SO - Health Care Compliance Association

July 2001By Al Josephs, CHCEditor’s note: Mr.HCCA’s activities toJosephs serves aseach state and citySecretary of the Healthacross the country.Care ComplianceOne of the mostAssociation (HCCA)important goalsand Regional Coordinator.Mr. Josephs istinued developmentadopted was the con-also Director of CorporateCompliance forregional and stateand improvement ofHillcrest Health Systemeducation and netin Waco, TX. He mayworking activities.be reached at254/202-8620.Critical to the successof this goal is the membership.Organizations often times The development and recruitment ofdivide themselves unnecessarily.This is a tendency the expand it’s reach across the country ismembers willing to help HCCAHCCA has worked to avoid. It would essential. At present, the organizationalbe very easy to divide the HCCA into structure of the HCCA is designed totwo parts “national” and “regions”, promote active leadership within eachwhich might imply separate goals and of the 50 states. The development ofmissions. In fact, the only reason for the local networking activities is an areadistinction is to allow for the distributionof the HCCA’s labor (mostly volvideleadership to help grow the HCCA.where all members of HCCA can prounteer)and resources to reach themembership where they live and work. Regional steering committeeWith the many changes we all face inAs Roy Snell, CEO of HCCA, has this industry it is important that weoften said, “there is no national and stay “connected” as we work to addressregional organization we are all the regulatory compliance within each oursame”. So just what has the HCCA organizations. If you do not know yourbeen doing “Across the Country”? Regional President or State Liaison callthem and ask what you can do to help.Strategic planningIn mid January, the HCCA leadership The benefits of working together withinyour state and region are numerous.(Board of Directors and RegionalPresidents) and management staff came For example;together for a two-day strategic planningsession. One full day of planning Inspector General for you region?■ Do you know the OIG Regionalwas devoted to the development of a ■ Have you met with the U.S.strategic plan that will extend theAttorneys in your region?4■ Have the Peer Review Organizationswithin your state talked with youabout the PEPP Program?■ Are their other professional organizationsin your state or region in needof compliance resources?■ Do you know the individuals thathead-up the Benefits IntegrityProgram for your FiscalIntermediary?■ How can you contact the HCFAoffice in your region?■ Who is the Medical Director forLocal Medical Review Policies inyour region?The HCCA can help you answer all theabove questions. On page 17 you willfind a list of State liaisons and RegionalPresidents; please get involved. ■HCCA WANTSYOU!The HCCA is issuing a call to allmembers to become involved in ourcampaign to meet the special needsof members in the following fourspecial interest areas: payor/managedcare, academic/research, long termcare/home care/hospice, and pharmaceuticals.Each of these task forces will becharged with developing sub-specialtynetworking, communications, andeducational opportunities for memberspracticing in these areas. If youare willing to serve on a task force inany one of the four areas mentionedabove, please contact the HCCA viaemail, info@hcca-info.org. Be sure toinclude your telephone and fax numberand the special interest area inwhich you wish to participate. ■