It is a common misconception that certain employees within a practice or organization are exempt from compliance training requirements due to their positions as providers. Everyone is subject to OSHA, HIPAA and Fraud, Waste & Abuse requirements, and training ensures that each individual understands the rules.

HIPAA Rules specify that they apply to all workforce members, which includes providers and anyone who is expected to access protected health information (PHI). The Office of Inspector General requires all persons providing health or administrative services to Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries to satisfy fraud, waste and abuse training requirements. OSHA only specifies training requirements for employees (including providers that are not employers), though we recommend that all individuals performing work for your organization receive training related to recognized hazards in the workplace, even employers themselves.

Requiring providers to complete regular compliance training can present a logistical hurdle for many organizations, but having a comprehensive compliance program contributes significantly to overall risk management. Regular education for all employees, regardless of position or rank contributes to a culture of compliance and can prevent issues from arising in the first place. In addition, groups that participate in regular training often receive less severe enforcement actions and fines in the event that they are the subject of a privacy, safety or fraud investigation.

If you have questions or concerns about implementing a comprehensive compliance training program within your organization, please contact Eagle Associates. We provide up-to-date training materials that can be completed in short, monthly sessions to meet all federal compliance training requirements for OSHA, HIPAA and OIG Fraud, Waste and Abuse prevention.