Editor’s Note: This is part of a week long series exploring the impact of the OIG 2013 Work Plan on different types of providers and organizations.
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced in its recently released 2013 Workplan that it intends to continue to focus on several issues impacting ambulance suppliers. Specifically, the OIG stated that it intends to examine levels of transport, including Advanced Life Support (“ALS”) and Specialty Care Transport (“SCT”), to determine whether these levels were reasonable and necessary.
The OIG also indicated that it would examine relationships between ambulance companies and other providers, presumably related to the anti-kickback statute.
Ambulance suppliers can expect to see continued focus on these issues, which have been the focus of Medicare audits and OIG scrutiny for some time. Effective compliance programs can help ambulance providers to assess their risk related to these and other areas of scrutiny.
If you need assistance creating and implementing a compliance plan, or have questions about the OIG work plan, or ambulance billing and relationships, please contact an experienced Wachler & Associates healthcare attorney at 248-544-0888.