This is the first article in a series on medical necessity — an area that many compliance programs struggle with. In this piece, we explain the medical necessity compliance risk in general, while subsequent articles highlight specific examples of enforcement actions experienced by medical providers such as hospitals and health systems.
Continue readingFrom Manual to Scalable: How to Manage Healthcare Compliance Risk
The overwhelming pace and complexity of healthcare regulatory change have become so routine that the constant grind now poses a distinct risk to the organization it’s intended to protect.
Yet, many hospitals still treat regulatory change as a routine monitoring activity, failing to adopt the systems thinking and discipline necessary to truly mitigate the risk.
This article by a top healthcare compliance expert explains what it takes to make that transformation. (She also explains what spinach has in common with compliance risk assessment.)
Continue readingHoarders Need Borders: Quality’s Role in Healthcare Record Storage
Just this week, I was in a colleague’s office. Literally, it looked like Staples puked up aisle 3. I asked her what everything was, because you couldn’t make heads or tails of any of it. She explained that it was patient records that she didn’t know what to do with.
I asked her, “Well, what does the process say to do?”
“Process?” she said. Nice girl, means well, greener than a pepper tree.
After helping her re-organize everything, I was motivated to put together some ideas to help others in her situation. Here are some record retention best practices in the event you have hoarded up some claptrap and now have to figure out what to do with it.
Continue readingOIG Cites Fraud, Waste and Abuse Concerns with Skin Substitutes
Many compliance professionals rely on HHS OIG focus areas as they perform risk assessments and plan subsequent auditing and monitoring activities. In November 2024, the OIG added an item to their Work Plan describing their intention to review Medicare Part B payments for skin substitutes.
This blog explores the implications for compliance and what health systems need to be aware of.
Continue readingKnow the Compliance Risk for Certain Anesthesia Services
A good healthcare compliance program is all about reducing risk, both in patient care and in financial reimbursement. This detailed blog by compliance expert, CJ Wolf, will bring you up to date on the compliance risks associated with certain anesthesia services.
Continue readingMitigating Conflicts of Interest that Drive Profit Over Health
A conflict of interest (COI) in healthcare occurs when a person or organization involved in medical decision-making, such as a doctor, researcher or healthcare administrator, has a secondary interest (financial, professional or personal) that could compromise or influence their objectivity and clinical judgment.
This secondary interest has the potential to affect decisions about diagnosis, treatment, or research in a way that’s not aligned with the best interests of the patient or public health.
Continue readingHow to Avoid Compliance Risk in Peripheral Vascular Reimbursement
Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) reimbursement is fraught with potential compliance pitfalls. With increased scrutiny and worrisome statistics about improper payments, healthcare providers must identify and mitigate any PVD compliance risks that could jeopardize their operations.
This expert-written blog addresses the pressing concern of compliance risks in PVD reimbursement. It provides insights into regulatory trends, recent investigations and best practices.
Equip yourself with the knowledge to navigate this complex environment and safeguard your organization’s reputation and financial sustainability. Learn effective strategies to mitigate compliance risks in peripheral vascular reimbursement by focusing on medical necessity and adherence to guidelines.
Continue readingExpert Advice: Compliance Software Q&A with a Compliance Professional
In this expert interview, Amy shares insight surrounding compliance management software (like YouCompli) and examples of what it takes for organizations to be successful.
Continue readingExclusion Screening Failure Causes Compliance Nightmare
In Q3, the exclusion screening software glitched. It missed a monthly sync. Then a second. By the third missed month, the compliance officer dismissed it as “a minor lag,” promising the HR department everything would be rerun soon.
Unfortunately, even a seemingly small glitch can have major consequences for healthcare compliance.”
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