Letter from the CEO

Volume FiveNumber FiveMay 2003InterviewwithRoryJaffeREGISTER FORFREE TRIAL TODAY!HCCA • AIS • MRI – COMPLIANCE ALLIANCEFREE two-week trial, see page 40 for info.INSIDE2348111516172223252628Leadership letterOn the calendarHIPAA misconceptionsObservation billingPayor/MC CFGBack to basicsCHC certificantsMeet Rory JaffeCEO’s letterCompliance andadministrationHome HC CFGNew membersFYI

native to autocratically-regulatedcountries.AnotherwarstartedlastnightROY SNELLThere is endless debate about the reasonwhy we are at war. Who is right and whois wrong? What is the root of the problem?I am going to stay away from thiscontroversy because frankly, I like myjob. As is often the case however, thereare interesting regulatory and compliancestories in most everything. The root ofproblems in some countries may be the limited number of democraticallycreated regulations and the lack of commitment to allelements of a compliance program. Amazingly there is an interestinglesson here on the impact of regulations and leadership’ssupport or lack of support for each element of a complianceprogram.Regulations help ensure free speech. Regulations help level theplaying field for business. Regulations help ensure people aretreated equally and fairly. However, there are problems withregulations. Democracy and compromise is a messy business.Regulations can sometimes be vague, numerous, and have unintendedconsequences—particularly when they are put together ina collaborative process. Conversely the development of regulationsin an autocratic environment can result in fewer and clearerbut catastrophically ineffective regulations. Even with their warts,democratically-regulated countries seem to be an attractive alter-Interestingly enough, components ofcompliance programs can be found inall societies. Dictatorship’s educationprograms are so effective that somewould argue it borders on brainwashing.Policies and procedures that supportthe dictatorship are understood and obeyed by the civilianpopulation. Dictatorships have very effective auditing and monitoringprograms to look for citizens that are not following thepolicies. Discipline and enforcement are legendary. The key to thesuccess is leadership’s support.One shortfall of a dictator’s compliance program is the lack ofindependent and fair investigations of wrongdoing. The keyshortfall, however, is that individuals who use the anonymousreporting mechanism often disappear. This can cause others to bereluctant to use the anonymous reporting mechanism. Complianceprograms can be used for good or evil. The real valuablelesson here is that leadership’s support for the complianceprogram can make a big difference.Regulations can be vague, numerous, and have unintendednegative consequences. Compliance programs take some effort toimplement. You can argue all day about the negative impact ofregulations and compliance programs, but the alternatives are nottoo appealing. Leadership must get behind compliance for it to besuccessful. Regulations are the bricks of an effective society andcompliance is the mortar. They are both worth the time andeffort. ■Your physiciancompliance trainingjust got easier...With HCCA’s 39-minute audio-trainingprogram: Individual & Small GroupPhysician Compliance: What everyphysician should knowAn essential resource for every compliancedepartment. Visit HCCA’s Website,http://www.hcca-info.org, to order.May 200322