Yesterday, I read an article in Compliance Today magazine entitled, "The role of compliance in the quest to improve (the) patient experience." The gist of the article is that hospitals need to be careful with the inducements that we provide in forgiveness of financial obligations beyond financial hardship or purchasing items or services on behalf of the patient. This is a new area of concern that our compliance officer is addressing as our doctors and nurses work to get patients well enough to be discharged from the acute care and into the most appropriate care setting. In some cases, we provide items and services for the patient to facilitate the transition into the alternate care setting. As the article states, "while striving to improve (the) patient experience, we must recognize the legal limitations....." Sound advice in this era of false claims, anti-kickback violations and over payment for services. The article is worth the read in this ever changing complex field of health care.
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