More help available for compliance programs
With all the emphasis of state and federal law enforcement agencies on fraud and abuse detection, most health care organizations are beefing up their compliance programs. But what if you don't have one? How do you sift through all the information available on compliance to find out what you need to know?
The California Healthcare Association (CHA), which represents more than 800 health care organizations, has published a book that can put fraud, abuse, and compliance into perspective. The new Compliance Manual is written by Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, a law firm that not only works with health care organizations, but has the added perspective of having worked with defense industry companies during the fraud and abuse scandals of the 1980s.
The book includes nearly 700 pages of historical information on the investigations by the Office of the Inspector General, an outline of Medicare and Medicaid rules, information on federal sentencing guidelines, and additional sections on federal employment law and where to get more information.
According to Mary Barker, director of publishing for the association, the information contained in the book would be of value not just to hospitals - which make up the bulk of the CHA's membership - but to any organization that is overwhelmed by the complexity of information on fraud and abuse.
"I come from a home care background," she says. "The issues cross organizational boundaries, and I think what we provide would benefit anyone interested in those issues."
The association also is offering seminars that will cover issues such as job descriptions for compliance officers, and even where to recruit one.
The book sells for $225 for members and $495 for non-members. Further information is available by calling (800) 494-2001. Information on upcoming seminars is available from the association's education department, which can be reached at (916) 552-7502.
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