UPDATE: FTC Delays Red Flags Rule Until December
How Does It Work? | Course Objectives | Your Speaker | Fees | Registration
Learn how to comply with new identity theft prevention regulations for physician offices.
Small physician and accounting practices are exempt from the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "red flags rule" under legislation the U.S. House of Representatives passed on Oct. 20. HR 3763 by U.S. Rep. John Adler (D-NJ) amends the Fair Credit Reporting Act to exclude physician and accounting practices with 20 or fewer employees from the FTC's definition of a creditor.
The bill went to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs after House passage. The Senate has yet to vote on the bill. The rule as proposed by the FTC was scheduled to take effect Dec. 31, 2010 unless the Senate approves the House bill and President Obama signs it.
The original rule defines physicians who regularly bill their patients for services (includes billing for copayments and coinsurance) are creditors and must develop and implement written identity theft prevention programs for their practices. The programs must identify and respond to patterns, practices, or specific activities known as — "red flags" — that could indicate identity theft.
Visit TMA's Identity Theft Compliance resource page for more information on this topic.
From this one-hour program, you will:
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Learn how the Red Flag Rules affect your practice;
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Obtain practical tools such as action plans, policies and procedures, and implementation techniques to assist your office with compliance;
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Discover how to develop an action plan to mitigate identity theft; and
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Comply with these new federal regulations.
How Does It Work?
Step 1: Register for the Webinar. Within two business days, you'll receive a confirmation with a link to view this previously recorded webinar. This course was recorded on April 16, 2009.
Step 2: When the Webinar concludes, download the evaluation form to earn CME credits. Return the completed evaluation form via fax to (512) 370-1635.
Step 3: Discuss what you learned at the program with all members of your staff, and work together to implement new ideas, policies, and procedures.
Is This Course for You?
This seminar is developed for physicians, billing staff, and office managers who work in practices that extend, renew, or continue credit.
Continuing Medical Education
The Texas Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The TMA designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity has been designated as 1 credit in ethics and/or professional responsibility education.
CME credit is available for the period of April 16, 2009 to June 15, 2013. Please complete and return the evaluation form prior to the expiration date.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:
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Develop policies and procedures for their practice that adhere to the Red Flag Rule guidelines,
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Identify the red flags that pertain to health care providers, and
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Determine the best practices for responding to medical identity theft.
Your Speaker
Sarah Fontenot, BSN, JD, specializes in health law and has been involved in medico-legal issues for 17 years. After receiving her bachelor of science in nursing degree from the University of Vermont, she was a nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Upon graduation from the University of Connecticut School of Law, Ms. Fontenot practiced at a Connecticut firm specializing in medical liability defense. She later taught hospital and public health law in the School of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale Medical School. In 1994, she moved to Texas and became a member of the Texas Bar. Ms. Fontenot teaches health law to graduate students in the Department of Health Care Administration at Trinity University in San Antonio and teaches extensively with the Texas Medical Association and Texas Medical Liability Trust, and throughout the country with other provider organizations.
Registration Fees
TMA members and staff $50
Nonmembers $100
One registration fee trains your entire staff.
Questions
If you have questions or require assistance, contact TMA Knowledge Center at (800) 880-7955, or Cheryl Krhovjak at (800) 880-1452 or ematil at cheryl.krhovjak@texmed.org.
Last Published: 7/6/2010
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