Compliance: New Medicare Texting Guidance Spells Out Dos and Don'ts

Why This Topic Matters

Providers that use texting for clinical communication need to understand where CMS draws the line, what security and monitoring expectations apply, and how existing policies may need to be updated to reduce compliance risk. The topic is important for hospitals and other organizations balancing workflow efficiency with federal privacy and certification requirements.

Article Sections

1. Background

   Sets the context for CMS and related organizations’ attention to texting in healthcare communication. Introduces the compliance concerns that prompted the guidance.

2. What You Need To Do

   Summarizes the operational compliance steps organizations are expected to consider after reviewing the guidance. Focuses on policy review, platform oversight, and risk management preparation.