CMS clarifies rules for HIPAA compliance when texting patient data

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Quality, Safety & Oversight Group sent a memo to state survey agency directors, effective immediately, clarifying HIPAA compliance for texting patient information and hospital orders at critical access hospitals.

WHY IT MATTERS

Texting guidance CMS released to hospitals in 2018 indicated that while texting patient information had become essential to operations, the practice of texting patient orders from a provider to a member of the care team was not compliant with the agency's …

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