May 2016
Medical Journal - Houston Page 3
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FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES
BY REED TINSLEY , CPA , CVA , CFP , CHBC
It is important for all employers , including those in the healthcare industry , to conduct exit interviews with departing employees . The consistent use of exit interviews serves numerous purposes , including protection of sensitive business information , achievement of overall improvement in workplace environment , and curtailment of employee turnover .
The exit interview : a tool for litigation avoidance and corporate healthcare compliance
misleading documents were submitted to a government agency ; 3 ) expense reports were padded or falsified ; 4 ) items of value were offered or accepted for referrals , or 5 ) legal or regulatory violations were covered up . To that end , the following topics should be explored :
• Did the employee witness any conduct that he or she would characterize as either unethical or illegal ?
• Was the employee ever asked to engage in conduct that he or she believed to be either unethical or illegal ?
• Has the employee heard rumors or reports of unethical or illegal conduct which he or she considered credible ?
• Were any company documents , including documents created by the employee , removed from the institution and not returned ? Does the employee have any copies of documents anywhere off premises ?
• Has the employee ever given company documents to persons not employed by the facility ? Has anyone else at the facility done so ?
• Has any government investigator , agent , or attorney interviewed the
Please see FINANCIAL PERSPECTIVES page 15
Using the Exit Interview
Exit interviews provide additional benefits to entities that deal with and are regulated by the federal government , such as those in the healthcare industry . With the numerous regulations and certification requirements applicable to healthcare facilities , exit interviews should be part of an institution ’ s overall compliance program . An effective healthcare compliance program will permit an entity to identify and address possible regulatory or statutory violations , as well as provide information necessary to assess the potential for litigation .
Healthcare facilities that participate in government reimbursement programs must be sensitive to fraud and abuse litigation under various statutes , including the anti-kickback statute , the Stark law ( antiself-referral ), and a number of civil and criminal statutes addressing false claims and fraudulent billing . Attention to these compliance issues will , in turn , lessen the possibility that an entity will become the target of an investigation by the OIG , HCFA , HHS , the DOJ , or some other federal or state agency .
Healthcare employers should also use the exit interview to gauge the possibility of “ general ” employment litigation , such as a claim by a departing employee for wage payment , harassment , or discrimination .
In order to address issues of compliance , and to prevent or prepare for litigation , exit interviews should be used to elicit information concerning illegal or unethical behavior , workplace quality , personnel issues such as quality of training / supervision , and other issues stemming from the employment relationship generally .
Uncovering Damaging or Illegal Behavior
When probing the possibility of illegal or unethical behavior or practices in the workplace , a healthcare employer should explore whether an employee knows of circumstances suggesting that 1 ) billing or medical records were altered ; 2 ) false or
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May 2016
Page 3
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FINANCIAL
PERSPECTIVES
BY REED TINSLEY, CPA,
CVA, CFP, CHBC
It is important for all
employers, including those
in the healthcare industry, to
conduct exit interviews with
departing employees. The consistent use of
exit interviews serves numerous purposes,
including protection of sensitive business
information, achievement of overall
improvement in workplace environment,
and curtailment of employee turnover.
Using the Exit Interview
Exit interviews provide additional benefits
to entities that deal with and are regulated
by the federal government, such as those in
the healthcare industry. With the numerous
regulations and certification requirements
applicable to healthcare facilities, exit
interviews should be part of an institution’s
overall compliance program. An effective
healthcare compliance program will permit
an entity to identify and address possible
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