Group practices form consortium
Ten of the nation’s largest multispecialty group practices and integrated delivery systems have formed a consortium to address compliance issues, agreeing to follow six commitments regarding compliance with laws and regulations in the health care industry.
Participants include the Mayo Clinic, HealthSystem Minnesota, Scott & White Clinic, Virginia Mason Medical Center, The Permanente Medical Group, Henry Ford Medical Group, Fallon Clinic, Catholic Health Initiatives, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, and Catholic Health Care West Medical Foundation. The group has named itself the National Compliance Consortium and invites other medical groups to follow these "compliance commitments" they have adopted:
1. Medical groups should commit to developing and instituting a system-wide compliance program incorporating established standards and procedures to be followed by all employees and other agents of the organization.
2. Medical groups should commit to designating a high-level employee or employees within their organization to manage their compliance program and oversee compliance with the organization’s approved standards and procedures.
3. Medical groups should commit both internal and external resources as necessary to effectively communicate the organization’s compliance standards and procedures to all employees and other agents throughout the organization through educational seminars, printed pamphlets and information, and other similar vehicles.
4. Medical groups should commit to implementing a comprehensive and confidential reporting system whereby employees and other agents can report suspected improper conduct by individuals within the organization without fear of retribution as well as develop internal monitoring and auditing systems to detect improper or unlawful conduct and appropriate disciplinary mechanisms.
5. Medical groups should commit to assisting other entities within the industry as they develop compliance programs and procedures for their organizations which are consistent with their own mission and vision, as well as with the sentencing guidelines followed in federal courts through information sharing and/or education programs.
6. Medical groups should commit to working with the public and the government whenever possible to ensure mutual understanding and agreement regarding health care compliance laws, regulations, and activities.
Risk managers interested in learning more about the National Compliance Consortium are encouraged to call Susan Whitaker, JD, an attorney with Foley, Lardner, Weissburg, and Acheson in Washington, DC, at (202) 672-5453.
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