Compliance

Our online compliance courses provide training for the multifaceted components of compliance. They cover key requirements needed to effectively develop, implement, and monitor a healthcare compliance program for your practice based on governmental regulatory guidelines, including internal compliance reviews, audits, risk assessments, and staff education and training.

Webinars

The best revenue cycle management professionals stay up-to-date on the ever-changing healthcare industry. Our webinar events bring you the education you need from experts you know and trust--all at a great price. Future proof your career and stay current in medical coding, billing, auditing, compliance, practice management and hot topics such as emerging technologies, E/M, MACRA, the 21st Century Cures Act and other healthcare legislative changes. Scratch the cost and inconvenience of the travel-- get the best value education anytime, anywhere.

  • The OIG 2017 Workplan - Risk Areas forEveryone
  • Preventing Embezzlement in your Practice
  • What's Happening with DME in 2017?
  • Current Trends in Arthroscopic Surgery
  • Ophthalmology Updates and Coding Tips
  • Foundations in Anesthesia Practice
  • The 7 Deadly Sins of HIPAA
  • Transitional Care: Starting with the Basics & Building a Successful Model
  • Audit Scope and Selection
  • 10 Most Common Questions from OB Coders
  • 2017 Updates to CMS’ Hospital OutpatientProspective Payment System
  • Trump Care – What Impact Donald Trump MayHave on Healthcare’s Future
  • Data Collection on Global Surgery Services (as Mandated by MACRA)
  • More Titles to come
  • Co-Surgery Guidelines for Spine Surgery
  • The Movefrom Fee-for-Service to Paying for Quality and Value
  • Your Skin in Ten
  • Auditing for PATH Guidelines
  • IPF PPS - How Do We Get Reimbursed Anyway?
  • Telemedicine: Here's the Number, SoCode it Maybe
  • Review of 2016 OIG Workplan
  • Risk Analysisvs. Forensic Auditing
  • Coding for Psychology
  • Effective Communication Skills
  • 2017 Updates for ICD-10-CM
  • DME: Do You Have the Right Documentationto Support Necessity?
  • Special Presentation and Coding Tool: Crash Course in Medical Necessity for E/MCoders
  • The Cost of Coding Mistakes
  • Empathy and Boundaries, Challenges in Healthcare
  • Administering the Proper Coding of Infusions and Injections
  • A&P Series; Respiratory System
  • Two-Midnight Rule: Where Are We Now?
  • So, You've Received a Subpoena from the OIG...
  • Coding and Billing for Foot Care
  • Physician Code Selection in Office EHRs - Ensure Compliant, Concise and Correct Coding of Services
  • Inpatient E/M Coding: Initial vs. Subsequent, Consults, and Shared Visits
  • Incident-To, Locum Tenans, Reciprocal Billing
  • Secrets of Successful Coders
  • Radiation Oncology: Coding From Both Sides of Treatment
  • Documentation 101 -Signatures, Signature Logs, Cloning
  • Risk Adjustment Coding in the Provider Office
  • Provider Communication
  • Creating an Effective Process to Handle Denials
  • Medicare Preventive/Screening Services: Lost Opportunities
  • Provider-Based Billing and the New Place of Service
  • Managing Challenging Patients
  • CDI - What's Missing and How to Communicate that With Your Provider(s)

Communication

Business communication (or simply "communication," in a business context) encompasses topics such as marketing, brand management, customer relations, consumer behavior, advertising, public relations, corporate communication, community engagement, reputation management, interpersonal communication, employee engagement, and event management. It is closely related to the fields of professional communication and technical communication. Business communication can also be said to be the way employees, management and administration communicate to reach to their organizational goals.

This course assists managers in learning how to use the CEDAR approach to preparing for and engage in constructive feedback sessions. After completing this course, the learner should be able to:

  • Be specific about the feedback they want to give and why.
  • Discuss the situation from the other person's perspective.
  • Explain what is actually happening and why. Focus on the facts, not on the person.
  • Demonstrate why being courteous and respectful in nature will help people improve.
  • Recognize and accept counter-feedback.
  • Address criticism directed at team members.

Often the transition from a campus lifestyle to the working world can be a difficult one. As these “new starters” pepper the ranks of your organization in this day of high turnover where over 90% of Millennials expect to stay at a job for less than three years, it’s up, to today’s forward thinking companies to start them on the right foot. The Cutting-Edge crew is back in the Success at Work Series with 10 fresh videos to demonstrate essential employability skills Millennials can use to achieve success at your organization and wherever their future endeavors may take them.

Average Run Time: 2 Hours 31 Minutes

This video series covers the various techniques to hone your business email communication. The goal of this video series is to identify the ways email has impacted how we do business today and show that using the proper skills and techniques can enhance the level of service we provide to our customers.

Average Run Time: 1 Hour 33 Minutes

Problems with workplace communication can lead to low productivity and increased stress between co-workers and management. Workplace Communication Skills this online learning plan includes targeted training to empower employees with proven methods to navigate a wide variety of interpersonal challenges, such as ethics and personality conflicts. This program is ideal for regular staff development, team-building sessions, conflict resolution training, and any performance improvement initiative centered on office etiquette. These “just-in-time” courses include actionable tips that employees can use to manage and resolve challenges in the workplace.

This learning plan is a continuation of the Workplace Communication Skills I learning plan delving deeper into the content covered in part 1 of this topic.

For both entry level and intermediate skilled staff, this online learning plan is for team members who work with patients and customers face-to-face, and via the phone, emails, and instant messaging tools. This entry-level training is designed for new staff members or beginners in communications and customer service. Courses empower staff to resolve negativity, vague requests, and even customer swearing.

For both entry level and intermediate skilled staff, this online learning plan is for team members who work with patients and customers face-to-face, and via the phone, emails, and instant messaging tools. This intermediate-level training is designed for existing staff members well versed in communications. This course teaches new techniques on handling burnouts, foreign accents, and rude customers.

This learning plan contains the following 11 courses:

  • The Exceptional Patient Experience: 16 Rules toLive By
    • Total time: 45 mins
  • Essentials of Telephone Communication Skills
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • 10 Principles of Positive Collaboration andTeamwork in Healthcare
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • Keys to Professional Email Communication
    • Total time: 15 mins
  • The Seven Keys to a Positive Mental Attitude
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • Influencing the Interaction
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • Six Steps to Service Recovery
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • That’s Just Rude
    • Total time: 15 mins
  • Essential Elements of Internal CustomerService
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • Killer Words of Customer Service
    • Total time: 30 mins
  • Maintaining Customer Relations
    • Total time: 30 mins

Compliance Training

This learning plan is designed for annual compliance training. This learning plan contains 7 courses:

  • HIPAA: Quick Learn for Employees
  • Let’s Talk… Harassment-it Happens!
  • Preventing Harassment in the Office Concise
  • The Psychology of Sexual Harassment (Stop Sexual Harassment Now: Part 1)
  • Where to Draw the Line (Stop Sexual Harassment Now: Part 4)
  • Stop Sexual Harassment Now - Questions (Stop Sexual Harassment Now: Part 7)
  • OSHA Training

This learning plan is designed for new hire compliance training for IT staff. This learning plan contains 7 courses:

  • HIPAA – Practice IT Professional
  • HIPAA Privacy and Security Training
  • False Claims
  • Federal Guidelines
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services(CMS Guidelines)
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees
  • OSHA Training

This learning plan is designed for new hire compliance training for managers and supervisory non-clinical staff. This learning plan contains 7 courses:

  • OIG Compliance Program Guidance - Billing Companies & Other Clinical Facilities
  • Healthcare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
  • Key Enforcement Laws
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Ethics in the Workplace for Employees
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees
  • Preventing Workplace Discrimination and Harassment for Employees

This training is designed to target key training needed to complete your management compliance training. This learning plan contains 12 courses:

  • OIG Compliance Program Guidance - Billing Companies & Other Clinical Facilities
  • Key Enforcement Laws
  • Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
  • Emergency Medical Treatment and Active LaborAct (EMTALA) and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
  • Human Resource Law
  • Investigations and Legal Process
  • Medical Necessity and Key Risk Areas
  • Healthcare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
  • Ethics in the Workplace for Managers
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers
  • Preventing Workplace Discrimination and Harassment for Managers

Compliance and Regulatory

There are rules and regulations associated with billing healthcare services. Rules can be defined in agreements the provider may have with a third-party payer, such as a health insurance plan or HMO. This learning plan is designed to help meet the expanding need for regulatory affairs professionals who can understand and interpret regulations across the full spectrum of the healthcare industry. This learning plan contains 29 courses:

  • Controlling Violence in Healthcare
  • Healthcare Fraud, Waste & Abuse Awareness
  • Healthcare Fraud, Waste & Abuse for Health Plans
  • Compliance Plan Overview for Health Plans in Medicare Advantage
  • Introduction to Medicare Advantage Plans for Health Plans
  • Medicare Advantage Marketing Guidelines
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers
  • Preventing Workplace Discrimination &
  • Harassment for Employees
  • Preventing Workplace Discrimination & Harassment for Managers
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees(Extended)
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers(Extended)
  • Complying with the Red Flag Rules
  • Ethics in the Workplace for Employees
  • Ethics in the Workplace for Managers
  • Understanding Safe Practices of Social Media at Work
  • Building a Culture of Anti-Bullying for Employees
  • Building a Culture of Anti-Bullying for Managers
  • Understanding PCI-DSS Compliance
  • Age-Specific Competencies and Patient Rights
  • Culturally Competent Care: An Overview
  • Reducing Violence and Suicide Risks in Mental Health
  • Strategies to Meet Joint Commission Patient Safety Goals
  • Patient Safety for Ambulatory Care Centers
  • Multidrug-resistant Pathogens and Preventing Infection
  • Obstetrical Safety Issues and Preventing Infant Abduction
  • Essentials of HIV/AIDS for Healthcare Employees
  • Recognizing Abuse and Violence
  • Preventing Falls in Healthcare Settings

HIPAA

HIPAA is a series on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Before we get started, we need to make clear that we are not lawyers and this should not be considered a source of legal advice. It's important to watch these modules in order. In this course, we'll be discussing the following: (Approximate Length: 1 hour 9 mins)

  • HIPAA: 1. The Basics
  • HIPAA: 2. What is HITECH?
  • HIPAA: 3. HITECH - Understanding Business Associates
  • HIPAA: 4. What is Protected Health Information?
  • HIPAA: 5. The Privacy Rule - Authorizations
  • HIPAA: 6. The Privacy Rule - Disclosures
  • HIPAA: 7. The Security Rule
  • HIPAA: 8. Enforcement
  • HIPAA: 9. Breaches
  • HIPAA: 10. Penalties
  • HIPAA: 11. General Disclosures - FAQ
  • HIPAA: 12. Marketing - FAQ
  • HIPAA: 13. Protections Against Violations - RiskAnalysis
  • HIPAA: 14. Protections Against Violations - Safeguards
  • HIPAA: 15. Quick Learn for Employees
  • HIPAA: 16. Consumer Rights
  • HIPAA: 17. Disclosure to Family and Friends
  • HIPAA: 18. For Emergency Responders
  • HIPAA: 19. GINA

Remove the burden and doubt of accuracy in your HIPAA training by enrolling your employees in this HIPAA learning plan. With this training, you will know all staff members are up to date on the latest in the regulation.

  • Security Awareness 101
  • How to be a Human Firewall
  • Mobile Security
  • Social Engineering
  • Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
  • Security for Remote Workers and Business Travelers

Meaningful Use

This learning plan online course guides you to demonstrate 'Meaningful Use' of your EMR system for federal incentives. In cooperation with Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU), these online courses detail exactly what is required to the meet the measures; taking the guesswork out of the process. Each course takes 10-15 minutes to complete and can be completed on your PC, laptop, tablet or even your smartphone.

  • Use Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)for Medication Orders
  • Implement Drug-Drug and Drug-Allergy Interaction Checks
  • Maintain Active Medication List
  • Maintain an Up-to-Date Problem List of Currentand Active Diagnoses
  • Generate and Transmit Permissible Prescriptions Electronically
  • Record All Patient Demographics
  • Record Smoking Status
  • Implement One Clinical Decision Support Rule
  • Record and Chart Changes in Vital Signs
  • Report Ambulatory Clinical Quality Measures
  • Protecting Electronic Health Information
  • Record Active Medication Allergy List
  • Provide Clinical Summaries for Patients for Each Office Visit
  • Electronic Access to Health Information
  • Exchange of Clinical Information Electronically
  • Submit Electronic Data for Public HealthMeasures
  • Generate Patient Lists and Send Patient
  • Identify Patient Specific Education Resources
  • Transition of Care Summary
  • Perform Medication Reconciliation
  • Clinical Lab Test Results
  • Implementing Drug Formulary Checks

OSHA

Finally, a quick and easy way to meet OSHA training requirements, this learning plan focuses solely on OSHA online education. These bite-sized online courses can be taken as-is or modified to fit your unique organization, with just a click of a button. These online courses address 37 topics covering all required safety regulations and standards, like bloodborne pathogens, ergonomics, and disaster preparedness. Enroll your employees in the four 30-minute sessions, and watch their progress from the comfort of your office.

  • Bloodborne Pathogens and Your Exposure Control Plan
  • Why Emergency Action Plans Matter
  • Patient & Workplace Safety Measures
  • Steps to Minimize Workplace-Relates Injuries

Security Awareness

This learning plan focuses on HIPAA HITECH security. The HITECH Act is transformational legislation that anticipates a massive expansion in the exchange of electronic protected health information (ePHI). The HITECH Act widens the scope of privacy and security protections available under HIPAA; increases potential legal liability for non-compliance, and provides more enforcement of HIPAA rules.

  • HIPAA HITECH: Introduction
  • HIPAA HITECH: Individual Rights
  • HIPAA HITECH: Privacy Notice
  • HIPAA HITECH: Restrictions on PHI
  • HIPAA HITECH: Business Associates Part 1
  • HIPAA HITECH: Business Associates Part 2
  • HIPAA HITECH: Business Associates Part 3
  • Protecting Your Mobile Devices: Malware
  • Protecting Your PC
  • What is Phishing?
  • Don't Get Hooked by Phishing
  • SMS Phishing Scam for Email Accounts | Symantec

Compliance Webinars

Have you tried to assume the role of organizational ‘hall monitor’ or tried to run a compliance program with outdated tools and methods? I know I have. Many times, in my career I’ve gotten things wrong.

But that’s okay because the road to greatness is through mistakes. The important thing is that we live and learn, right?

Attend my upcoming webinar, Common Mistakes Compliance Officers Make (And How You Can Avoid Them), to learn how to:

  • Spot Red Flags That You’re Doing Something Wrong
  • Correct Your Mistakes to be the Best CO You Can Be
  • Anticipate Roadblocks and Quagmires That Can Slow Your Progress

At the 2017 HCCA Compliance Institute, Daniel Levinson, Inspector General of HHS, announced that the OIG would be releasing a new guide entitled, “Measuring Compliance Program Effectiveness.”

As you already know, simply having a compliance program is not enough to keep the OIG happy and your leadership covered. Instead, your goal should be to have an effective compliance program. But that leads to the all-important question: how do you know if your program is effective? Conducting regular compliance program effectiveness reviews is an ideal way to get a comprehensive view of your program either in-house, with a third-party expert, or ideally both. Watch our on-demand webinar, How to Measure the Effectiveness of Your Compliance Program, to learn:

  • Important Details from the New OIG Resource Guide
  • Examples of Measures for Testing Compliance
  • 7 Crucial Elements of an Effective Compliance Program

A few months ago, we conducted a survey of 1,200 healthcare executives. Some of the results are probably some of the same challenges that are currently keeping you up at night. The survey results reveal much about the upcoming challenges that compliance programs will face in 2017, the largest risks, and how many healthcare organizations across the nation are managing compliance. The results give us both teaching opportunities as well as red flags to steer clear of in our industry.

The survey suggests that keeping current with an ever-increasing volume of laws and regulations will be one of our biggest challenges this year. Another challenge, maintaining compliance standards with limited compliance resources. And the greatest compliance risk to your organization this year, one that we must all prepare for, will be coding and billing. Watch our on-demand webinar, The State of Compliance, 2017, to learn:

  • What May Be Driving Your Greatest Risks
  • How Your Compliance Program Can Mitigate Coding and Billing Risks
  • Ways to Bolster Executive Support for Your Compliance Program

We all know the value of getting your board on board with compliance. And I know that you’ve worked hard to open lines of communication between your governing board and your compliance program. The next step is to learn how to effectively communicate your reports to your board.

In this webinar, I cover what you should report to your governing board and, as a bonus, I demonstrate an awesome tool that will make it a lot easier. Let’s be honest, technology always simplifies our lives. So, watch this on-demand webinar, Simplify the Way You Communicate Compliance Reports with Software, to see how the compliance software tool, Compliance Manager, can make your reporting to the governing board, easier, smarter and better documented with key features such as:

  • Data Entry of Key Compliance Metrics
  • Tracking Key Data Points Over Time
  • Generating Reports for Distribution

The OIG has stated, “every Board is responsible for ensuring that its organization complies with relevant Federal, State, and local laws.” In order to achieve this, the OIG recommends proper oversight of the organization’s compliance program.

As a compliance officer, you want to get your board on board with compliance, asap. Start by helping them realize the importance, then, show them that it’s easier than they think. Asking the right structural and operational questions is a great starting point for the board to achieve effective oversight. Key structural questions might be, how does the organization’s compliance reporting system work? What are the inherent limitations of the compliance program? While some key operational questions might be, how has the Code of Conduct been incorporated into corporate policies?

The next step is to establish communication with your board using benchmarks and peer comparisons because “what gets measured is what gets done.” And educate the board on your compliance program from the structure of the compliance program to the organization’s fraud and abuse risk areas. Watch this on-demand webinar, Communicating with Your Board, where you’ll learn:

  • The Board’s Responsibility in Relation to Your Compliance Program
  • Questions Your Board Can Ask to Begin Program Assessment
  • How to Effectively Communicate with Your Board

The OIG recently released their 2017 work plan. And the information can make or break your organization’s compliance program. You don’t want to mess with the OIG. Just last year they performed 1,662 exclusions, 428 criminal actions and 383 civil actions. Reading about physician’s services such as transitional care mgmt. and chronic care management in the work plan isn’t the most exciting way to spend a few hours. So, I've simplified it, focused on the highlights and dug up current events and case studies that will add context and takeaways for your organization.

Watch our on-demand webinar, ""2017 OIG Work Plan, Simplified: Provider Highlights,"" to learn the updates for:

  • Physician Payment Sunshine Act
  • Skilled Nursing Facilities, Home Health and Hospice
  • Diagnostic Laboratory Tests including Histocompatibility Testing

There are many requirements for attesting to Meaningful Use in 2016, and if you’re anything like most of us, you’ve probably put it off until the end of the year. For most providers, they will be following Meaningful Use Modified Stage 2 requirements which includes 9 criteria for eligible hospitals (EH) and 10 requirements for eligible providers (EP). Modified Stage 2 eliminates the menu requirements and focuses the criteria on the most crucial areas.

The particularly vital areas have presented the most problems for EH’s and EP’s. These can lead to the denial of the payment of incentive funds for pre-payment audits or the return of funds in the case of post-payment audits.

Watch this, on-demand webinar, Cramming for Your 2016 Meaningful Use Attestation, to learn how to:

  • Understand Which Documents Should be Assembled Prior to Attesting
  • Connect the Dots Between Meaningful Use and the Future of Medicare Payment System
  • Identify the Primary Criteria That Will Present Problems in Case of an Audit
  • Avoid Failing a Meaningful Use Audit

Practices that accept Medicare should expect increased efforts to identify overpayment and fraud. Commercial payers may also get more aggressive on auditing documentation, coding, and billing. This session will describe how a good compliance plan can reduce your risks by understanding topics, such as:

  • Final Rule Implementing Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act
  • Complying with Medicare Signature Requirements
  • New FLSA Overtime Rule… and How it will Affect your Medical Practice
  • ZPIC Auditors

The OIG recently released their 2017 work plan. And the information is crucial for the success of your organization and compliance program. Last year, the OIG boasts 1,662 exclusions, 428 criminal actions and 383 civil actions. That’s not a list that anyone wants to be on. But how do you prevent it? Pouring over the work plan, maintaining compliance, and training your staff.

But let’s be honest, reading it isn’t the most exciting way to spend a few afternoons. Yawn. So, our compliance expert, CJ Wolf, labored over the work plan for you. That way, you can sit back and listen while he hammers out the new items, revised items, action plan, and case studies that might be pertinent to your organization. Watch our on-demand webinar, 2017 OIG Work Plan, Simplified: Hospital Highlights, to learn the updates for:

  • Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO) Therapy
  • Incorrect Medical Assistance Days
  • Inpatient Psych Facility Outlier Payments
  • Inpatient Rehab Hospital
  • Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy

In the last several years, while conducting hundreds of HIPAA Security Risk Analyses, I’ve observed the challenges that organizations face in an effort to keep patient information safe and secure. As a result, I’ve been able to observe first-hand the types of solutions that give the biggest bang for your buck.

There are a number of things that your organization should be doing to protect ePHI. I’ve compiled the most essential into a workable list of solutions and controls that have a good return on investment. And don’t wait until it’s too late. This webinar will provide details about ways to protect your organization from data breach and learn how to:

  • Implement Ways to Prevent and Respond to Ransomware Attacks
  • Improve Workflow Efficiency and Security That Doctors LOVE
  • Train Workforce to Follow Your Policies, Prevent Breaches and Thwart Attacks

One of the very first HIPAA Security regulations, “Assigned Security Responsibility,” requires every Business Associate and every covered entity to have a designated HIPAA Security Officer.

Many organizations that I work with in my consulting practice seem to know that they need a Privacy Officer but not a Security Officer. And technically, Business Associates aren’t required to have a Privacy Officer (although they should anyway). For the organizations that are aware of this required role, it’s often plagued by a “check the box” mentality with a lack of thoughtful consideration for the types of ongoing responsibilities that a Security Officer should oversee and maintain, and an understanding of where the Security Officer should be within the hierarchy of management, among other problems.

Watch this on-demand webinar, Supercharge Your HIPAA Compliance Efforts, to understand how the Security Officer role can play a critical part in securing the sensitive information under your care.

  • Why Does HIPAA Require You to Have a Security Officer?
  • Do the Rules Require Any Credentials or Certifications for This Role?
  • What Training is Available to Security Officers to Make Them More Effective in the Role?

Compliance and Ethics week is coming, November 6th-12th! Come celebrate with us as we explore the origin, evolution and future of compliance programs. Many executives and business leaders still don’t know exactly what a compliance program is or why they even need one: Compliance programs not only meet legal requirements but also help an organization to run efficiently, securely, and financially safe.

“Providers who are found to be in noncompliance might be forced to return overpayments, or face severe civil, criminal, and financial penalties. Penalties can total three times the amount of the claim, in addition to fines reaching $11,000, per claim, under the False Claims Act.” As a compliance officer, I feel like part of our job is to educate organizations on how compliance programs came into being. And why compliance programs are so crucial for an organization to succeed. Watch this, on-demand webinar, The Evolution of Compliance Programs: Where We've Been And Where We're Going, to learn:

  • What is the Role of a Compliance Officer?
  • Why Does an Organization Need a Formal Program?
  • What Does the Future Hold for Compliance Programs and Professionals in the Field?

It’s the 21st Century. As an individual or organization in the healthcare industry, it’s more important than ever to keep learning. In the last 20 years, we’ve experienced an explosion in information, technology, and our already dynamic industry has evolved drastically (robots, EHRs, HIPAA, etc.!). Changes in healthcare — including guidelines, code sets, and regulations — complicate our work and require continuous education.

When it comes to learning and training, the quality of information matters. But delivery matters even more. What good is a training session if the information isn’t retained by your employees?

The four pillars of learning use tried-and-true techniques to achieve effective learning. Incorporate the four pillars into your education and training to get the most out of every minute and dollar spent.

Watch this, on-demand webinar, 4 Smart Strategies for Better Employee Training, and see how you can begin to:

  • Develop a Balance Between Formal and Informal Learning
  • Personalize Learning to Your Unique Needs and Interests
  • Adopt Effective Technologies to Help You on the Road to Personal and Professional Development

Tuomey, a community-based hospital in South Carolina, and the US government, recently resolved a False Claims Act judgement that resulted in a whopping $72 million-dollar settlement. The judgement involved improper financial relationships with physicians, or “secret sweetheart deals between hospitals and physicians,” as described by the Department of Justice.

It all started when a physician decided to blow the whistle in 2005. In 2013, a federal jury ruled that Tuomey had indeed violated the False Claims Act by submitting illegal claims to Medicare. In addition, the jury found that the hospital was in violation of the Stark law for giving economic incentives to doctors for referring patients. The trial and retrial resulted in an order for Tuomey to pay $237 million, the resignation of top executives, and eventually the recent settlement of $72 million along with a corporate integrity agreement and a sale of the hospital to Palmetto Health, finalized just days ago. Watch this, on-demand webinar to hear more about this monumental case and learn:

  • How to Implement CIA Requirements
  • What Preventative Measures Can Reduce Your Organization’s Risk
  • Why Compliance Programs are Your Greatest Self Defense

In the United States alone, organizations spend about $135 Billion to train individuals each year. Just mentioning compliance training to your staff will send everyone running for the hills, doing everything they can to avoid what they perceive to be an absolute bore. Boring or not, training is a necessity according to the OIG, and one that every organization needs to take seriously to run an efficient and compliant practice.

But not all training is created equal. Research on training practices reveals that the most effective training includes unique preferences for adult learners as well as proven principles for training in work settings.

Watch this, on-demand webinar, “Master Compliance Training: The Science Behind Successful Employee Education”, to learn:

  • What the OIG Says About Employee Training
  • The Four Things that Successful Training Does
  • The Principles of Effective Adult Learning

You probably know the rules of HIPAA Privacy, but how much do you really know about HIPAA Security?

Following security rules is crucial for protecting your organization from data breach, fines, and irreparable damages to the very structure of everything that has taken so long to build. Compliance requires the participation of all covered entities and business associates but it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Educate yourself on the high-risk areas by watching our webinar, "HIPAA Security Essentials, Simplified", and learn:

  • The Difference Between Privacy and Security
  • Everything You Need to Know About Security Risk Analysis
  • Hiring Processes and Terminations Best Practices
  • The Appropriate Use of Email and Texting
  • How to Properly Backup Your Data
  • The Definition of a Business Associate

Risk analysis is the cornerstone of your HIPAA Security compliance program. It's the very first security safeguard within the security management process standard and is also required for the Meaningful Use program for both providers and hospitals.

Because Risk Analysis is so important, failure to comply has serious consequences. If your organization fails to do a risk analysis or an adequate risk analysis, you may be denied Meaningful Use funds if you’re audited. If you’re targeted for an audit post-payment, your organization will have to return funds.

Watch this on-demand webinar, Risk Analysis Essentials, Simplified, to learn how to:

  • Understand Why Risk Analysis is the Cornerstone of HIPAA Security
  • Decipher the Regulatory Language and Stated Intent of Risk Analysis
  • Conduct a Risk Analysis Based on Our Provided Action Plan

Understanding the complexities of the HIPAA Security and Privacy rules can be time-consuming and put additional strain on your already slammed organization. In addition, CMS has published the protocol for the Stage 2 HIPAA Privacy and Security Audits. These audits will begin as “desk audits,” then evolve into “in-person” audits. Entities of all sizes, along with their business associates, will be targeted.

While it may sound overwhelming, HIPAA compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. Knowing what it means to comply, and having the most crucial elements in place can help ensure that you’ll be ready, and compliant, when audited.

Watch this on-demand webinar, HIPAA Compliance Essentials, Simplified, to learn:

  • Specific Documentation Requirements Expressed in the New Regulations
  • The Different “Levels” of Compliance
  • How to Fold Important Elements into Daily Operations

Many think of compliance as a set of policies and procedures that dictate what the group should do. Others wonder if it might be a fully integrated action-plan that has specific people and monitoring tools used in concert to ensure the safety of patient data.

While many definitions of compliance might be correct, one thing for sure is that compliance is NOT the same thing as security. Healthicity and SPHER Inc. have joined forces to talk about what separates compliance from security. And to define why healthcare has become such a common target. We will speak to areas where your operation needs to focus its energy and where you need to be extra vigilant.

Watch this on-demand webinar, "Compliance Is Not Security", to learn:

  • Why Healthcare is Considered an Easy Target for ePHI Theft and Identity Fraud
  • How You Must be Continuously Vigilant in Your Security Efforts
  • Why Written Policies and Procedures are Not Compliance

Business Associates are often involved in compliance violations that impact the PHI untold patients. While new laws put significant responsibilities on the Business Associate themselves, it’s still your patients’ PHI to protect (along with your covered entity’s reputation).

Protecting your organization requires you to be proactive when it comes to your Business Associates. As covered entities, you need to perform your due diligence in identifying your business associates, assessing the associated risks and then putting appropriate mitigations efforts in place.

It might sound impossible to effectively manage your Business Associates without it taking over your entire workday. However, it’s totally doable. In fact, you can learn a lot about what needs to be done from other entities’ settlements and corrective action plans. Watch this, on-demand webinar, “Failure to Comply: Examples of Business Associates Gone Wrong,” to learn how to:

  • Identify your Business Associates
  • Assess Which of Your Business Associates Pose the Greatest Risk
  • Mitigate the Risks Related to Your Business Associates

The OIG stated that “detected but uncorrected misconduct can seriously endanger” your organization’s “mission, reputation, and legal status.”

The mission of every compliance program is to find and correct mistakes. Most compliance programs refer to this as incident management. We often aim for perfection, but the OIG stated that it “recognizes that mistakes will occur” but that “employees have an affirmative, ethical duty to come forward and report erroneous or fraudulent conduct, so that it may be corrected.”

And you may be surprised to know that if your compliance program has no record of any mistakes or corrective actions, your program might be ineffective.

Watch our recent webinar on-demand, “The Consequences of Poor Incident Management”, for best practices in incident management and learn how to:

  • Discover Issues
  • Conduct Investigations
  • Create the Best Corrective Action Plans
  • Document the Right Way