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Lisa Fine, Director, Global Compliance at gategroup shared some of her wisdom about helplines in Europe during the 2017 European Compliance and Ethics Institute.

Listen in to the podcast to gain her insights into::

• Why implementation of helplines in Europe has lagged the US
• Some of the biggest challenges, and strategies for making helplines work
• Logistics and challenges of making a hotline work in-country versus on a global scale
• The inherent challenges in dealing with differing laws from country-to-country
• Some of the benefits of using a third-party vendor
• Potential changes to hotline regulations with the implementation of GDPR
• Her experience with usage and reporting once hotlines are active
• The many reasons to keep trying, despite the challenges

[Read more…]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 12:36 — 11.6MB)

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Anna Whites provides fascinating insight into the world of telehealth/telemedicine.   In a wide-ranging conversations she discusses the opportunity to better serve patients, especially those living in remote areas or wanting more anonymity in their treatment.

She also discusses some of the risks, both real and perceived:

• Stark Law and Anti-Kickback
• HIPAA compliance
• Cloud storage and data security
• Data retention policies, and
• Patient consent

Anna Whites is a graduate of the University of Kentucky College of law and operates Anna Whites Law Office. Her practice focuses on healthcare issues from the provider perspective, including reimbursement, audit responses, compliance education and telehealth. Anna is committed to pro bono legal work with youth particularly in the behavioral health arena.

Anna is the Rural Subcommittee Co-Chair of the AHLA Behavioral Health Task Force; a founding member of the Kentucky Governor’s Advisory Committee on Autism Spectrum Disorders; a founding member of the national Community Action Agency CAPLAW legal network and the Kentucky Bar Associations Youth Issues Committee. Anna works with the Kentucky Telehealth Board and Kentucky providers and legislators to enhance coverage for telemedicine in the Commonwealth.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 19:23 — 17.8MB)

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Odell and Kortney sit down over a cup of coffee at SCCE’s European Compliance & Ethics Institute in Prague to discuss the last 30 years of compliance, including:

• The biggest compliance challenges they faced 30 years ago;
• How to get over the challenge of compliance as a “cost center”;
• Building a defensible case for the company to prevent or negate criminal intent allegations;
• Persuading your business partners (the ones creating the risk) that they are ultimately responsible for the risk;
• The forward progress in compliance in Europe:
  • Why are things evolving so quickly;
  • Focus on compliance in the anti-corruption and bribery realms;
  • The post-Snowden impact on privacy;
• Danger areas for current compliance professionals;
• When a Compliance Officer knows about and is complicit in criminal activities;
• Why Compliance professionals should reach outside their comfort zones; and
• Where compliance is heading in the next 30 years.

Odell Guyton is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional and the Co-Founder and a Member of the Board of Directors of the world’s largest compliance organization, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics.  He is a recognized industry leader in designing, implementing and managing effective corporate compliance programs for multi-national organizations.

Mr. Guyton is the former Corporate Vice President, Head of Global Compliance for Jabil Circuit, Inc., and the former Assistant General Counsel, Anti-trust Compliance Officer and Director of Compliance for Microsoft Corporation.

Mr. Guyton has served as an Assistant United States Attorney and as a Deputy District Attorney. He has been named as one of the “100 Most Influential Persons in Business Ethics” and “Attorneys Who Matter.” Mr. Guyton is a frequent lecturer on the implementation of anti-corruption/anti-bribery compliance measures focused on U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA) and the U.K. Anti-Bribery Act and the administration of 3rd party due diligence compliance. In addition, he participates on several United Nations workshops and holds the Martindale-Hubbell “AV” (Preeminent) Highest Peer Review Rating. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the American University, Washington College of Law and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Moravian College, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:02 — 12.0MB)

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Regina, Gary and Kortney sit down at HCCA’s Compliance Institute to discuss the impact of compliance on Drug Diversion, including:

• What drug diversion is and why it is an important compliance issue;
• Statistics that show how harmful drug diversion can be, including:
  • In 2015, Medicare spent $4 billion on commonly abused opiods;
  • A large percentage of pharmacists, nurses, and MDs self-disclose drug abuse issues;
  • 1 in 3 Medicare beneficiaries is receiving some type of opiod;
• Why Compliance is in a unique position to break the silos;
• How compliance can address issues in real time, where criminal investigations can’t;
• Compliance officers can engage in conversations with employees to gain insight into what is happening in the facility;
• The importance of reporting the illegal prescribing of opiods;
• Is compliance training enough?
• We need to concentrate on preventing diversion – once it happens it’s too late; and
• How compliance can proactively help clinicians avoid diversion issues (using data).

Regina Gurvich has worked in health care in New York City for over 15 years, specializing in compliance and regulatory affairs. She currently heads the compliance effort for AdvantageCare Physicians, a newly-created 450-physician and 3,500-employee private medical practice in New York City. Prior to promotion, she served as a CCO of Manhattan’s Physician Group, one of the 4 legacy practices comprising AdvantageCare Physicians. Prior to joining Manhattan’s Physician Group, she served as Chief Compliance Officer of University Physician Associates, a faculty practice plan of University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey in Newark, where she was responsible for the compliance education and audit program for 700 New Jersey Medical School faculty physicians. She also served as a Director of Compliance and Special Investigations Unit for Health Plus PHSP Inc., one of the largest Medicaid managed healthcare plans in New York City.

Regina served on an Advisory Task Force for New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General Compliance Guidance for Managed Care Organizations. She is a frequent speaker at the industry forums with Health Care Compliance Association and Healthcare Financial Management Association and is a member of the editorial review board of HCCA Auditing & Monitoring Tools publication.

Gary Cantrell is the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations and leads the Office of Investigations (OI) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG). Since 2012, he has been overseeing the operations and resources of OI, an office with more than 600 employees including investigators, analysts, forensic examiners, and administrative staff. Under Mr. Cantrell’s leadership, OI has had record accomplishments with nearly 6,800 criminal and civil actions, more than 18,000 exclusions, and over $21 billion in investigative receivables.

Through his engagement with the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), Mr. Cantrell coordinates with the Department of Justice and State law enforcement agencies to prevent fraud in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In June 2016, this partnership oversaw the largest national health care fraud takedown in history, resulting in charges against 301 individuals for approximately $900 million in false billing

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:06 — 16.6MB)

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HHS Office for Civil Rights Senior Advisor for HIPAA Compliance and Enforcement, Iliana Peters, joins Kortney at HCCA’s Compliance Institute to give our listeners an OCR Enforcement Update, including:

• Recent cases and settlements reflecting ongoing compliance and enforcement issues;
• The importance of enterprise-wide risk analysis and safeguards required by the Security Rule;
• Privacy and disclosure issues (and tips for getting employees to understand who, what, where, and when they may disclose);
• Breach trends and issues with cybersecurity;
• The scary business of removable media like laptops, thumb drives, and cell phones (if it can walk away, it will);
• Changes to provisions in the HITECH Act regarding sharing of recoveries;
• Guidance on PMI research programs and the “All of US” campaign (How do you protect information when HIPAA doesn’t cover it?) ; and
• Advice for dealing with Certified EHR Technology.

For a copy of Iliana’s Compliance Institute OCR Update Slides, click here.

OCR’s HIPAA Guidance Materials, click here.

Iliana L. Peters, J.D., LL.M., is the Senior Advisor for HIPAA Compliance and Enforcement at the HHS Office for Civil Rights. In this role, Ms. Peters is the national lead for OCR enforcement of the HIPAA Rules, and works closely with OCR’s ten regional offices to promote compliance with the HIPAA Rules. Additionally, she supports many other OCR policy and outreach initiatives, including rulemakings, compliance initiatives with other federal agencies, and training, including of the State Attorneys General.

Prior to joining the Health Information Privacy Division headquartered in D.C., Ms. Peters worked as an Equal Opportunity Specialist and compliance investigator in Region VI in Dallas, Texas. Ms. Peters received her Law Degree from Duke University’s School of Law and her Masters of Law in Health Care Law from the University of Houston’s, Law Center’s, Health Law and Policy Institute. Prior to joining OCR, she worked in private practice in San Antonio, Texas.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:53 — 13.7MB)

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Laura Ellis and Donna Thiel take some time out at HCCA’s Compliance Institute to sit down with Kortney and discuss what makes for a successful CIA, including:

• Building a relationship with Laura as the OIG Monitor and Donna as the Chief Compliance Officer;
• The refreshing view the OIG takes on Corporate Integrity Agreements;
• The importance of honest communication with and between the CCO and Monitor;
• Why Compliance Officers should try to be involved in the negotiations before the CIA is even signed;
• How to get upper management to understand the goals of the CIA and the OIG (they want to help you, not hurt you);
• How setting five-year goals makes everything go more smoothly;
• The most common challenges compliance officers face under Corporate Integrity Agreements – from Laura and Donna’s perspectives; and
• The positive results of working hard under a CIA.

For a copy of Laura & Donna’s slides from their Compliance Institute presentation “Making the Most of a CIA”, click here.

Laura Ellis is a senior counsel in the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services. Ms. Ellis works with the Department of Justice on false claims act cases, monitors corporate integrity agreements, and specializes in exclusion appeals.

Prior to joining the Office of Counsel to the Inspector, Ms. Ellis served for five years as an attorney in the Department’s Office of General Counsel, CMS Division. At the Office of General Counsel, Ms. Ellis worked primarily on Medicare reimbursement litigation. Ms. Ellis graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1993 and worked at a legal aid office for four and a half years before joining HHS.

Donna Thiel is the Director for the Compliance Integrity team, a consulting division of ProviderTrust. Donna works with compliance officers across the country to help reduce the stress and anxiety of this very difficult role.

Donna assists Compliance Officers by providing consulting services in areas such as strengthening compliance programs, managing government investigations, implementing and managing a Corporate Integrity Agreement and preparing for the various regulatory changes that impact healthcare providers. Donna has been in the post-acute healthcare setting for over 30 years.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:13 — 50.6MB)

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Taped live at SCCE’s 5th Annual European Compliance & Ethics Institute, Tom & Roy get a chance to reunite and catch up on some recent compliance happenings, including:

• The DOJ’s recent guidance on compliance programs and why Roy thinks it’s like finding the dead sea scrolls;
• Tom compares Roy’s to Plato (and the parable of the cave);
• HCCA and the OIG work together to produce a joint document for compliance programs;
  • Even thought it’s great – the document in it’s entirety will apply to no one company, but will help everyone;
• Measuring the effectiveness of your compliance program three ways;
• Why Roy thinks the CO shouldn’t chair the compliance committee – but maybe the general counsel should;
• Who Tom things should chair the compliance committee;
• Why you should prove your point 5 different ways instead of just 1;
• Brexit: Keep Calm and Do Compliance; and
• How Compliance transcends politics.

Click here for the joint OIG-HCCA “Measuring Compliance Program Effectiveness: A Resource Guide”

Thomas Fox has practiced law in Houston for 30 years. He is now the Compliance Ambassador for the Red Flag Group.Tom is the author of the award winning FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog and the international best-selling book “Lessons Learned on Compliance and Ethics”. His seminal book, “Doing Compliance: Design, Create, and Implement an Effective Anti-Corruption Compliance Program” is widely viewed as one of the top one-volume books on the nuts and bolts of compliance. He is one of the top leaders in social media in compliance, blogging, podcasting, writing and speaking across the globe on anti-corruption and anti-bribery compliance programs.

Roy Snell (roy.snell@corporatecompliance.org) is the CEO of the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE), which together now total more than 17,000 members. Roy was a co-founder and the organization’s first President. He has developed numerous partnerships with government, industry, and other professional associations, and he has facilitated collaboration between the compliance/ethics profession and the enforcement community. Roy has a Masters degree in Health and Human Services Administration.

Through his work with the two associations, he has overseen the development of compliance and ethics books, manuals, videos, conferences and audio conferences. He has been a regular speaker in the compliance profession for more than ten years and has spoken internationally for the United Nations on compliance and ethics. He is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP)^®.

Roy writes more than 25 compliance articles annually and has written for several international publications, including European CEO and The European Business Review. Roy is the co-editor of the Health Care Compliance Professional’s Manual and serves as editor, co-editor and advisory board member of several other books, magazines and newsletters. He has served as a source for many media reports, including national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine and Business Week. He has been quoted in international publications such as Financial Times and Ethical Corporation.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:06 — 18.5MB)

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Jonathan and Kortney sit down at SCCE’s European Compliance & Ethics Institute to discuss the impact Brexit will have on compliance programs, including;

• Not getting bogged down by the prevailing uncertainty surrounding Brexit;
• Why we should focus on the certainties like GDPR, Data Transfer Deals, and the UK Bribery Act;
• The prediction that the EU may be kinder during Brexit than the UK initially feared;
• How and why to apply lessons learned from EU accession countries;
• The article 50 filings and the 2-year plan going forward;
• Planning for business agreements that will survive Brexit;
• EU/UK/Brexit attorney-client privilege issues;
• The loss of the common-law voice in the European community (and who will speak up for the UK and US now);
• Potential threats to US corporations;
• Why planning is always the best idea – and why your business should be putting Brexit on the agenda; and
• Great resources to help you work through the compliance challenges during the Brexit process.

To read Jonathan’s original blog post on Brexit, click here.

Jonathan Armstrong is a compliance and technology lawyer and partner at Cordery,  helping multinational clients with risk and compliance across Europe. Recent projects include lots of GDPR & data transfer, UK Bribery Act 2010, internal investigations, security breach, helping retailers move sales online or enter new markets, launch of innovative new products and services, ethics & compliance code implementation, emerging technology, corporate governance & online reputation. Clients include Fortune 250 organisations as well as household names in manufacturing and financial services in Europe.

A regular broadcaster, Jonathan has also written articles on technology and compliance related topics, and is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Marketing (FCIM) and Vice-Chair of the New York State Bar Association International Section.

Jonathan has spoken at conferences in the US, China, Brazil, Canada, Vietnam, Singapore, Dubai & across Europe.

Specialties: Qualified as a solicitor in the UK in 1991; specialised in technology, risk & governance since 1996. The 2016 Legal Experts Report again featured Jonathan as one of the UK’s leading experts in the field. Jonathan’s practice is international. One of the 3 co-authors of the LexisNexis definitive work on technology law ‘Managing Risk: Technology & Communications’.