Page 5 - March 2020 Ulupono

Simple mistakes and the art of Check, Check, Double Check
By Andrea Suzuki, Director of Compliance
In 2017, Aetna sent letters relating to pharmacy benefits to roughly 12,000 members. The windows of the envelopes used were too large, allowing sensitive PHI to be on display for all those who came into contact with the envelopes. As a result of a class action lawsuit, Aetna is estimated to have paid $17 million dollars as compensation to those individuals, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
This is one example of how a simple mistake can have dire consequences for patients and health institutions alike; and how a simple Check, Check, Double Check could have avoided the disastrous mailing.
A large amount of breaches that we see are a result of simple mistakes: a patient being handed the wrong discharge information,
Financial planning contributes to your wellbeing
By Anela Tamashiro, NP, Wellness Certified Diabetes Educator
the wrong prescription or medical information being sent to the wrong fax number. When breaches like this happen, we are obligated to report it to the federal government and to the patients involved. But more importantly, while these simple mistakes are on a smaller scale, these types of mistakes can have the same horrifying impact on individuals as they did in the Aetna example. And, like the Aetna
It’s not even summer yet and I’m already thinking about Christmas—and the expenses that come with my favorite holiday. I am a generous gift giver and have paid the price for overspending, but here are some easy tips I’ve learned that can help lessen financial stress.
Plan for holiday gift giving now
Put money aside every month in a “Christmas” savings account. There are many targeted savings account options.
You may be thinking, “Well I already have
a savings account through my bank.” I do too, but I’ve found that transferring money from my savings to my checking account is much too easy and defeats the purpose of
a savings account. I’ve found that creating
a savings account that is separate from my local bank is a “set it and forget it” option that is less easy to access and has helped me save ahead for the holidays.
Targeted Savings Accounts
Targeted savings accounts lets you set an amount to transfer, set the frequency of transfers and open several saving accounts, usually at no charge. These accounts can
example, these mistakes could have easily been avoided with a quick Check, Check, Double Check before acting.
Confidentiality is an integral part of the care that we provide our patients. That is why
it is vital to Check, Check, Double Check before handing any patient information over.
be labeled to fit your lifestyle: Trips, Car Maintenance, Emergency Funds, etc. Though organizing your accounts this way might seem pointless, it can actually be a powerful motivator, and is a great way to organize your savings and spending.
Obviously, you don't even need to open separate accounts to apply the principles
of targeted saving. If you prefer, you
can put your money into a single savings account while using a piece of paper (or
a spreadsheet) to track which portion of your savings account that is meant for each individual goal. But most people find it more productive to open a separate account for each goal.
Finally, to develop a habit of saving, it is helpful to treat savings like a bill. Just as you're obligated to pay for your cell phone each month, create an obligation to save for your next car or trip, etc.
Having funds set aside for those unexpected, or (in this case) expected expenses, alleviates a lot of the stress, and go a long way toward keeping you well.
MARCH 2020 - ULUPONO | 5