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Do You Have The Power?

Posted on April 3, 2017 by

When you hear the words “estate planning,” what do you think? The most common answers I hear mention “wills” or “trusts.” Although estate planning includes those documents, which carry out your plan after death, it also includes documents to help carry out your wishes while you are living. These documents are called powers of attorney, […]

When to Use the OIG’s Self Disclosure Protocols

Posted on March 30, 2017 by

The HHS Office of Inspector General offers providers an opportunity to self-disclose certain violations in exchange for avoiding some of the more draconian penalties that may otherwise apply under applicable regulations.  Even though the OIG’s Provider Self-Disclosure Protocols (“SDP”) can be very compelling, the decision whether to utilize the OIG’s self-disclosure protocols is often very […]

Compliance Budgeting – Put Your Money Where Your Mouth is

Posted on March 30, 2017 by

You have adopted your basic compliance policies and procedures, established a reporting system and visibly rolled out your new compliance program.  Your board of directors has passed a resolution decisively stating its commitment to compliance.  The CEO issued a letter stating her commitment to compliance and mandating every person in the organization follow the Code […]

When is a Physician Liable for Stark Law Violations?

Posted on March 30, 2017 by

I frequently hear attorneys claim the Stark law applies equally to hospitals and physicians.  This position is sometimes taken in the process of negotiating a transaction between a hospital and a physician or physician group.  In this context it is limited to simple posturing to attempt to get a better financial deal in the negotiated […]

Hey Dentists: No Business Associate Agreement, No Problem

Posted on March 23, 2017 by

According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), dental practices are not required to have a business associate agreement with their dental laboratory before sharing protected health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to covered entities (including dental practices) and their business associates.  As you know, for the past few […]

Defining the Duty of the Board of Directors over Compliance Functions

Posted on March 22, 2017 by

I recently posted a blog article about a document released by the Department of Justice entitled “Evaluation of Compliance Programs.”  As the title of the document might suggest, the DOJ release covers a variety of issues it looks at when evaluating the effectiveness of compliance programs.  The document includes some guidance on how a corporate […]

Wisconsin Unemployment Insurance Benefits Upon Discharge for Absenteeism – the Employer’s Policy May Be More Generous, But Not More Restrictive, Than the Statutory Default

Posted on March 21, 2017 by

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued a decision in an unemployment insurance benefits case on March 8 that provides clarity where an employee is discharged for absenteeism.  The case is Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, et al (2017 WL 946724).  In doing so the court of appeals described […]

Excluded Party Cases Dominate OIG Published Self Disclosure Settlements

Posted on March 17, 2017 by

In 2013, the HHS Office of Inspector General issued revised protocols outlining the process through which health care providers are able to self-disclose and resolve potential liability under the OIG’s civil monetary penalty (CMP) authorities.  The 2013 Self Disclosure Protocols (SDP) clarified the process of self-disclosure and provided answers to some of the questions previously […]

2016 Bankruptcy Statistics for the Western District of Wisconsin: Overall Filings Decreased 5.5%, but Chapter 12 Farm Bankruptcies Increased 31%

Posted on March 15, 2017 by

The 2016 bankruptcy statistics tell an interesting story.  While the total number of bankruptcy cases filed in 2016 in the Western District of Wisconsin (“WDW”) fell 5.5% to its lowest level in ten years, Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy cases actually increased 31% from 2015.    Total Filings.  There were 4,362 total bankruptcy cases filed in […]

Physician Practice Compliance Programs

Posted on March 14, 2017 by

In today’s environment of complex regulations, aggressive prosecution, exorbitant penalties, and hungry whistleblower attorneys, it is necessary for medical practices to maintain effective compliance programs.  Failure to do so puts the practice at a great deal of unnecessary risk.  Many or most practices will eventually make errors in their billing and collections or other regulatory […]