Author: Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel

Is Your Home Address (and more) Available from IDFPR to the Public?

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Apr 8, 2020 | Documentation, Featured, ICS Message, Legal, Practice Management | 0 |

Because government is intended to work for its citizens, the public has the right to view certain documents that agencies create or receive in doing their work. In Illinois, the Freedom of Information Act expresses a clear policy “…that all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government…access by all persons to public records promotes…transparency and accountability of public bodies…

Child Abuse Reporting Alert: NEW REQUIREMENT FOR PHYSICIAN TRAINING

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Mar 11, 2020 | Business Forms and Templates, Compliance, Documentation, Featured, ICS Message, Legal, Personal Development, Practice Management | 0 |

Illinois licensed physicians are included in a list of “mandated reporters” who must notify the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) when they have reasonable cause to believe that a child may be abused or neglected. All mandated reporters, including physicians, must now complete DCFS mandated reporter training under a recent amendment to the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act, effective January 1, 2020.[i]

Cannabis and the Workplace

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Feb 5, 2020 | Employer Practices, ICS Message, Legal, Practice Management | 0 |

Although multiple laws go into effect in Illinois on January 1 each year, this year’s most notable was the legalization of adult recreational marijuana under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act. The law clearly intends to decriminalize the adult use of cannabis; however, other consequences of the law are not as well-understood.

Changing Your Legal Name

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Jan 8, 2020 | Compliance, Documentation, Legal, Practice Management | 0 |

A holder of a medical license must notify the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) on a printed form if the licensee changes his/her name by marriage, court order, or dissolution of marriage.

TELEMEDICINE SERVICES IN ILLINOIS

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Dec 19, 2019 | Compliance, Legal | 0 |

As the health care market experiences increasing demand for patient convenience, so grows the interest in health care services via telemedicine. Telemedicine under Illinois law means “rendering written or oral opinions concerning diagnosis or treatment of a patient in Illinois by a person in a different location than the patient …by telephonic, electronic, or other means of communication.” This could include physician-patient interaction by electronic mail, texting, video or telephone. Some services are, of course, better suited than others for this type of health care delivery.

Medical Records Access and Copy Fees – Patients and Third Parties

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Dec 3, 2019 | Billing and Collections, Compliance, Documentation, Frequently Asked Questions, HIPAA, ICS Message, Legal, Practice Management, Scope of Practice | 0 |

Since its initial passage in 1996, the HIPAA law has been implemented and expanded by regulations that have not always been easily understood by providers. This article is intended to consolidate and update ICS information about access to, disclosure of, and copying fees for patient medical records.

NUTRITIONAL SERVICES VIA TELEMEDICINE

Posted by Adrienne Hersh, JD, ICS Legal Counsel | Nov 19, 2019 | Compliance, Frequently Asked Questions, ICS Message, Legal, Practice Management | 0 |

The ICS has been asked whether Illinois licensed physicians may provide professional nutritional services via the Internet or other electronic means (e.g., telephone or texting). This article discusses this topic in depth.