The Hospice Board’s Key Roles In Compliance

Recently released reports on hospice by the Health and Human Services Department’s Office of the Inspector General indicate that we’re clearly in for a new era of scrutiny for hospice services. It has probably never been more important for a board to be clear on its role in ensuring that an effective compliance program is in place.

The basic responsibilities of any board, whether of a healthcare organization or not, are basically the same. But when it comes to compliance oversight, healthcare board members need to aware of the regulatory and enforcement complexities of healthcare.

• What key documents should board members be familiar with that relate to compliance? What is a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA) and how can they provide guidance?
• What key questions should a board member ask about the scope and structure of your hospice compliance program? What concerns or issues does the compliance department have about its program?
• What should a board expect from the hospice Compliance Officer in reporting about internal inquiries of non-compliant activity?
• What should your board know about handling external inquiries?