Does this sound familiar? A hospital lab needs around the clock staffing so that tests for acutely ill patients in the ER can be performed at any time without delay. But staffing is tight and often … [Read more...]
Trap to Avoid
Keeping Lab Employees On Call during Breaks without Paying Them for the Time
April 27, 2020
Managing Lab Staff: Supervisor Liability for Subordinate Misconduct Under Civil Rights Law
January 27, 2020
Pop Quiz: Name five bad things that can happen if you fail to properly supervise your lab’s testing staff. Chances are, your response included testing inaccuracy leading to patient endangerment, … [Read more...]
Marketing Pitfalls to Avoid: Deceptive Advertising—the Other Kind of “False Claims”
November 28, 2019
We all know that marketing activity is a breeding ground for potential lab liability. But while most labs are sensitive to the risks posed by the Antikickback Statute, Stark Law and False Claims Act, … [Read more...]
OPERATIONS
Lab Management: Billing Company Contract Liability Risks & How to Avoid Them
September 3, 2019
Like many labs, you may outsource your billing and coding to an outside medical billing company. While this might be cost-effective, be aware that it can put your lab at risk for liability under … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE PLANS
OIG Monthly Work Plan Review: August 2019
August 28, 2019
Of the 12 new items in the OIG's Work Plan this month, six indirectly impact lab providers and services. Medicare Payments of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) Devices for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) … [Read more...]
OIG OPINION
Is Your Billing Company Putting You At Compliance Risk?
August 5, 2019
By Sean McSweeney bio Does your orthopedic billing company charge a percentage of collections for their coding and billing? They might break out separate charges for statements or other … [Read more...]
TECHNOLOGY
Top 4 trends shaping the healthcare industry
July 8, 2019
By Leora Borgenicht bio Before the healthcare industry can ambitiously transform to offer more accurate and personalized patient care, certain stepping stones must be reached. These four … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE TIPS
Surviving a Medicare Audit: Warn Lab Staffers Not to Lie to Auditors
May 28, 2019
As a lab compliance director, you understand the dangers of obstructing a Medicare audit. The problem is your staff may not. So, make it clear to any staffer that may come into contact with an auditor … [Read more...]
HIPAA
Traps to Avoid: Giving Ex-Lab Employees Access to PHI
March 27, 2019
Your lab staff understands the imperative of safeguarding personal health information (PHI) and wouldn't let strangers roam about the facilities freely. But it's easy for them to lower their guard … [Read more...]
MANAGING STAFF
TOOL: Model Employee Illness/Injury Reporting Policy
January 23, 2019
The OSHA Recordkeeping Standard requires you to record and potentially report work-related illnesses and injuries. Reporting of illnesses and injuries is also crucial to investigating, identifying and … [Read more...]
