Compliance date

Under HIPAA, the date a covered entity must comply with a standard, an implementation specification, a requirement, or a modification. This is usually 24 months after the effective date of the associated final rule for most entities, but 36 months after the effective date for small health plans. For future changes in the standards, the compliance date would be at least 180 days after the effective date but can be longer for small health plans and for complex changes.

Compliance monitoring

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to check provider and insurance company responsibilities in regard to the accuracy of procedure codes and verification of medical services provided to patients to prevent fraud and abuse.

Compliance officer

Individual overseeing a facility’s or medical practice’s compliance program who plans, implements, and monitors the program with a staff trained to perform activities that comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules.

Compliance oversight officer

The approved person, having significant influence and acting in the capacity of director or senior manager, who is allocated the compliance oversight function. He or she must ensure that the firm acts in accordance with FSA rules. He or she needs unfettered access to all individuals and information in order to further the sound and prudent management of the firm.

Compliance program

A management plan adopted by a medical practice or facility that is composed of policies and procedures to accomplish uniformity, consistency, and conformity in medical recordkeeping that fulfills official HIPAA requirements. It fosters prevention of fraudulent activities by the development of internal controls.

Complication

Disease or condition arising during the course of, or as a result of, another disease, modifying medical care requirements; for diagnosis-related groups (DRGs), a condition that arises during the hospital stay that prolongs the length of stay by at least 1 day in approximately 75% of cases. Also known as substantial complication.