Social work is a profession that helps individuals, families, and groups change behaviors, emotions, attitudes, relationships, and social conditions to restore and enhance their capacity to meet their personal and social needs.

On May 5, 2021, the New York Health and Essential Rights Act (NY HERO Act) was signed into law. The law mandates extensive new workplace health and safety protections in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the NY HERO Act is to protect employees against exposure and disease during a future airborne infectious disease outbreak.

Tucked away on page 8 of the October 2020 Medicaid Update, published on November 2, 2020, was notification to providers of a change in the provider certification process required under NYS Social Services Law §363-d. ​ Effective immediately , providers do not have to certify in December. However, certification is still required.

This second installment of my 2020 compliance discussion addresses the spectrum of 2020 Work Plan deliverables in addition to HIPAA compliance as contained in my previous article. Effective compliance programs recognize the need to follow developments across a broad-spectrum including litigation, legislation, and issues affecting privacy, security, and public health.

This compliance discussion addresses the discrete subject of ensuring 2020 Work Plans address Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) risk. HIPAA compliance cuts a broad swath of work. Your 2020 HIPAA Work Plan should—unsurprisingly--critically assess 2019 enforcement activity to focus scarce compliance resources in an optimal manner.