The Compliance Insider 

Q: In our medical practice, when sharps containers are full, they are taken to a storeroom to be picked up and removed on a weekly basis. Is there a regulation that states whether this room must be locked? A:... Read More

Several of you have asked recently if eligible professionals can participate in the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System ("PQRS"), 2011 eRx Incentive Program, and the EHR Incentive Program all at the same time and... Read More

Medicare once again reminded physicians and their billing agents to ensure that they are reporting the correct place of service on physician claims, particularly on claims for outpatient physician services payable... Read More

With the increase of servicemen and women being called to active duty or coming home from active duty injured, we have received several questions about military caregiver leave and have included some of the most... Read More

Q: Does OSHA mandate that disposable gloves are required for blood draws? If so, where is the reference? A: Gloves are required for employees doing blood draws. The applicable section of the Bloodborne Pathogens... Read More

Q: A 16-year-old patient has admitted to extensive substance abuse, which is documented in his medical record. His father is requesting the record. Must we obtain the patient's authorization prior to... Read More

Scenario: Your employee has been with the company for two years. Despite supervisory training and coaching on her performance and the company's expectations, her performance remains sub-par. Her repeated mistakes... Read More

OIG recently posted the latest updated exclusion and reinstatement files. The "Updated LEIE" (List of Excluded Individuals and Entities) database file reflects all OIG exclusion and reinstatement actions up to,... Read More

Regarding OSHA inspections, we recently received the following question from a client; the answer may surprise you. Q: I am taking over OSHA compliance for our medical practice and the previous safety officer is... Read More

HIPAA requires that covered entities have in place "appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards" for protected health information (PHI). The Privacy Rule, which also extends to non-electronic... Read More