Using Software to Better Manage Your Audit Workflow

You probably already know that Auditing and Monitoring is one of the seven elements of an effective compliance program. But did you know that it’s so important the OIG considers it to be key for maintaining compliance?

The OIG stated, “The OIG believes that an effective program should incorporate thorough monitoring...although many monitoring techniques are available, one effective tool to promote and ensure compliance is the performance of regular, periodic compliance audits by internal or external auditors who have expertise in Federal and State health care statutes, regulations and Federal health care program requirements.”

Why Conduct Periodic Audits

Periodic audits are crucial to assess the effectiveness of your compliance protocols, educational efforts, and corrective actions. For example, a Standards and Procedures audit will help you understand whether office policies and day-to-day processes are compliant. A claims submissions audit will help you to understand whether physicians and staff are submitting claims in accordance with federal rules and payer policies. Creating and implementing plans to to prevent non-compliant activities from reoccurring will mitigate the potential of large overpayment disclosures and refunds and of possible penalties and sanctions.

Systematic, consistent, and organized documentation of audits is required when managing an audit process. Establishing an annual audit work plan will help you organize ongoing efforts, schedule, track, and manage recurring audits.

How to Easily Manage Your Audit Work Plan

Conducting audits and managing ongoing efforts is crucial for compliance. But we all know it isn’t easy to balance periodic audits, policies, work plans and post-audit implementation. Thankfully, there’s software that can help us with that. Compliance software can automate tracking and management of internal or external audits to assist Compliance Officers in efficiently managing everything. Sometimes, simplifying your workday really is as simple as software.

Tune into our upcoming webinar, “How to Conduct an Effective Audit of Your Compliance Program,” to see how compliance software can help you easily track your annual compliance program audit work plan, set up and perform audits, tie off post-audit loose ends.