Archive for category: Blog

A Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) is negotiated with a healthcare provider or entity. This type of agreement is part of a settlement of federal healthcare program investigations arising under false claims statutes. In exchange for the agreement, the OIG agrees not to exclude the provider or entity from participation in the federal healthcare programs. Implementation and oversight of CIAs require significant personnel and financial resources. 
All types of organizations and providers may be impacted including pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, hospitals, nursing homes and long term care facilities, and medical practices. Check out our infographic to become familiar with some of the common elements found in these agreements.

Everyone who participates in the United States healthcare system either as a patient, provider business associate, or subcontractor either knows or should know about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-191 (Aug. 21, 1996). Industry participants should also have implemented requisite standards espoused by the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, Breach Notification Rule and the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, Pub. L. 111-5 (Feb. 17, 2009).

In healthcare facilities, workplace violence is an important issue that comes at a high price. Not only is workplace violence itself costly, but so are the fines OSHA issues in response. Recently OSHA has fined two healthcare facilities, one in Pennsylvania and one in Florida, for making employees and patients vulnerable to workplace violence.