Back to School: Are You Prepared?
I was reminiscing the other day about my son’s first day of kindergarten. He was so excited for school to start that the moment he woke up he got dressed. I on the other hand was a weepy mess in the car after dropping him off. It’s a few years later and the roles are […]
Hawaii article
Aloha! I’m writing this on a plane as I fly to Hawaii for vacation-without my son. This is the first time my husband and I will be away from him for more than a weekend. I must admit, I have panicked more than a few times in the last few days. I now understand why […]
Congratulations! You graduated. Welcome to Adulthood
When I graduated from college my sister gave me the Dr. Seuss book “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” It is my 4-year-old son’s favorite book. There are some real gems in that book. A realization that life is not as easy as it may seem, and is not always fair, so it is usually best […]
Another Lesson From My Mom About Documents
My family (me, my husband, son, and mom) went to Colorado to visit my sister this summer. Several days into our vacation, my mom was not feeling well and asked to go the emergency room. She was in cardiogenic shock and was life-flighted to another hospital within hours. Now my mom volunteers at my law […]
Avoid the HIPAA Headache!
In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This legislation helps ensure that all medical records, medical billing, and patient accounts meet certain consistent standards with regard to documentation, handling, and privacy. Entities or providers that are in non-compliance with these requirements are subject to criminal and/or civil penalties. The HIPAA […]
What Is HIPAA?
HIPAA rules keep your health information private. HIPAA requires all medical care providers, such as doctors, pharmacies, nurses, and hospitals, to keep your medical information private. The Privacy Rule of 2001 placed HIPAA in the spotlight, and now every medical office knows the importance of HIPAA compliance. Any medical organization in possession of patient health […]
HIPAA Authorization Form
This is a form that allows your doctor to disclose your medical records. This may be necessary when you’re switching doctors or moving to a new town. This form allows you to choose the information that can be disclosed and also controls who can view it. The HIPAA Authorization Form can be used if you: […]
HIPAA Penalities
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) established national standards to protect the privacy of a person’s health care information. The Privacy Rule took effect in 2001 and mandated that health care providers and insurance companies who released medical information about their patients could be subject to civil fines, criminal penalties and even imprisonment. […]
The Fall of DOMA = The Rise of Confusion
The Supreme Court recently struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a 1996 federal law that defined “marriage,” for purposes of more than a thousand federal laws, as limited to a union between a man and a woman. Now, same-sex couples that are legally married will be entitled to the same treatment under […]
Estate Planning for Everyday Americans
When people think about estate planning, many imagine families of tremendous wealth creating fancy trusts to pass down from generation to generation. However, estate planning is important no matter what your financial situation is. A recent article discusses several estate planning tips for everyday Americans. First, everyone should have an advance health care directive. This […]
