First Healthcare Compliance CONNECT April 2021

CONNECT 

April 2021 

 

A Monthly Publication for the Healthcare Compliance Community 

Distinguished Speaker to Discuss 

Cybersecurity in Healthcare at 

Healthcare Compliance Symposium 

Employment Law and COVID 

Intro to Whistleblower Laws 

Infographic: 

Healthcare Compliance 

Training for the Workforce 

Year One of PHE Regulatory 

Disruption of Reimbursement: 

Who Adapted, Who is at Risk, 

Bad Actors 

1st Talk Compliance: 

The New AKS and Stark 

Laws Final Rules – Key 

Take-Aways

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In This Issue: 

FAQ Corner 

Distinguished Speaker to Discuss Cybersecurity in 

Healthcare at Healthcare Compliance Symposium 

Infographic: Healthcare Compliance Training for 

the Workforce 



Year One of PHE Regulatory Disruption of 

Reimbursement: Who Adapted, Who is at Risk, 

Bad Actors 

2 

First Healthcare Compliance, LLC © 2021

Compliance Super Ninja 

Cindy Raposas, Office Manager 

Angel Q Raposas MD PC 

How would you describe your experience with First 

Healthcare Compliance? 

Wonderful!! I am a physician who is now working as the office 

manager for my husband’s office while we raised our children. In 

medical school, we are not trained in all of the compliance laws and 

requirements needed for private practice. Your company has given 

us the resources to stay in compliance with regulations I knew existed but was not sure what 

was needed. We have all our staff up to date and compliant with everything. Thanks for such a 

great site that is so easy to use even for someone who wrote paper notes while in training. 

What do you enjoy most about working with Angel Q Raposas MD PC? 

I like knowing we are taking good care of the patients as they grow older. Even though I no 

longer work as the doctor, I like talking to people, both patients and our awesome staff. We 

couldn’t ask for better! 

What would you rather have, more technology or less technology in your life? 

Why? 

I want less. I understand the use of all the electronic medical records, but in many ways it 

was easier to just write on paper. There was more patient engagement without computers. 

1st Talk Compliance: The New AKS and Stark 

Laws Final Rules – Key Take-Aways 

COVID-19 Healthcare Compliance Toolkit 

Upcoming and On-Demand Webinars 

Contact Toll Free: 888-54-FIRST 3

FAQ Corner 

What is an OSHA exposure control plan? 

The exposure control plan is the employer’s written 

program that outlines the protective measures an 

employer will take to eliminate or minimize employee 

exposure to blood and OPIM. 

The exposure control plan must contain, at a minimum: 

• The exposure determination which identifies job 

classifications with occupational exposure and 

tasks and procedures where there is occupational 

exposure and that are performed by employees in 

job classifications in which some employees have 

occupational exposure. 

• The procedures for evaluating the circumstances 

surrounding exposure incidents; 

• A schedule of how other provisions of the standard 

are implemented, including methods of compliance, 

HIV and HBV research laboratories and production 

facilities requirements, hepatitis B vaccination 

and post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, 

communication of hazards to employees, and 

recordkeeping; 

Methods of compliance include: 

○ 

○ 

○ 

○ 

Universal Precautions; 

Engineering and work practice controls, 

e.g., safer medical devices, sharps disposal 

containers, hand hygiene; 

Personal protective equipment; 

Housekeeping, including decontamination 

procedures and removal of regulated waste. 

• Documentation of: 

○ 

○ 

the annual consideration and implementation of 

appropriate commercially available and effective 

safer medical devices designed to eliminate or 

minimize occupational exposure, and 

the solicitation of non-managerial healthcare 

workers (who are responsible for direct patient 

care and are potentially exposed to injuries 

from contaminated sharps) in the identification, 

evaluation, and selection of effective 

engineering and work practice controls. 

For more information please see: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1993-02-01-0 

Explore the FAQs tab in your compliance solution 

to find answers to your compliance questions! 

CLIENT 

ALERT 

4 



Training for the Workforce 

What Training Topics Should be Covered in a Healthcare 

Compliance Program? 

Successful employee education is an integral part of a comprehensive healthcare compliance 

program. Compliance professionals must consider which topics should be offered to the workforce. 

Of course, proper training depends on variables such as type of healthcare organization, roles of 

employees and location of the entity. States may impose specific requirements that go beyond 

federal requirements. Generally, four broad categories cover the topics imperative to the start of a 

comprehensive healthcare compliance program. 

HIPAA 

OSHA 

HUMAN 

RESOURCES 

FRAUD, WASTE 

& ABUSE 

Comprehensive Healthcare Compliance 

CONFIDENCE INCLUDED 

Creating confidence among compliance 

professionals through education, 

resources, and support 

888.54.FIRST 1sthcc.com 


Distinguished Speaker to Discuss 

Cybersecurity in Healthcare at 

Healthcare Compliance Symposium 

on April 22, 2021 

Julie Sheppard, BSN, JD, CHC 

Raymond Ribble, founder of SPHER, Inc. a 

leading SaaS-based compliance analytics 

solution, will serve as the Distinguished 

Speaker at the upcoming Healthcare 

Compliance Symposium to address the 

issue of cybersecurity in healthcare. 

Ray is a co-founder of Fusion Systems Co., Ltd. 

an international IT Consulting business with 

operations throughout Asia and across multiple 

industry verticals. He is active in multiple 

international businesses, having lived in Japan 

and mainland China for close to 20 years. He is 

active in numerous healthcare privacy groups 

such as HIMSS and MGMA, speaking at healthcare 

industry events, and works to contribute to 

the growing awareness of the need to identify 

internal and external malfeasance to prevent data 

breaches. 

With over 25 years in the systems technology 

industry Ray’s career began as an aerospace 

engineer at Northrop Corporation, advancing into 

international financial systems consulting and 

solutions development across Asia for many of 

the worlds’ top investment banks. Ray’s firm was 

prominent in working with the HITECH Program 

serving over 2000 provider groups across 

Southern California in attesting to Meaningful Use 

and addressing the increasingly complex privacy 

and security mandates. 

6 


The fourth annual Healthcare Compliance 

Symposium is a virtual afternoon of learning 

offered through a collaboration of Delaware 

Law School and First Healthcare Compliance. 

The online event will be held on April 22, 2021 

from 11:30 am ET until 5:45 pm ET. Multiple 

opportunities for continuing education 

credits are available for attorneys, healthcare 

administrators, and compliance professionals. 

Attendees are eligible to receive 5.5 CLE credits 

(4.5 substantive, 1 ethics) in Delaware, New 

Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This program has been 

approved for 5.5 continuing education unit(s) by 

Practice Management Institute® and PAHCOM. 

The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® has 

approved this event for up to 6.6 CCB CEUs. 

Continuing Education Units are awarded based 

on individual attendance record. Granting of prior 

approval in no way constitutes endorsement by 

CCB of this event content or of the event sponsors. 

Registration is available to the public. 

Risk Management Considerations for 

the Healthcare Compliance Officer: 

Training, Incident Management, Governing Boards, 

and Measures Unique to COVID-19 

It’s no secret that healthcare is one of America’s 

most heavily regulated industries with substantial 

fines and penalties for non-compliance. Complex 

regulations and mandates make compliance 

management a necessity. Healthcare organizations 

particularly rely on the skills and attributes of 

their compliance officer to navigate the expansive 

regulatory framework. 

DOWNLOAD NOW 



Catherine Short 

Shauna Itri, Partner at Seeger Weiss LLP will 

lead the presentation Intro to Whistleblower 

Laws at the Healthcare Compliance Symposium 

2021 on April 22. 

For well over a decade Shauna has been leading litigation 

teams in complex fraud cases in both state and federal 

courts. Shauna’s nationwide practice has focused on 

representing plaintiffs in various settings, 

including class action securities and 

consumer matters; antitrust; and cases 

involving patient harm. Shauna also 

has extensive experience representing 

whistleblowers in False Claims Act 

lawsuits, and tax and securities 

whistleblowers with claims under the IRS 

and SEC whistleblower programs. After 

obtaining her law degree, Shauna sought 

to represent plaintiffs because of her deep-seated notions 

of fairness and her desire to represent individuals who 

wanted to bring corporate fraud to light. She believes the 

key to success in complex litigation is using experience 

to lay bare various defense tactics that are designed to 

obscure the truth. Shauna’s temperament brings a sense 

of calmness to her litigation teams, even under the most 

demanding conditions. Using her legal skills, vision, workethic, 

and attention to detail, she has regularly generated 

multi-million-dollar settlements for her clients. 

Prior to becoming an attorney, Shauna received a B.A. 

and an M.A. from Stanford University, where she was 

two-time captain of the University’s women’s nationally 

ranked soccer team. She received her J.D. from Villanova 

University. 

Shauna is an avid volunteer and educator. 

She has served as an adjunct professor at 

Villanova University (2011-2013) and Widener 

Law School (2013-2018), teaching corporate 

deviance courses. Shauna currently serves 

as co-chair of Stanford University Alumni 

Undergraduate Admissions Volunteer 

Interview Program, and is the President of 

the Junior League of Philadelphia, Inc., an 

organization of approximately 800 women committed to 

promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, 

and improving the community through the effective action 

and leadership of trained volunteers. 

Click here for more information or to register for the 

Symposium! 

8 


Referral Appreciation Program 

Receive a $50 gift card* when you refer a client! 

First Healthcare Compliance is delighted to offer a 

Referral Appreciation Program to say thank you for 

helping us to continue to grow. For each new 1st 

Professional or 1st Premium client originating from 

a referral, First Healthcare Compliance will provide 

a $50 gift card as a token of appreciation. 

LEARN MORE 

The Most Comprehensive 


Course 

The Fundamentals is a user-friendly, fourmodule 

online course designed to help healthcare 

professionals understand the essential principles 

and practices of compliance. 

BUY COURSE NOW 




Catherine Walters, Partner at Bybel 

Rutledge LLP will lead the presentation 

Employment Law and COVID-19 at the 

Healthcare Compliance Symposium 2021 

on April 22. 

Catherine E. Walters provides exclusive management-side 

labor and employment services for employers of all sizes, 

including privately and publicly held companies, government 

contractors, institutions of higher education, health 

care providers, trade associations and other non-profit 

organizations. 

Her emphasis on strategic thinking and focused solutions 

enables her to provide employers with the sophisticated 

counsel that has become necessary in today’s complex 

business environment. Catherine regularly appears before 

federal and state courts and administrative agencies where 

she handles both employment and traditional labor matters. 


Symposium! 

Her practice spans an array of industries, including financial 

and banking, manufacturing, defense contracting, education, 

health care, professional services, insurance, construction, 

technology, retail, real estate, transportation, restaurant and 

hospitality. 

Catherine’s extensive experience and collaborative skills 

enable her to partner with her clients to develop creative, 

practical, business-oriented solutions to their legal 

challenges. 

She focuses on identifying current and emerging trends in 

order to provide clients with proactive legal advice aimed at 

managing and preventing emerging risks. 

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COVID-19 Healthcare 

Compliance Toolkit 

Healthcare compliance amidst COVID-19 presents 

new challenges for hospitals and healthcare providers. 

At top importance is the question of how to slow or 

stop the spread of COVID-19, while ensuring that your 

organization stays compliant. 

Now more than ever, your compliance department needs to 

have the necessary tools to help track, analyze, and respond 

to compliance challenges. To help navigate the process, we’ve 

gathered our best COVID-19 resources below. If you need further 

assistance, please contact us here. 

VIEW TOOLKIT 


Year One of PHE 

Regulatory Disruption 

of Reimbursement: 

Who Adapted, Who is 

at Risk, Bad Actors 


Stephen Bittinger Partner with K&L 

Gates in the firm’s Charleston office 

and a member of the health care/ 

FDA practice group, will lead the 

presentation Year One of PHE Regulatory 

Disruption of Reimbursement: Who 

Adapted, Who is at Risk, Bad Actors at 

the Healthcare Compliance Symposium 

2021 on April 22. 

In addition, he has experience advising clients on 

defending and appealing audits by Recovery Audit 

Contractors, Zone Program Integrity Contractors, and 

Unified Program Integrity Contractors and has worked 

collaboratively with government regulators and 

health care provider associations across the United 

States. Bittinger has represented many providers and 

vendors with federal agency matters in Washington, 

Mr. Bittinger focuses his practice on health care 

reimbursement compliance, defense and litigation, 

with a focus on government and private payer disputes 

on behalf of providers, vendors, and manufacturers 

involved in the United States health care system. 

He has extensive experience representing large 

provider groups, home health agencies, medical 

facilities, ancillary service providers, medical labs, 

revenue cycle management companies, and drug and 

device manufacturers in matters including Medicare 

and Medicaid audits, private payer audits, federal 

regulatory termination and exclusion proceedings, 

False Claims Act prosecutions, and health care 

revenue issues. 

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D.C., including the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 

Services (CMS) Center for Program Integrity (CPI), the 

Department of Health and Human Services Office 

of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Department of 

Veteran Affairs (VA), and Health Care Fraud division 

of the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

Prior to joining the firm Mr. Bittinger served at a 

regional commercial law firm where he focused 

his practice on health care reimbursement defense 

and litigation. Previously, Mr. Bittinger and team 

represented numerous types of physician practices, 

home health agencies, medical facilities, ancillary 

service providers, medical laboratories, revenue 

cycle management companies, and drug/device 

manufacturers in Medicare audits (RAC, ZPIC, UPIC, 

TPE), Medicaid audits (SIU), private payors audits, 

federal regulatory termination, and exclusion litigation 

related to the health care revenue cycle. 


Symposium! 

COVID-19 Healthcare 

Compliance Updates 

DOWNLOAD NOW 


hosted by Catherine Short 

Catherine Short converses with Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, Principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, 

P.L.L.C., Houston, TX, on the topic of “The New AKS and Stark Laws Final Rules – Key Take-Aways.” On 

November 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule related to 

the Medicare Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law). Nearly simultaneously, the Office of the Inspector 

General, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), released a Final Rule, which amends 

various safe harbors to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The changes appear to be based, in large 

part, on value-based healthcare delivery and payment systems. On this episode, we will highlight the key 

changes, along with the similarities and differences in the language between the two Final Rules, examine 

the new AKS safe harbors and Stark Law exceptions, compare and contrast critical items found in both 

Final Rules, and appreciate the risks of non-compliance. 

Listen weekdays at 

7:30am, 3:30pm, 11:30pm ET 

Check out our Show Page! 

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Subscribe to our feed and don’t miss a thing! 

14 


WORD SEARCH 

B U G U U C Z A V C V L Z L N R F J D L 

L T D V O H P K Y V X E G R D N R S A N 

O J U G D W B I Z A V D K Y Y E V T C E 

Z N I J C V R I W M A Z G L D V I U R T 

L U P A I K A W R T Z O Y M T P W A C S 

S E G N E L L A H C L D A V S S C E Z P 

D J E C R E R U S O P X E O W H S M J R 

P T M M K L Y C N H K H H H T W E T L N 

A N P T A I X H O A H J I L L P C Y G O 

T A L U O N C H X F H S A Q J M N O C I 

I I O P S E A Z Q R T E Y R U I E T Z T 

E L Y W T Z O G U L H V H P K R I P M A 

N P M V N H S N E W Z Y F A U N R G N M 

T M E H E Z R B I M N A Z M G O E J C R 

S O N H Q D L I R F E P G R A T P Y K O 

T C T G G O W T C H E N T D W G X W L F 

K H F I W C Y L J N T S T A B P E N M N 

C Y B E R S E C U R I T Y W A B B W Y I 

N T R N M J V J R V K M U I S O P M Y S 

P Q L N K B D W V N N P H Y S I C I A N 

CHALLENGES HOSPITAL MANAGEMENT 

PHYSICIAN COMPLIANT PATIENTS 

TECHNOLOGY EXPOSURE HEALTHCARE 

CYBERSECURITY SYMPOSIUM WHISTLEBLOWER 

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE INFORMATION 


Upcoming and On-Demand Webinars 

Training 

APR 27, 2021 

MAY 11, 2021 

MAY 25, 2021 

ON DEMAND 

ON DEMAND 

1, 2, 3’s of Coding, Billing & Auditing 

Waivers and Discounts: What are They and When do They 

Apply? 

Don’t Let a Medicare Revocation End Your Practice 

COVID-19: Workplace Safety, OSHA Updates, and Return to 

Work Issues 

Employment & Labor Law in the First 100 Days of the Biden 

Administration 

Register 

Register 

Register 

All Upcoming Webinars 

All On Demand Webinars 

IMPORTANT 

In the interest of your security, login credentials 

are for individual use only and not to be shared. 

Please contact Client Services if you require 

additional manager level users and/or if there has 

been a change in contact information. 

NEW FEATURES! 

Employee Zone / Compliance Detail 

NEW COVID-19 Vaccination Status tracking 

Training Zone - New required training modules 

have been added titled “Fraud Waste and 

Abuse Training” and “General 

Compliance Training”. These 

modules replace the CMS 

training materials. 

CLIENT 

ALERT 

Training Zone - has a New Assign Training to 

Employee feature: Assign by Job Title to all 

employees with a specific Job Title or select 

multiple Job Titles. 

COVID-19 Resource section available from the 

dashboard for 1st Performance, 1st Professional, 

and 1st Premium. 

Join us on Social Media! 

Contact our Client Services Team with your questions! 

888.54.FIRST or clientservices@1sthcc.com 

16

First Healthcare Compliance CONNECT April 2021

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