ASTROgram: Red Flags Rule delayed; further action needed to exempt physicians

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has said it will push back the Red Flags Rule implementation deadline to December 31, 2010. The rule requires creditors and financial institutions to have written identity theft programs to help identify, detect and respond to specific activities known as red flags that could indicate identity theft. This rule is of interest to physicians because the FTC has classified physicians as creditors because they do not always receive payment in full from patients. If implemented, practices would be required to have procedures to protect against identity theft.  For more information, read the ASTROnews Web exclusive.