Education and training, tailored to the size, needs, and specialty of your particular practice, are critical to a successful Compliance Program. A provider’s employees must understand how and why it is essential that they fully comply with the provisions set out in a Compliance Plan.
Training may be accomplished through several methods, including on-site training, compliance meetings, and outside training seminars. A provider may choose to use a third-party, such as a consultant or attorney, for training. For example, instead of internal programs and in-service sessions, outside seminars or webinars may be useful for training purposes.
Regardless of the training method used, a provider should ensure that appropriate education is effectively communicated and that employees understand their role in health care compliance. In addition, all seminars and in-service training sessions should be designed to integrate core provider values, such as ethics, the organization's "Mission Statement," compliance protocols and goals, into their curriculum.
At a minimum, employees should be trained annually in billing, coding, and compliance guidance. However, there is no formula for determining how often to conduct training. This should be based on the provider’s practical experience and overall employee compliance with policies and procedures. Should you find that violations are occurring – more frequent training should be conducted.