COVID-19 Prods Employers to Explore Virtual-Directed Health Plans

The move is largely a response to the tremendous increase in virtual care visits during the coronavirus public health emergency, according to Aon’s new report released Thursday. That shift in consumer behavior has led 36% of employers to say they are interested in exploring a virtual-directed health plan model with an online primary care platform that directs all care, including coordination with traditional health providers.

Read More »

OSHA Proposes Revised HazCom Standard to Conform to GHS

This action is expected to “address issues that arose during the implementation of the 2012 update to the HCS, and provide better alignment with other U.S. agencies and international trading partners, without lowering overall protections of the standard,” according to OSHA’s proposed rulemaking.

Read More »

Cybersecurity Report Finds 30 Popular Mobile Health Apps are Vulnerable to API Attack

The study, All That We Let In, raises concerns that increasing reliance on mobile health apps during the pandemic is drawing threat actors to mobile health applications as their preferred attack surface. The attacks described can permit unauthorized access to full patient records, including protected health information (PHI) and personally identifiable information.

Read More »

CMS Updates Accrediting Organizations on When to Pause Surveys

CMS’ Quality, Safety & Oversight Group promised new guidance to AOs on when to suspend surveys as part of an announcement on January 20 that the agency was temporarily suspending or limiting on-site surveys because of the COVID-19 patient surge. CMS told its own state survey agencies in January it was putting a general hold on hospital surveys, except for those dealing with immediate jeopardy situations, for at least 30 days, in recognition of growing COVID-19 patient surges in many areas.

Read More »