SAI Global Underscores Importance of Compliance throughout the Organization

Healthcare providers that were looking to see compliance pressures ease in 2013 are in for a huge disappointment. There’s obviously not going to be any let up and they will be expected to show that they are compliant throughout the organization.

Findings from the ‘ 2013 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Study’ conducted by SAI (News - Alert) Global Compliance, the provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) products, services and technology, revealed that healthcare providers considered compliance effectiveness , Medicare RAC audits, and employee training and awareness as top priorities.

Eighty eight percent of respondents were not taking any chances with the program budgets and indicated that they would either retain or increase the amounts allotted so that they could manage key areas of risk adequately.

The increasing focus and audits from the centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) appeared to be an area for concern for a large majority of the respondents. Industry reps believe that with the CMS already issuing compliance guidelines for Medicare plans, similar guidelines for healthcare providers could be in the offing.

Underscoring the importance of managing their programs appropriately, right from being audit-ready to ensuring that policies and procedures are strictly followed to avoid costly risks, Steve McGraw, GRC president, SAI Global Compliance observed that a large majority of healthcare professionals didn’t appear to be compliant throughout the organization, leaving them with risk exposure.

McGraw observed that healthcare providers ‘should be looking for multiple proof points to show they are compliant throughout the organization,’ in keeping with today’s regulatory driven environment.

SAI Global Compliance claims to be well positioned to provide organizations around the world with information services and solutions for managing risk, achieving compliance and driving business improvement. Its broad range of technology enabled programs and consulting services reportedly facilitate good governance and awareness of compliance, ethics and policy issues.