Qui Tam Quarterly - EHR Systems: A Step Forward for Patients but a Compliance and Enforcement Minefield for Health Care Providers
Information is power, but the consequences of mismanaging information in the health care industry can be severe. Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems provide comprehensive real-time patient medical information in an electronic format that can be accessed instantly and securely by authorized users to promote management of diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunizations, and laboratory test results. EHR systems have become widely used by health care providers in large part due to government initiatives such as the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, which provided over US$35 billion in incentives to promote and expand the adoption and use of EHRs by eligible hospitals and providers.
Key Takeaways
- Vigilance for potential non-compliance is key and due diligence of EHR system vendors and arrangements are key components of any fulsome compliance program.
- Financial and reputational costs of non-compliance related to EHR systems are significant.
- The consequences of private litigation and government investigations and prosecutions are severe.
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ABOUT QUI TAM QUARTERLY
Qui Tam Quarterly is a publication authored by members of the health care fraud and abuse team highlighting emerging and pressing issues in health care fraud and abuse, including litigation and governmental investigations involving the False Claims Act, the Stark Law, the Anti-Kickback Statute, and other health care fraud related statutes.
Members of our team are regular contributors to Triage: Timely Conversations for Health Care Professionals, a podcast created by K&L Gates to inform our clients and friends of the firm about the latest developments in health law.
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This publication/newsletter is for informational purposes and does not contain or convey legal advice. The information herein should not be used or relied upon in regard to any particular facts or circumstances without first consulting a lawyer. Any views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the law firm's clients.
