BW INSIGHTS

Use of Microgrids During Natural Disasters

The nation’s attention is focused on the devastation brought to Texas and Louisiana by Hurricane Harvey, but there is one positive development that deserves our attention: the use of microgrids to ensure the continued operation of essential services in the face of natural disasters. An electric microgrid is broadly defined as a local network of... Read More

New Guidance on Dental Labs as Business Associates

In March 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed that a dentist does not need to sign a business associate agreement with a dental lab when the dentist shares with the lab protected health information for purposes of treating patients. The OCR guidance, which was provided in an e-mail to the... Read More

Iowa Certificate of Need Becomes Focus of Iowa Legislature

Two bills have been introduced this week at the Iowa Legislature to significantly limit the scope of Iowa’s Certificate of Need (“CON”) Program. One of these bills was introduced by Governor Branstad. Committee action on at least one of these bills is planned for next week in advance of next week’s funnel deadline. Below you will find links to the... Read More

Updated HIPAA Privacy Rule Guidance

Accidents, sudden illness, and hospitalization of a family member are stressful incidents for individuals and their loved ones. Uncertainty regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rules’ restrictions on the sharing of information with certain family members or loved ones sometimes adds to that stress.... Read More

Subpoena Response When Requesting Health Records

In recent years, many states, including Iowa, have changed their court rules to allow attorneys to sign and issue subpoenas in pending cases without prior court approval. While the issuance of such subpoenas may be acceptable under general state law, providing documents in response to a subpoena that is only signed by an attorney may lead to a... Read More