each module measure each employee's comprehension of content. Completion certificates are provided to each employee and CME/CEU credits are available.

SPECIAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES FEATURE:

A special feature of the HIPAA Compliance courseware allows for the facility to include its own policy and procedures documents in the courseware. Organizations can require their employees using the courseware to "electronically sign" as having read and reviewed them. Proof of signature is provided and documented for the administration for every employee.

UPDATES & REPORTING:

The courseware is another in a series of "Connected Learning" products from HCCS. Clients using HCCS Connected Learning products receive frequent automated updates to the courses as regulations, documents, legal rulings, settlements and other new information becomes available. Furthermore, the courses allow trainees to input questions during training for a two-way dialogue with the administration. The HCCS course also provides detailed monthly reporting for measuring completion and effectiveness of the training.

HCCS courseware uses multimedia and interactive elements to keep users engaged and informed. Full screen video with professional actors dramatizing real, relevant compliance issues keeps the attention level high. Completion certificates and CME/CEU credits are available.

Supplementary features include a cross-referenced index, extensive background documents with all the formal government regulations, FAQs, checklists, sample forms and companion training materials. Additional legal language HIPAA forms and policy and procedures templates are offered for additional purchase.

HCCS' other multimedia compliance training programs, "Fraud Awareness -- Professional Compliance" and "Fraud Awareness -- Corporate Compliance," are designed to educate physicians and employees in hospitals and health systems on OIG Regulatory compliance, including Stark Laws I and II, documentation and coding issues and other fraud risk areas. These courses minimize the risk of fines, fraud, waste and abuse in an organization or practice.

The HCCS course "Physician Office Compliance -- Proper Reimbursements and Reduced Risk," is available for small group practices of 1-6 physicians.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

For additional information on HCCS, visit its website at: http://www.hccs.com or phone: 877-933-4227

David M. Rosenthal
Health Care Compliance Strategies, Inc.
333 Jericho Turnpike Ste 230
Jericho NY USA 11753-1154
516-933-2000 phone
516-933-2093 fax
dmr@hccs.com
http://www.hccs.com

Please forward this news announcement to your friends & colleagues who might find it useful.

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