Health Advisory: "OIG Announces 'Kinder, Gentler' Enforcement Tactics"
11/1/2001
Following through on promises she made shortly after taking office, recently-installed Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, Janet Rehnquist, issued an "Open Letter" to the provider community on November 20, 2001 in which she outlined several "modifications" to the Office of Inspector General's (OIG's) policies for settling False Claims Act cases and formulating corporate integrity agreements (CIAs). In addition, the OIG posted two documents, a two-page "Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the OIG's New Corporate Integrity Agreement Claims Review Procedures" and a one-page "Summary of New CIA Claims Review Procedures" to its web site (www.oighhs.gov). These announcements include changes to the OIG's standard ongoing review requirements, including retroactive application for some providers, as well as new standards for determining whether to require a CIA at all.
Health Care Privacy: Do You Know Who Your Business Associates Are? The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule contains far reaching provisions designed to protect confidential patient information. Because of the breadth of the statute, many entities may not realize that they will be bound by its provisions.
