“Who can it be knocking at my door?
Make no sound, tip-toe across the floor.
If he hears, he’ll knock all day,
I’ll be trapped, and here I’ll have to stay.” -Men at Work; Colin Hay, Songwriter
By: Dave Davidson
A recent decision by a Health and Human Services appellate panel emphasizes how strictly the government will interpret its rules and the disingenuous results that can sometimes follow when healthcare business operations best practices are less than optimal. Although the case referenced below involves a home health agency, the panel’s application of the rules applies to all Medicare providers. The resulting loss of the agency’s participation in Medicare serves as a sobering reminder that total compliance with all conditions of participation is crucial.
Vamet Consulting & Medical services was a Medicare-enrolled home health agency based in Houston, Texas. On July 14 and 15, 2014 the company conducted training for its office staff at its primary location. The training meant that all the agency’s staff would be in the back of the office, either in training or working, so the company locked its front door. Continue reading