In the world of hospice care, providing compassionate and ethical service should be the top priority. However, compliance regulations can be complicated, contributing to unintentional errors that may escalate into serious fraud claims.
If you’re a hospice care provider, understanding these pitfalls is crucial to safeguarding your practice and maintaining trust with your patients and their families. This short blog underscores two common mistakes that can increase the risk of hospice fraud claims.
Missing regular supervisory visits
One of the most common errors that can lead to fraud claims is failing to conduct regular supervisory visits by registered nurses. Federal guidelines require that these visits occur at least once every 14 days.
Missing these visits impacts patient care and raises red flags for auditors and regulators. To avoid this issue, implement robust scheduling and tracking systems and review them regularly. Consistent visits not only fulfill legal requirements but also enhance the quality of care you can provide.
Inadequate documentation
Another significant mistake is the lack of proper documentation for supervisory visits. It’s estimated that about 5,000 visits were not documented according to federal standards.
Documentation proves compliance and quality care in the health care industry. Inadequate records can lead to suspicions of fraud, even if patients receive the right services.
To prevent this, train your staff thoroughly on documentation procedures and implement a system for regular audits to ensure compliance. Accurate and complete records are your best defense against potential fraud claims.
Protecting your practice with diligence
By staying on top of things and keeping good records, you may sidestep potential problems and focus on what counts: taking care of people who need your help. When you’ve got a solid foundation in place, you can start thinking about ways to improve your hospice care facility and make a real difference in people’s lives.