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Proactive compliance plan will protect you from fraud charges

One year after being found guilty of conspiring to defraud through a system of kickbacks for patient referrals and the filing of false claims that resulted in overpayments of more than $1 million from Medicare and Medicaid, six co-defendants were sentenced to a combination of almost seven years in federal prison and more than $526,000 in restitution payments.

Ensure marketing doesn’t trigger fraud accusations

All home health managers have heard that they should market to referral sources to build their referral base. How to market without triggering accusations of buying referrals is the tricky part, says Denise Bonn, JD, counsel for Schmeltzer, Aptaker & Shepard, a Washington, DC, law firm with specialists in home health.

Innovative programs help caregivers cope

Editors note: This is the second of a two-part series that looks at family caregiver issues such as education, stress, burnout, and support. Last month, experts talked about the educational needs of family caregivers and how a home health nurse can recognize caregiver burnout. In this months article, different programs to support caregivers and different approaches to offering care to home health patients are discussed.

System joins community nursing and home health

Although Valley Health System in Winchester, VA, originally set up the community nurse case management program as a separate department that operated independently of home health, people soon realized that the two areas needed to coordinate their activities, says Lisa M. Zerull, RN, MS, program director of the community nurse case management program.

Cut claims and liability risk with careful planning

Forget the lottery as your way to riches. According to Judge Judy, The Practice, and countless other television legal shows, you can easily recoup real and imagined losses by suing someone.

Don’t gamble with your malpractice insurance

With major insurance carriers moving out of the malpractice area, it is harder to find insurance coverage, and it can be expensive, says Bill Thompson, CIC, senior vice president and partner at Smith, Bell & Thompson, a Burlington, VT, insurance agency specializing in coverage for health-related organizations.

When is it safe to share patients’ information?

Editors note: This is a periodic column that will address specific questions related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) implementation.

Don’t get caught: Client requests can discriminate

An RN recently sued a home health agency in Pittsburgh based upon case management practices. Specifically, the RN received copies of case management forms for a specific patient on two separate occasions. Both case management forms included a section in which the special needs of patients could be noted.

News Briefs

CMS reminds providers about hospice care; Unannounced JCAHO surveys start in 2006

Hospital Home Health Archives – May 1, 2003

May 1, 2003