This article is
basically about the regulatory bodies and agencies governing IT healthcare in
the United States. For instance, the OCR (Office for Civil rights) is
responsible for enforcing the HIPAA. They are basically in charge of auditing
the various healthcare providers and their associates and charging fine for
those who are non-compliant. CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services),
in partnership with ONC (Office of the National Coordinator), is both
responsible as a regulator and resource for healthcare IT compliance.
The List of Regulatory Bodies and Accreditation Agencies Governing the Healthcare
IT Compliance
Here are some of
the agencies that play an essential role in healthcare IT compliance.
You may be surprised to know that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is
also playing a part in managing the IT healthcare industry.
HIPPA Compliance and OCR
The OCR is
basically responsible for enforcing the HIPAA. They are essentially
investigating violations in terms of privacy and giving penalties for
healthcare providers that are proven non-compliant. Before enacting the HITECH
Act, the OCR will only be investigating an entity when someone filed an
official complaint against a particular agency. But with the HITECH Act, the
OCR is now mandated to complete periodic auditing of the healthcare providers.
They are also tasked to guarantee that the providers will stay in compliance. Aside from holding the
entities accountable, they are responsible for publishing the updated rules and
guidelines on healthcare privacy. They should also help healthcare organizations
to become or to stay HIPAA compliant. They should provide guidance and training
materials to the organization.
CMS Audit
The CMS is another
division of the HHS (Health and Human Services). They are basically in charge of
the administration of the Medicaid, Medicare, and the health insurance program
designed for the children. Like OCR, many things happened with CMS after the
enactment of the HITECH Act. The law is intended to advance the field of
healthcare by incorporating the different IT innovations. According to the
latest rules, the medical facility that fails to comply will receive a penalty
by reducing their reimbursement. On the other hand, healthcare facilities that
are in compliance will receive
incentives. The CMS Audit will
cover security and privacy regulation, documentation of EHR, and implementing
the incentive program.
ONC
The ONC is the central
entity in charge of coordinating the efforts in implementing the use of healthcareIT nationwide. They have been on the front line of encouraging various
healthcare providers to transfer from the manual practice to the digital
process. They are also legally responsible for accreditation health products,
applying standards, and assigning leadership towards the development and
coordination of the health policy.
Finally, the FDA also
plays a role in ensuring healthcare IT compliance. They are responsible for
regulating the efficacy of medical devices and x-ray machines. They are also
accountable for approving the IT product before being officially released in
the market. These agencies responsible for safeguarding compliance ensure that
the industry offers top-notch service to the people.
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