(Source: Center for Integrity in Practice, APTA)
True or False?
A late entry to documentation in a patient’s record is acceptable as long as it is predated for the episode of care and signed by the person making the change.
Answer: FALSE
What you don’t know CAN hurt you!
Didn’t have time to read that last Medicare bulletin? Everyone is busy, but ignoring government guidance can put you at risk for submitting improper claims or documentation. Providers are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations. No specific intent to defraud is required to be charged under the False Claims Act (FCA), because the FCA defines “knowing” as not only actual knowledge but also acting in deliberate ignorance or reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of information, such as repeatedly ignoring government bulletins and transmittals regarding billing and coverage for physical therapist services. Find out more about understanding and reducing risk.
APTA has launched Integrity in Practice, a comprehensive campaign to promote high quality of care. It does so by helping PTs navigate complex regulations and payment systems and by making tools and resources available for PTs to encourage and promote evidence-based practice; ethics; professionalism; prevention of fraud, abuse, and waste; and more. APTA works continuously to reduce the number of unnecessary regulations that interfere with physical therapists’ ability to provide the best care for their patients. For more information about this campaign, click here.