When Policy Pauses, Compliance Doesn’t: What Government Shutdowns and Current Events Mean For You

In times of political noise, compliance leaders need signal. In our latest Compliance Conversations episode, host CJ Wolf, MD talks with Brian Burton, Healthicity’s Chief Compliance & Privacy Officer, about what government shifts actually mean for day-to-day operations. 

First, enforcement. Despite staffing changes and headlines, fraud, waste, and abuse actions have stayed resilient across administrations. Medicare Advantage remains a priority, with indications of expanded audit capacity. Translation: assume scrutiny continues—plan accordingly. 

Second, timing. Shutdowns and staffing reductions can create backlogs at OCR, OIG, and DOJ. That doesn’t necessarily change the rules, but it may slow responses on complaints, self-disclosures, or CIA guidance. Build this timing risk into your reporting calendars and leadership updates. 

Third, telehealth. CMS messaging during uncertainty has sometimes led to claims holds while legislation catches up. That’s a cash-flow decision as much as a compliance call. Some organizations temporarily re-routed patients to in-person visits; others accepted denial risk. Whichever path you choose, document your reasoning and keep patients front and center. 

Listen to the full discussion for practical tips.