DON’T FORGET COMPLIANCE MANDATE FOR LARGE GROUPS DOING BUSINESS WITH MEDICAID

in case you forgot or didn’t know, beginning January 1, 2007, provider organizations and other entities that do an aggregate of more than $5 million of business annually with Medicaid are required to educate their employees in writing about the detection and prevention of fraud, waste and abuse. The written policies shall include detailed information about state and federal False Claims Acts and whistle-blower protections. This is a little noticed mandate under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that was signed into law in February 2006.  Because guidance on this issue was not released by CMS until mid-December, many affected providers are not aware of the new requirement. Large provider groups and any other organizations, (pharmacies, hospitals, etc) are affected by this rule. To read the CMS letter to state Medicaid Directors go to:

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/smdl/downloads/SMD121306.pdf

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/smdl/downloads/SMD121306.pdf