Increase internal audits to prepare for RAC, OIG

The article "OIG Work Plan Steps Up Focus on Quality" in the January 2008 issue of Coding Compliance Strategies offers some interesting perspectives on the role that internal audits can play.

Some highlights from the article include:

"Every hospital should have an internal auditor coordinate with the finance committee to make sure they review every claim and not wait until the end of the year to conduct this review," says James Kopf, president of Healthcare Oversight, Inc.

"Select a case and walk through that case with your staff members. Ask them what steps they would take along the way to see whether they are aware of all the policies that are supposed to be in place. This shows that operational management is taking an active interest in ensuring that the proper systems are in place," according to Stephen A. Miller, J.D., chief compliance and privacy officer for Capital Health System Inc., Trenton, N.J.

"You can convey to regulators that this is our control system and this is how it’s monitored regularly," Miller says. "This shows that you took diligent steps in preventing reporting problems and that any errors are mistakes rather than reckless disregard or intentional misconduct on the part of the corporation."

Access the full article here.