Be Prepared for Fraud & Abuse Audits and Investigations

VHCA (11/30/2007)

As the federal government continues to focus on potential incidences of health care fraud and abuse, long term care providers and their employees must be prepared for a variety of audits and investigations. In an effort to better prepare providers for possible investigations, AHCA's General Counsel, Legal Committee and Outside Counsel, Reed Smith; have produced What Do You Do When A Government Inspector Walks In The Door: Responding to Government Audits and Investigations.  This new document encourages all providers to protect themselves against any potential problem resulting from an audit or investigation by implementing a strong compliance program that trains all employees to act in conformity with the program and the various laws enforced by the federal government and its contractors. 

Providers are encouraged to use this new guidance to better understand how to respond appropriately, and to remember that government enforcement agencies have easy access to audits, surveys and investigations by other state and federal agencies and their contractors.