ZP&W's L.Desnick and H. Stoessel Article Published: "Providers Need Screening Policies for Workers"

The Daily Business Journal today contained an article written by Lori C. Desnick, Esq. and Heather K. Stoessel, Esq., both associates at ZP&W, on the importance of screening in the healthcare field. The article cited recent enforcement activity by the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the OIG) in imposing penalties against providers that employ or contract with individuals or entities excluded from participation in federal health programs. The OIG has the power to exclude individuals and entities that have engaged in fraud and abuse and other unethical or unlawful behavior from federal health care programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and CHAMPUS. The article noted that "only California has more federally excluded individuals than Florida, which has 3,498." The article warned that "every health care provider that receives federal health care funding should have written policies and procedures in place governing the screening of employees, independent contractors and outside vendors."