Exclusion Lists: Part Two of a Two-Part Series
Part one of this series provided a brief overview of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIGs) List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (LEIE), and discussed the importance of exclusion list checks. Part two will provide an overview of States that maintain exclusion lists. How often are […]
August is National Immunization Awareness Month
Each year in August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) provides an opportunity to highlight the value of immunization across the lifespan. National Immunization Awareness Month presents a great opportunity to educate seniors and other people with Medicare on the importance of disease control and prevention through immunization and the vaccines covered by Medicare that help […]
$12,000 in Penalties for Facility Exposing Workers to Workplace Violence
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued one serious and one other than serious violations to a residential health care facility for exposing employees to hazards related to workplace violence. As a result, OSHA has proposed $12,000 in penalties for the facility (Integrated Life Choices Inc. Lincoln, Nebraska). According to the announcement the citations […]
Clearing up the Confusion: A Multi-Part HIPAA Series
Last week while attending a conference I was asked about my responsibilities as a Compliance Specialist Manager. I briefly provided an overview, and discussed how keeping up-to-date with rules and regulations in healthcare are some of my most taxing responsibilities. Then, someone quickly responded to me saying: “You are one of those abbreviation guys – […]
The Importance of Documentation and Medical Necessity
Understanding documentation and medical necessity is critical to avoid denied claims and overpayment recovery. According to the CMS Medicare Claims Processing Manual: Medical necessity of a service is the overarching criterion for payment in addition to the individual requirements of a CPT code. It would not be medically necessary or appropriate to bill a higher […]
5 Ways Care Businesses Can Improve their Record Keeping
Record keeping is at the core of successful care business. It is a legal requirement, and several laws govern it. These laws also spell out the exact information stored in the records. Care businesses must consider these laws as part of their day to day business practice. Keeping records helps in keeping all the information […]