[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 152 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42409-42410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20965]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Inspector General
Solicitation of Information and Recommendations for Developing
OIG Compliance Program Guidance for the Durable Medical Equipment
Industry
AGENCY: Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This Federal Register notice seeks the input and
recommendations of interested parties into the OIG's development of a
compliance program guidance for the durable medical equipment (DME)
industry, its providers and suppliers. Many providers and provider
organizations have expressed an interest in better protecting their
operations from fraud and abuse. Previously, the OIG has developed
compliance program guidances for hospitals, clinical laboratories and
home health agencies. In order to provide clear and meaningful guidance
to those segments of the health care industry involved in the supply
and distribution of DME, we are soliciting comments, recommendations
and other suggestions from concerned parties and organizations on how
best to develop compliance program guidance and reduce fraud and abuse
within the DME industry.
DATES: To assure consideration, comments must be delivered to the
address provided below by no later than 5 p.m. on September 21, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Please mail or deliver your written comments,
recommendations and suggestions to the following address:
Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human
Services, Attention: OIG-3-CPG, Room 5246, Cohen Building, 330
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201.
We do not accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission. In
commenting, please refer to file code OIG-3-CPG. Comments received
timely will be available for public inspection as they are received,
generally beginning approximately 3 weeks after publication of a
document, in Room 5541 of the Office of Inspector General at 330
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC, on Monday through Friday of
each week from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Saxonis, Office of Counsel
to the Inspector General, (202) 619-2078, or Joel Schaer, Office of
Counsel to the Inspector General, (202) 619-0089.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The creation of compliance program guidance
has become a major initiative of the OIG in its effort to engage the
private health care community in addressing and fighting fraud and
abuse. Recently, the OIG has developed and issued compliance program
guidance directed at various segments of the health care industry.\1\
This guidance is designed to provide clear direction and assistance to
specific sections of the health care industry that are interested in
reducing and eliminating fraud and abuse within their organizations.
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\1\ 62 FR 9435 (March 3, 1997) for clinical laboratories and 63
FR 8987 (February 23, 1998) for hospitals. The guidances can also be
found on the OIG web site at http:/www.dhhs.gov/progorg/oig.
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The guidances represent the OIG's suggestions on how providers can
best establish internal controls and monitoring to correct and prevent
fraudulent activities. The contents of the guidances should not be
viewed as mandatory for providers or as an exclusive discussion of the
advisable elements of a compliance program.
In an effort to formalize the process by which the OIG receives
public comments in connection with compliance program guidances, we are
seeking, through this Federal Register notice, formal input from all
interested parties as the OIG begins developing compliance program
guidance directed at the DME industry, its providers and suppliers. The
OIG will give consideration to all comments, recommendations and
suggestions
[[Page 42410]]
submitted and received by the time frame indicated above.
We anticipate that the DME guidance will contain the seven elements
that we consider necessary for a comprehensive compliance program.
These seven elements have been discussed in our previous guidances and
include:
The development of written policies and procedures;
The designation of a compliance officer and other
appropriate bodies;
The development and implementation of effective training
and education;
The development and maintenance of effective lines of
communication;
The enforcement of standards through well-publicized
disciplinary guidelines;
The use of audits and other evaluation techniques to
monitor compliance; and
The development of procedures to respond to detected
offenses and to initiate corrective action.
We would appreciate specific comments, recommendations and
suggestions on (1) risk areas for the DME industry, and (2) aspects of
the seven elements contained in previous guidances that may need to be
modified to reflect the unique characteristics of the DME industry.
Detailed justifications and empirical data supporting suggestions would
be appreciated. We are also hopeful that any comments, recommendations
and input be submitted in a format that addresses the above topics in a
concise manner, rather than in the form of comprehensive draft guidance
that mirrors previous guidance.
Dated: July 28, 1998.
June Gibbs Brown,
Inspector General.
[FR Doc. 98-20965 Filed 8-6-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-04-P