Archive for March 2016
OCR launches Phase 2 HIPAA Audits
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights has launched Phase 2 of its long-awaited HIPAA Audit Program. OCR has already begun sending out address verification letters, which will be followed by a questionnaire. The new round of privacy and security audits will focus on the business associates of healthcare providers,…
Read MoreGovernment recovers $1.9 billion in healthcare fraud judgments and settlements in FY 2015
A newly released report by the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) shows that the federal government won or negotiated more than $1.9 billion in healthcare fraud judgments and settlements in fiscal year 2015. As a result of these efforts, as well as those of preceding years, in fiscal year 2015, approximately $2.4…
Read MoreLessons learned from whistleblower FCA case against cancer treatment company
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that 21st Century Oncology and its wholly owned subsidiary, South Florida Radiation Oncology LLC, agreed to settle False Claims Act allegations relating to billing for procedures that were medically unnecessary. Specifically, the Fort Myers, Florida-based company was alleged to have billed for performing the Gamma function…
Read MoreGAO: Smart cards not a viable weapon in battle against healthcare fraud
There’s been a lot of debate in the last few years over the value of smart cards in the war on healthcare fraud. Some have argued that their use would go a long way toward preventing beneficiaries’ IDs from being used to perpetuate fraud in the healthcare system. Others have suggested that their use would…
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