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Contractual notification obligations also may apply in a relationship with a vendor or client, she says. Labs usually are a covered entity, “but sometimes they function as a business associate, depending on the services they’re providing, so they could have a business associate agreement obligation” to notify an upstream covered entity of a breach. The laboratory would notify the entity and then work with it to determine the entity’s notification obligations.

Research contracts, Johnson says, tend to lay out notification obligations in greater detail than many other types of contracts, “so you want to look at that type of contract [closely] in the event that research participants were impacted by an incident.”

The notification letter for any health care data breach should include a description of the incident and information exposed, the dates of occurrence and discovery, and “what you’re offering to the impacted individual. Do you have a toll-free number they can call? Do you offer credit monitoring? Do you offer identity theft insurance?” Johnson says.

Consider having a lawyer draft the letter, she advises. “Data privacy regulations, at least at the state level, are changing on what seems like a daily basis. The last thing you want is to have to send two letters to the same individual because the first wasn’t accurate. So make sure you have the most current information, and I would leave that up to the professionals.”

—Charna Albert

Lighthouse releases AI-based RCM software

Lighthouse Lab Services has introduced RCM Spotlight, cloud-based software that uses artificial intelligence to provide business insight and improve revenue cycle management.

“By using a copy of the standard claim and remit data labs already exchange with their payers, RCM Spotlight analyzes data using its proprietary AI engine to compare reimbursement and denial results across payers and similar providers,” according to a company press release. “Users also have the opportunity to pair feedback with professional implementation guidance from our dedicated team of RCM consulting specialists at Vachette Pathology.”

The software allows pathology laboratories and health care billing companies to detect changes in denial patterns, perform fast denial root-cause analyses, prioritize recoverable denials, compare payment performance with peers, and receive a monthly scorecard and analysis reports.

Lighthouse Lab Services, 844-789-4874

Xifin introduces latest version of RCM system

Xifin has launched Xifin RPM 14, the latest iteration of its flagship revenue cycle-management solution.

Xifin RPM 14 features a suite of updated capabilities, including workflow automation through Web services that supports two-way real-time data exchange. This enables digital “conversations” between client and patient portals, lab information systems, electronic medical record systems, computerized physician order-entry applications, and other systems.

Diagnostic providers can share test results with patients through the patient portal and send them text notifications or emails with a link for viewing test results. In addition, referring physicians and their staff can review interactive statements, dispute pricing, or rebill insurance via the client portal. Diagnostic providers receive notifications when invoices are available.

The software also offers additional dashboards to support executive, financial, and operational analyses and enhance decision-making.

Xifin, 866-934-6364

New QR code in CGM LIS transmits COVID-19 patient test results

Clinical laboratories using CompuGroup Medical’s CGM LabDaq or CGM SchuyLab laboratory information systems can now provide patients with a QR code that links to their COVID-19 test results.

“This new QR code feature helps our laboratories deliver real-time access to results while ensuring the highest degree of patient safety,” said Derek Pickell, CEO of CompuGroup Medical US, in a company press release.

Laboratories can link COVID-19 test results to a QR code on the patient report. For privacy purposes, the laboratory generates a special report in CGM SchuyLab containing only the desired results or a split group in CGM LabDaq that separates the desired information from other test results generated through the same order.

Laboratories using all versions of CGM LabDaq except version four, which does not support the new functionality, provide results via the CGM LabNexus laboratory outreach solution. Labs using CGM SchuyLab provide results through the CGM SchuyNet Web portal.

CompuGroup Medical, 800-359-0911

Dr. Aller practices clinical informatics in Southern California. He can be reached at raller@usc.edu. Dennis Winsten is founder of Dennis Winsten & Associates, Healthcare Systems Consultants. He can be reached at dwinsten.az@gmail.com.