Recent Developments in Healthcare Compliance

The importance of an effective compliance program for healthcare organizations cannot be overstated. Under the Affordable Care Act, compliance programs are mandatory for healthcare providers that participate in the Medicare or Medicaid program. For decades, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) has instructed healthcare organizations to implement effective compliance programs. Moreover, a robust compliance program provides immense benefits to healthcare organizations by reducing the likelihood of unlawful or unethical behavior, providing a mechanism for employees to report problems allowing for internal inquiry and corrective action, and potentially minimizing financial losses to the organization through early detection of issues.

Healthcare fraud and abuse is a high priority issue for the federal government, and there has been a tremendous increase in the complexity of the healthcare regulatory landscape over the past two decades. Moreover, financial penalties for noncompliance can be enormous, and they continue to increase. Given the importance of a strong compliance program, it's imperative that health care attorneys are up-to-date on recent developments in healthcare compliance.

Erin Atkins and Rachel Yount of Arent Fox will provide an overview of the seven elements of an effective compliance program, the OIG's compliance program guidance for specific provider types, and recent Department of Justice and OIG guidance on implementing healthcare compliance programs. The course will also provide practical tips for both healthcare organizations in the early stages of developing a compliance program and healthcare organizations with compliance programs already in place.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of the importance of compliance programs for healthcare organizations and the seven elements of an effective compliance program
2. Discuss the OIG's compliance guidance for specific healthcare provider types
3. Review recent DOJ and OIG practical guidance on implementing healthcare compliance programs
4. Identify practical tips for developing compliance programs and strengthening existing compliance programs