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Would an ALF violate anti-kickback laws by providing activities sessions?
Question: Would it violate anti-kickback laws if an assisted living facility offers its Medicare residents “activities sessions,” such as games, cards, bowling, etc.? Answer: It might, according to a health care lawyer. “The risk would depend on the intended recipients…
Continue reading...Can an imaging center give a gift certificate to a patient who refers a friend?
1. March 2010
24 hour gym Question: Regarding recent posts about physician referrals, is it permissible for an imaging provider to give a gift certificate to a patient who refers a friend? Answer: Maybe, but there are definitely…
Continue reading...What should a health care provider do if a patient sexually harasses an employee?
18. February 2010
Question: At the home health agency (HHA) where I work, one of our employees has started complaining about a patient she sees weekly in his home, alleging that he is saying inappropriate things and attempting…
Continue reading...Do ALJ or DAB Rulings Indicate Whether IJ Citations Should Involve Actual Harm?
8. February 2010
Question: I’m a new administrator for a nursing home and am surprised that we can get an immediate jeopardy citation for an issue that doesn’t really cause harm. Are there any administrative law judge rulings or Departmental Appeals Board decisions…
Continue reading...Do My Physician’s SNF Claims Violate Stark Laws?
1. February 2010
What’s the road to compliance when a SNF’s medical director also bills fee-for-service? Question: My physician is the medical director for a skilled nursing facility and receives a stipend from the SNF for that service. Can he still bill for…
Continue reading...Overpayments: What Are My Compliance Obligations?
24. January 2010
Can insurers deduct overpayments from your checks? Find out here. Question: Some insurers are deducting overpayments from our checks for visits or services rendered. Are payers allowed to do this, and do we really have to pay back overpayments? Answer:…
Continue reading...What Are the Rules for Supervision of Therapy in the Outpatient Hospital Setting?
11. January 2010
There are some misconceptions out there, so we checked in with Rehab Report to get you on the ball. Question: I’ve just landed a job directing an offsite, hospital-based rehab facility, and I’d like some clarification on physician supervision requirements.…
Continue reading...Is Your Urgent Care Clinic EMTALA-Compliant?
30. November 2009
Practical EMTALA solutions to 2 tricky urgent care scenarios. Your facility makes the decision to set up an urgent care clinic to take some pressure off the ER and provide a place where patients can…
Continue reading...Do IRF POCs Need To Have Physician Signatures?
13. November 2009
Here are the two CMS links you need to stand up to surveyors. Question: I manage an acute inpatient rehab department, and we had a CMS survey last summer. All was good, except the surveyors said that a physician needed…
Continue reading...Physician Billing Compliance Question: Co-Pays
1. November 2009
Question: We are having an issue in our office regarding 56441. The patient had a vaginal adhesion which was corrected simply in the doctor’s office. The problem is that the patient is getting charged a higher copay because of the…
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27. March 2010
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