Blog
October 2018: LTC Newsletter
Posted on October 31, 2018
According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO), “Hospice provides support and care for persons in the last phases of an incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.”
October 2018: Compliance Newsletter
Posted on November 02, 2018
If you are a covered entity, any person (with the exception of your workforce) or entity who performs a function or an activity that involves the use of or the disclosure of protected health information (PHI) on behalf of your organization would be considered a business associate.
September 2018: LTC Newsletter
Posted on September 18, 2018
Is your facility prepared for a disaster? September is National Preparedness Month and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is a time to encourage and remind everyone to be prepared for disasters and emergencies.
September 2018: Compliance Newsletter
Posted on September 19, 2018
On August 27, 2018, the Office of Inspector General published a request for information seeking input on current provisions that may be acting as barriers to coordinated care or value-based care.
August 2018: Compliance Newsletter
Posted on September 18, 2018
The 340b program allows certain providers to receive manufacture discounts on covered out-patient drugs. These drugs can then be provided to eligible patients.
August 2018: LTC Newsletter
Posted on September 18, 2018
The Final Rule published on May 18, 2016, Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities, implements Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).1
July 2018: LTC Newsletter
Posted on July 28, 2018
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan has long been a source used by hospital compliance officers to help identify risks and develop audit plans. Following the issuance of the revised CMS guidelines, long-term care facilities are fine-tuning their programs to prepare for the November 2019 Compliance Program deadlines.
July 2018: Compliance Newsletter
Posted on July 28, 2018
The use of an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) remains a source of confusion for many providers. As such, there are still facilities that do not have processes in place to ensure the use of ABN’s. In some cases, ABN’s are not issued at all, or blanket ABN’s are provided for all services; which is a practice that is illegal.
June 2018: LTC Newsletter
Posted on June 27, 2018
Twenty-nine states have legalized marijuana for medical use and nine states have legalized marijuana for recreational use for those individuals 21 years of age or older.1 These changes have led many industries to remove marijuana from their drug screens citing concerns over staffing if workers who test positive are fired.2 Will healthcare facilities continue to drug test employees in states where marijuana has been legalized?
June 2018: Compliance Newsletter
Posted on June 27, 2018
On June 1, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its semiannual report to congress. The report covers a six-month period, October 2017 – March 2018. The report highlights accomplishments, participation in Congressional hearings and updates related to oversight activities.