Healthicity Blog

1. Under ‘Observation,’ Some Hospital Patients Face Big Bills - “In April, Nancy Niemi entered Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C., with cardiac problems. She stayed four nights, at one point receiving a coronary stent.

Recently, compliance failures cost Florida physicians over $4 million dollars and resulted in a multi-million dollar settlement for a Tennessee hospital. The message is clear: compliance is no joke.

1. Surgery center says 34,000 patient records potentially breached - “St. Mark’s Surgery Center was hit by a ransomware attack that may have impacted the personal health information of 33,877 patients.

An organization that fails to create and maintain an effective compliance program could be forced to return overpayments. And providers may face severe civil, criminal, and financial penalties.

1. Mylan Agrees to Pay $465 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Liability for Underpaying EpiPen Rebates - “Pharmaceutical companies Mylan Inc. and Mylan Specialty L.P. have agreed to pay $465 million to resolve claims

1. Fort Worth Brothers Admit Role in $36 Million Lab Test Kickback Scheme - Two Fort Worth men pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to playing a role in an alleged $36 million fraud scheme involving unnecessary lab tests of saliva and urine that were billed to the U.S. military’s health care system.

Auditing and Monitoring: One of the 7 Elements of an Effective Compliance Program

The OIG frequently creates and shares short videos about important compliance topics in their series, “Eye on Oversight.” Their most recent release demonstrates the importance of OIG Audits.

You want to improve your compliance program but just don’t have the time for a total overhaul at the moment. Well, have no fear, because there are a few small tweaks you can make that can have a huge impact on your program. And the good news is that it’s easier than you think.