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It's all about
accuracy.
Compliance means that it is our legal
duty to ensure that we are not submitting false
or inaccurate claims to government and private
payors.
The guidelines for medical billing compliance
were written by the Office of the Inspector General
(O.I.G.) in November 1998. They spell out what
the government expects of us regarding Medicare.
And the consequences for failure to comply.
SSIMED has been a stickler for compliance from
the start. As recommended by the O.I.G., we have
implemented a formal compliance program with
a designated compliance officer.
It's all about
vigilance.
Every SSIMED employee has personally
signed confidentiality and compliance agreements.
They're rigorously trained in compliance issues
on an on-going basis. If a questionable billing
issue arises, it's their job to report it. That's
a powerful front-line defense against potential
violations.
Protecting your practice against noncompliance
is something we take very seriously. We conduct
random internal audits to monitor billing patterns.
If we ever have a question, we'll let you know
immediately so you can take corrective action,
including an on-site audit by SSIMED if necessary.
Get with the
program.
We highly recommend initiating a formal
practice compliance program - particularly if
you receive a significant amount of revenue from
Medicare. Assume you'll be audited (most practices
are at some point). And take preventive measures
against noncompliance today.
This service is provided for our medical billing
clients however, we can assist our systems clients
with this process for an additional fee.
Seven steps to full
compliance.
- Employees each sign a written compliance
commitment
- Appoint a compliance officer
- Employees receive ongoing compliance training
and education
- Maintain open lines of communication
- Establish an internal investigation protocol
- Implement auditing and monitoring
- Respond to issues immediately
"All of us at SSIMED firmly believe it is
imperative that we strive to be 100% compliant
with the rules and regulations governing correct
billing practices as established by the payers."
- Dan McMahon , President/CEO, SSIMED LLC
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