On May 8, 2013, the OIG issued an updated Special Advisory Bulletin on the Effect of Exclusion from Participation in Federal Health Care Programs (the “Updated Special Advisory Bulletin”). The Updated Special Advisory Bulletin replaces and supersedes the OIG’s 1999 Special Advisory Bulletin on the Effect of Exclusion from Participation in Federal Health Care Programs.
The Updated Special Advisory Bulletin advises that the effect of an OIG exclusion is that the provider will receive no Federal Health care program payment for any items or services furnished by an excluded person or at the medical direction or on the prescription of an excluded person. The prohibition on payment applies to all methods of Federal health care program payment. It also extends to items or services beyond direct patient care. Accordingly, OIG says that an excluded person is prohibited from serving in an executive or leadership role (i.e., as the CEO or CFO, general counsel, director of health information management or director of human resources) for a provider that furnishes items or services payable by Federal health care programs and is prohibited from providing other types of administrative and management services (i.e., health IT services and support, strategic planning, billing/accounting, staff training and human resources).
OIG urges providers to review each job category and contractual relationship to determine whether the item or service being provided is directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, payable by a Federal health care program. If it is, OIG advises the provider to screen everyone that performs under that contract or category. This would include, for example, screening nurses provided by staffing agencies or physician groups that contract with hospitals to provide ER coverage, and billing or coding contractors. OIG warns that relying on the screening conducted by the contractor may not always be sufficient to protect the provider from CMP liability.
The Updated Special Advisory Bulletin warns that providers who arrange or contract with an excluded person face potential civil monetary penalties (“CMPs”) of up to $10,000 for each item or service furnished by the excluded person for which payment is sought, in addition to an assessment of up to three times the amount claimed and program exclusion. OIG states that CMP liability would apply to the furnishing of all of the categories of items or services that are violations of an OIG exclusion, including direct patient care, indirect patient care, administrative and management services, and items or services furnished at the direction or on the prescription of an excluded person when the person furnishing the services either knows or should know of the exclusion. Exclusion violations may also lead to criminal prosecutions or civil actions (i.e., claims under the False Claims Act). OIG urges providers to use OIG’s self-disclosure protocol to self-disclose the employment of or contracting with an excluded person.
To best minimize risk of overpayment and CMP liability, OIG suggests that providers check the OIG’s List of Excluded Individuals and Entities (the “LEIE”) monthly. OIG also recommends that providers use the LEIE as the primary source of information on exclusion.
To access the Updated Special Advisory Bulletin, click here.
If you have questions regarding exclusions from federal health care programs or provider contracting generally please contact Carrie Soli.
