The recently passed health care reform bill–known more technically as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act–contains a provision bound to increase enforcement regimes for health care providers. For instance, at Section 6401(a)(7), the Act creates mandatory compliance programs for providers enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is tasked with setting forth both the core elements that compliance programs must include, and a timeline for implementation:
(7) COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS
(A) IN GENERAL- On or after the date of implementation determined by the Secretary under subparagraph (C), a provider of medical or other items or services or supplier within a particular industry sector or category shall, as a condition of enrollment in the program under this title, title XIX, or title XXI, establish a compliance program that contains the core elements established under subparagraph (B) with respect to that provider or supplier and industry or category.
(B) ESTABLISHMENT OF CORE ELEMENTS- The Secretary, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, shall establish core elements for a compliance program under subparagraph (A) for providers or suppliers within a particular industry or category.
(C) TIMELINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION- The Secretary shall determine the timeline for the establishment of the core elements under subparagraph (B) and the date of the implementation of subparagraph (A) for providers or suppliers within a particular industry or category. The Secretary shall, in determining such date of implementation, consider the extent to which the adoption of compliance programs by a provider of medical or other items or services or supplier is widespread in a particular industry sector or with respect to a particular provider or supplier category.
HLP will continue to help providers stay aware of these and other compliance changes as they develop. For more information on Medicare and Medicaid compliance, please contact Adrienne Dresevic, Esq. or Abby Pendleton, Esq. at (248) 996-8510.