Author Topic: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!  (Read 6647 times)

PMRNC

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BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« on: March 18, 2014, 04:38:06 PM »
And this my friends is why I WILL not answer coding questions. 
Even when you are NOT asking or sharing information that contains PHI, you put yourself and your clients practice at risk.

http://www.karenzupko.com/downloads/AJO-Coding%20BoardsORConfessionals_0314.pdf

This article even tells participants in these online groups/forums to see if the sponsor of the forum or list serve has E/O insuance to protect from liability. 

Along similar lines, THIS Is why I also NEVER ever give out my contracts, policies/procedures and compliance plan <shudder>
Linda Walker
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shanbull

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #1 on: March 19, 2014, 12:30:00 PM »
Hmm this is very interesting, I recently joined a forum that requires every person to include the name of their practice, # of providers and location in their signature. Re-thinking my membership at that site now.

PMRNC

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2014, 12:50:23 PM »
Quote
Hmm this is very interesting, I recently joined a forum that requires every person to include the name of their practice, # of providers and location in their signature. Re-thinking my membership at that site now.

REALLY? Oh no way.

Linda Walker
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One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

Michele

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2014, 02:02:58 PM »
Wow.....Red Flags!!!
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Merry

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2014, 02:57:12 PM »
Shannon.. Did you read their privacy statement?  Agree.. Red flags

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2014, 02:57:12 PM »

PMRNC

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #5 on: March 19, 2014, 04:40:43 PM »
What forum are we talking about..??

Not for nothing but if you read that article, it talks again about some common things we wouldn't normally think of .  If you post to a list serve, and your information can LEAD to your provider/client or even your own billing company.. could cause some real legal messes.
On another list serve I am on, there have been just 2 posts in last 3 months that actually contained downloadable files to a patient's PHI!!!! Granted it wasn't done on purpose, but the law is pretty clear in NOT excusing ignorance. But this article actually makes you think of all the things you can land in legal trouble for even without posting PHI. Something as simple as saying : "MY client has been miscoding something for a while..."   or "We've been coding with modifier 59, what modifier should we code to get paid." something as simple as that question COULD link you and connect you as well as put liability on the forum owners and/or sponsors as well as those answering! What about all the same questions asked all the time.. "MY provider has been waiving copays, is this legal"  It only takes ONE link from the poster to the provider.   Reading that has certainly impacted me and the way I will be answering and/or asking things on any list serve or discussion forum.
Linda Walker
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shanbull

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #6 on: March 19, 2014, 05:11:57 PM »
It's this forum: http://www.ecwusers.com/index.php/forums/

I joined it because eClinicalWorks has essentially abandoned its own ideas forum and they have an eClinicalWorks staff member at this forum who can be reached if we're frustrated with tech support not doing things (which happens a lot).

This is the entirety of the privacy policy:

Quote
Privacy

We reserve the right to disclose your identity, your postings and any other information we may know about you in the event of any complaint or legal action arising from any Materials posted by you, or in the event we believe such disclosure is necessary to comply with any law, legal process or government order, to protect and defend our rights or property or enforce these Terms, or to protect the personal safety of other members of these Forums or the public.

Your contact information will otherwise never be sold or given away for commercial purposes.

The information and other Materials you post or transmit on the Forums may be viewed by any Forum visitors. Please do not post any private information unless you want it to be available publicly. Never assume that you are completely anonymous and cannot be identified by your posts.


I'm guessing they have not updated it at all recently because of course you can't assume you're anonymous if you're required to attach your real identity to every post.

eClinicalWorks does endorse this forum:
http://www.eclinicalworks.com/about-us-why-eclinicalworks.htm
http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/eclinicalworks-and-its-clients-make-use-independent-advice-forum
« Last Edit: March 19, 2014, 05:20:45 PM by shanbull »

PMRNC

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #7 on: March 19, 2014, 05:19:31 PM »
Hmmm they might be ok because it's a private forum, nothing can be read w/out registration and approval. But I can see NOT wanting to give all that information, as I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable. I was just making point that we could see forums like this one and others disappear with liability issues. I know I'm gong to be tightening up privacy issues in my networking groups as an administrator. As a visitor of a forum, I've always been pretty careful in what I answer and what I give out. 
Linda Walker
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shanbull

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #8 on: March 19, 2014, 05:24:38 PM »
Hmmm they might be ok because it's a private forum, nothing can be read w/out registration and approval.

I know too many people who can get around this kind of thing to believe this security is anything more than fluff. And we've all found out over the past year that the government can see anything on the internet, private or not. I think it's best to just assume anything we do online can be read by unintended audiences and traced back to us.

PMRNC

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2014, 05:44:51 PM »
Quote
I know too many people who can get around this kind of thing to believe this security is anything more than fluff. And we've all found out over the past year that the government can see anything on the internet, private or not. I think it's best to just assume anything we do online can be read by unintended audiences and traced back to us.

IMAGINE when EHR compliance date comes around ( I don't think it will for a while).. We have seen the CIA, FBI, whole plane's now disappearing and we want our personal health information on a HUB?? LOL.   Seriously that should scare EVERYONE.. I don't trust our government at all in regards to privacy!!  The article was mean to make BOTH administrators/owners/sponsors of forums aware of their legal liability as well as us simple folk posting, sad it's come to that but it has.
Every coding question asked and answered is a target.

Linda Walker
Practice Managers Resource & Networking Community
One Stop Resources, Education and Networking for Medical Billers
www.billerswebsite.com

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #9 on: March 19, 2014, 05:44:51 PM »

Michele

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2014, 12:21:31 PM »
I can see NOT wanting to give all that information, as I certainly wouldn't feel comfortable.

I would definitely be uncomfortable giving out that info.  Not because I am hiding anything.  I am always careful in any responses I put on any forum, or other internet community.  However, I would want to know WHY do they want that information??  Maybe it's just to cover themselves??   
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Michele

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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2014, 12:34:37 PM »

IMAGINE when EHR compliance date comes around ( I don't think it will for a while).. We have seen the CIA, FBI, whole plane's now disappearing and we want our personal health information on a HUB?? LOL.   Seriously that should scare EVERYONE.. I don't trust our government at all in regards to privacy!!  The article was mean to make BOTH administrators/owners/sponsors of forums aware of their legal liability as well as us simple folk posting, sad it's come to that but it has.
Every coding question asked and answered is a target.


Good points......and so many billers still don't realize their liability.  Don't just add modifiers or change codes to "get things paid"!  Some providers try to make billers believe that it is their job but it's not.  A billers job is to bill out the services as coded and make sure they are processed correctly according to the plan.  (As well as many other tasks.... :) )
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Re: BEWARE of online discussion boards/list serves!!!
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2014, 12:34:37 PM »