Establishing a Compliance Plan in an Era of Austerity

Abstract

With the publishing of the Office of Inspector General's (OIG's) compliance program guidance for home health agencies, the OIG has given notice to the home care sector that home health providers should have in place, or be developing, effective and well-run compliance programs. Many providers, facing numerous regulatory mandates, are questioning whether they can afford to develop a non-mandatory compliance program. Fortunately, with an understanding of the purpose of compliance programs, most providers can create and implement their own program. This article describes how one organization, with senior leadership's involvement and a basic understanding of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, implemented a program that complies with the OIG's guidance.