Providers have a lot on their plates these days, and hospital departments are adapting to meet the new environment as dictated by the coronavirus pandemic.  The virus, officially known as COVID-19 (CV for our purposes herein), has caused the deaths more than 35,000 people world-wide.  As of this writing, March 30, the United States has registered 143,000 confirmed cases of the disease, making America the new epicenter of CV.  President Trump has extended the government’s guidelines on social distancing by another 2 weeks—to the end of April—with computer modeling estimating the peak of the virus occurring around mid-April.

A horse, a horse!  My kingdom for a horse!   That familiar phrase, first uttered in Act V of Shakespeare’s Richard III, reminds us that sometimes seemingly unimportant or everyday items can become downright invaluable given the right situation.  Trading an entire kingdom for a single steed is quite the bargain if your very life or life’s calling is contingent upon that particular animal at that particular moment.  That is the situation we now face in the healthcare environment. Because of the transmission capabilities of the coronavirus (COVID-19), our medical personnel need special masks and other personal protection equipment (PPE) to keep from contracting the virus themselves.  Because COVID-19 patients often experience pneumonia-like symptoms, devices such as ventilators are in desperate demand.  More patient beds may be needed, as well.

The COVID-19 virus is unfolding so rapidly and the impact is so pervasive that many hospitals are struggling to respond.  We have received a number of inquiries from our clients and there is a great deal of concern, to be sure. While events are moving rapidly and it is impossible to predict the future, we want to share what we believe is a practical checklist of issues every facility should work through as they prepare for the inevitable.

Since the coronavirus has, for the last few weeks, accounted for the top 10 or so daily stories on multiple media platforms, it seems reasonable that we at MiraMed Global Services bring you periodic articles dealing with this growing concern and certified pandemic. According to Yahoo News, the coronavirus (nCoV) is now in 100 countries, has caused another plunge in the markets, and is responsible for at least 22 deaths in the United States as of this writing (Mar 9). Major events around the world have been canceled, and some airports now look like ghost towns. There is no doubt that people are panicking—with fights over toilet paper and price-gouging of medical masks now being reported. So, what is the real threat of this virus and what can hospitals, in particular, do to prepare for and treat coronavirus patients?

The month of February was not kind to the patient privacy movement. While laws, such as HIPAA, were written to promote the security of protected health information (PHI), the advent and proliferation of electronic communication and data storage have all too often undercut the government's aim to keep patient information private. There were a number of breaches of health records this past month at hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare organizations across the country, which caused a great deal of consternation in multiple municipalities.

America’s biggest retailer is making a push into the healthcare space; and, with their unlimited resources and market omnipresence, a new synergy may be in the offing.  Walmart—the world's largest chain of retail stores—is throwing its hat into the health delivery ring and appears ready to become a serious player in that sector. 

As hospitals and health systems continue to integrate electronic medical record (EMR) systems into their facilities, it might be helpful for these institutions to know a few facts about two of America's top EMR behemoths. It should come as no surprise that Epic and Cerner continue to dominate the electronic health information market. They are by far two of the best-known companies offering EMR solutions; and, though other up-and-coming companies offer similar systems and services, it may be a while before they can catch up to the competition.

An Epic Struggle: EMR Giant Enlists 60 Hospitals Against HHS
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), has promulgated a Proposed Rule designed to make it easier for patients to access their electronic health records. This sounds reasonable enough. Who could possibly be against this objective? The answer is no one, but there is strong opposition to some of the requirements found in the Rule that would negatively impact costs and calendars. In other words, while everyone agrees with the overarching goal, many are concerned with the government's specific mandates in meeting that goal.

It's a world where techno-wizardry abounds. It's a place of unparalleled digital progress; but with that progress comes unprecedented dependence—dependence upon software and digital networks and electronic devices. It is the very nature of this dependence that presents the inherent dangers that we now see cropping up all around us. In that sense, no one is safe. The American military is a good example of this. Because it relies so heavily on digital technology, it must devote enormous budgetary resources to defending these capabilities from potential cyber-attacks. Like it or not, this is the world we have decided to build; and, because of that, nations and organizations and individuals must be on guard against the relentless threat of the hacker.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has just announced that it has recovered $2.6 billion in judgments and settlements involving cases of alleged healthcare fraud during 2019. This marks 10 consecutive years that the federal government has obtained more than $2 billion from actions involving such cases. Last year's recoveries reflect an upward trend in recent years in the dollar amounts garnered by the government in healthcare fraud actions, with $2.1 billion being collected in 2017 and $2.5 billion in 2018. In addition to the $2.6 billion in recoveries for 2019, the DOJ said it obtained millions more in additional monies for state Medicaid programs.