When it comes to breaking up diagnostic lab kickback schemes, federal enforcers start with the lab that paid the kickbacks and then turn to the downstream physicians who accepted them. This was the pattern in the Millennium Labs case. And now it seems to be playing out in the other lab kickback mega-scandal, the one involving Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL). The … [Read more...] about Feds target doctors who took kickbacks
Compliance
TOOL: Model Religious Accommodations Policy
Mere tolerance of religious differences in the workplace isn't enough. Federal and state discrimination laws also require employers to take affirmative steps to accommodate the religious beliefs of employees and job applicants to the point of undue hardship. The starting point for compliance is implementing an accommodations policy. Here's a model you can adapt for your own lab … [Read more...] about TOOL: Model Religious Accommodations Policy
Traps to avoid: Giving ex-practice employees access to PHI
Your medical office staff understands the imperative of safeguarding personal health information (PHI) and wouldn't let strangers roam about the facilities freely. But it's easy for them to lower their guard when a former employee comes back to the practice, e.g., to pick up a final paycheck or just make a social call. Ex-employees are a common and virulent privacy threat, even … [Read more...] about Traps to avoid: Giving ex-practice employees access to PHI
Not just another HR story
By Lynne Curry bio Which do you believe? ☑ You can't trust anyone in HR: they'll get you talking, look sympathetic, but then turn everything you say over to management; ☑ HR is a luxury we don't need when we need all our budget resources to pay the employees who produce; ☑ HR = a partnership for managers, employees & organizations; ☑ HR = lots of talk + … [Read more...] about Not just another HR story
Job interviews: how to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
The job interview process is a breeding ground for discrimination complaints. One common mistake: asking job applicants inappropriate questions about their nationality, marital status, religion, disabilities and other characteristics that discrimination laws ban you from considering when making hiring decisions. Applicants on the receiving end of such questions are apt to … [Read more...] about Job interviews: how to ask personal questions without committing discrimination
10 Tips for Safely Navigating Maternity Leave of Absence
By Paul Edwards bio As employers and managers, all of us, at one point or another, will have an employee who is or becomes pregnant and needs to take a Maternity Leave of Absence (LOA). In fact, some of the most frequently asked questions we get here at CEDR HR Solutions revolve around what an employer is required by law to provide to their pregnant employees. Common … [Read more...] about 10 Tips for Safely Navigating Maternity Leave of Absence
Could your boss be the next Dr. Oz?
The medical practitioners in your office are more than knowledgeable; they are thought leaders in their respective fields. So why not share their expertise, and market the practice in the process? Seeking information People actively seek medical information. Indeed, medical websites are among the most highly used sites on the Web, books by physicians and other medical … [Read more...] about Could your boss be the next Dr. Oz?
HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
By Ranadene K. Tapio, MBA, CMRS, CMC, Guest Contributor bio I know, HIPAA is old news. And ALL of your offices are presenting your patients with a HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) already. Right? Are you sure? Do you have systems in place to ensure this is being done? Do you work the front desk, so you know it's getting done? Are you in the back office, and in … [Read more...] about HIPAA Refresher: Is your practice on top of NPPs?
How to create a good mental health work environment for employees
Most people are aware that employees with a physical illness or disability are entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). But it's not as commonly known that those with mental disabilities are also covered by the ADA and FMLA, according to a new XpertHR report on mental health … [Read more...] about How to create a good mental health work environment for employees
The top 10 regulatory issues for employers in 2019
To help employers plan for the year ahead, Paychex, Inc. (a provider of integrated human capital management solutions for payroll, benefits, human resources, and insurance services) recently released a list of the top 10 regulatory issues that employers should be aware of in 2019. The list outlines the current, most impactful laws and regulations, and the anticipated changes … [Read more...] about The top 10 regulatory issues for employers in 2019