Compliance: Avoid Five Common Compliance Landmines

Why This Topic Matters

These topics are central to avoiding payment errors, privacy problems, and compliance exposure in day-to-day practice operations. The article helps readers quickly assess whether their billing, documentation, and privacy processes need review.

Article Sections

1. Check in on Your Billing Practice

   Discusses oversight of outsourced billing functions and internal review of billing performance. Focuses on general monitoring areas such as collections, coding distribution, and denials.

2. Ensure That Your EHRs Are Secure

   Covers security and privacy concerns associated with electronic health records and network access. Mentions compliance risks tied to protected patient information.

3. Follow Your Compliance Plan

   Addresses the importance of implementing and maintaining a practice compliance plan. Emphasizes staff-wide adherence to healthcare regulations.

4. Make Sure All Physician Orders Are in Writing

   Reviews documentation expectations for ordered services and the role of written orders in the billing process. Discusses physician and non-physician practitioner authorization at a general level.

5. Think of Miscoding Place of Service As Potential Upcode

   Explains why place-of-service reporting matters and how setting-related billing differences can affect claims. Covers general compliance concerns related to service location reporting.