Practice Management Alert

To be sure everyone in your practice is equally well informed about billing compliance, create a "compliance packet" for all new employees. A compliance packet is essentially a binder containing all relevant compliance documents and information, says Robert A. Pelaia, JD, CPC, director of compliance at the University of Florida in Jacksonville. For physicians and other providers, the packet might include the teaching physician billing policy, your practice's billing compliance plan, the provider's code of conduct, your practice's compliance hotline number, and a list of all your compliance representatives.

For front-office staff, such as billers and coders, you can alter the packet's contents slightly so the information is relevant. Have all new employees review their compliance packets and then sign a statement saying they have received, reviewed and understood all these documents and they know where to direct any further questions.