DC FAQs By WSCA Staff Can I email invoices
to my patients? Is that HIPAA-compliant?
That’s a good question, and the answer is a definite “maybe.” You can if you’re using the right tools. Because invoices include personal health information such as patient names and CPT codes, the invoice needs to be generated and distributed through a HIPAA-compliant billing service. Vendors such as Quickbooks, Zelle, and Venmo are not HIPAA-compliant. Vendors such as Stripe, Kareo, Therabill, and Simple Practice (among others) are HIPAA-compliant, but only if you have a signed business associate agreement with them attesting to their adherence to policies regarding the handling of PHI. An invoice also cannot be sent to a patient using standard email like Outlook or your Gmail account. It has to go through a HIPAA-compliant, encrypted email service which, again, must have a signed BAA in place.
I heard the WSCA is moving. Is this true? Where are you going?
Yes, after 20 years in the same SeaTac location, the WSCA offices are moving to Tacoma. There are several reasons behind this. First, three-quarters of the WSCA staff live in Tacoma and we feel our time is better spent in the office helping our members than it is commuting. Second, like many businesses discovered during the pandemic, our physical office space needs are much less than they were years ago. We can work just as efficiently in a smaller office, so we may as well downsize and pay less on our rent. The move will take place in late April/early May. We’ll make an announcement when the move is complete, but our new address will be:
1120 Pacific Avenue, #206 Tacoma, WA 98402
8 www .c hir o healt h.or g
I have a deaf patient who is requesting a sign language interpreter, but all the interpreters I can find are
really expensive. Am I required to pay for this or can I pass the cost along to the patient?
The going rate for a sign language interpreter in the Seattle area is (on the low end) $150/hr., usually with a two hour minimum. This obviously far exceeds the amount collected for most chiropractic visits. Unfortunately, federal law does require providers to bear the full cost of interpreting services. The ADA does not require an interpreter to be certified, but they do need to be capable of effectively communicating between multiple parties. The patient can bring their own interpreter if they want, but if they don’t, you must provide one. Virtual interpreters are acceptable and they cost a little less than an in-person interpreter, but if the patient prefers an in-person interpreter, you are supposed to give primary consideration to their wishes. You can only override their wishes if not doing so would pose an undue burden on you—such as requiring you to provide care outside normal business hours or if the patient’s preference is unreasonably expensive.
While this is disappointing to hear from a business perspective, it is the present state of the law and it is unlikely to change any time soon. That said, the WSCA is currently working on a resource we can provide members to address this issue. Watch your newsletters and future issues of Plexus for more information.
Each issue of Plexus features several frequently asked questions about chiropractic in Washington. If you have any questions you’d like to see shared in the magazine, please submit them to:
Washington State Chiropractic Association
c/o Shaka Forest, Membership Director 21400 International Blvd., Ste. 207 SeaTac, WA 98198
wsca@chirohealth.org
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