OIG’s Strengthens its Exclusion Authorities

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently published a final rule that implements OIG’s expanded statutory exclusion authority. The final rule included a number of provisions that impact providers and suppliers.

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Overpayment Audit: Medicaid is Serious About Excluded Providers

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), providers and suppliers who bill for services furnished by an excluded or an unlicensed person are considered to have received and overpayment from Medicare which must be reported and returned within 60 days of “identifying” the overpayment (claims-based overpayment). New Jersey Medicaid recently reminded providers that a similar requirement for Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care providers exists in New Jersey and will be enforced.

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Warning: Medicare Contractors Enforcing Fingerprint Requirements

The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) heralded a new era for provider enrollment and revalidation by enhancing provider and supplier screenings. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now requires certain providers to be fingerprinted in order to continue participating in the Medicare program. Medicare contractors (MACs) have been

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Medicare Enrollment Screening Tools Reviewed By OIG

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) views the enrollment process as an important gatekeeping tool for preventing fraud, waste and abuse. The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced the ability of CMS to further this goal. Recently, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) published a report analyzing the effectiveness of certain enhanced provider enrollment screenings.

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Latest Medicare Changes That Will Impact Your Practice

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued number of recent updates to the Medicare program which impact various providers and suppliers.

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Providers Beware: Medicare Proposes Harsh New Screening Requirements

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has once again proposed new rules which would enhance the screening requirements for providers and suppliers. The rule proposals would ratchet up the scrutiny on provider enrollments and toughen suspension and revocation penalties.

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Devastating Impact of Provider Exclusion – Special Bulletin

The government’s authority to exclude practitioners from participation in Federal health care programs has expanded dramatically since program exclusions upon conviction first began back in 1977. In an attempt to address industry questions about the scope of exclusion in today’s regulatory climate, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued an updated Special Advisory bulletin this past May.

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Domino Effect of Professional Disciplinary Action

When a healthcare professional faces professional discipline the initial focus tends to be on getting through and beyond the proceeding. Healthcare professionals, however, should also be aware of the collateral consequences that may stem from a professional disciplinary action.

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OIG Recoveries and Exclusions Rise in 2011

Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) calculated the savings its programs brought to the Federal government in 2011. The statistics, which reveal recoveries in the billions, serve as a sobering reminder to providers of the increasing interest by the government in ensuring that providers are complying with the healthcare laws and regulations.

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Impact of Provider Exclusion from Medicare on Employers

In our prior articles, we discussed the far reaching impact of an Office of Inspector General (OIG) exclusion from the Medicare Program on providers and suppliers. Exclusion from the Medicare Program also impacts employers and we address some of those ramifications below.

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Far Reaching Impact of Medicare Exclusion

In our prior articles, we looked at the basis for Medicare exclusion and how the Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) powers to exclude providers has been recently enhanced by the passage of the Affordable Care Act. In this article we focus on the sweeping impact that exclusion has on providers and suppliers.

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Basis for Medicare Exclusion

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has broad authority to take measures such as excluding providers and suppliers from participating in the Medicare Program in order to protect the program and beneficiaries. There are a number of reasons why exclusions may be imposed and we summarize them below.

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Medicare Exclusion

One of the most powerful tools the Office of Inspector General (OIG) within the Department of Health and Human Services has in safeguarding the integrity of the Medicare Program is the ability to exclude providers and suppliers from participation. It is the proverbial hammer that, when brought down, could severely hamper a physician’s ability to practice medicine and a healthcare facilities’ ability to stay operational.

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