Revising OIG’s Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol Solicitation for Information and Recommendations
AGENCY: Office of Inspector General (OIG), HHS.
ACTION: Notice and Opportunity for Comment.
SUMMARY: This Federal Register notice informs the public that OIG:
(1) Intends to update the Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol (63 FR 58399, October 30, 1998) and
(2) solicits input from the public for OIG to consider in updating the Protocol. DATES: To ensure consideration, public comments must be delivered to the address provided below by no later than 5 p.m. on August 17, 2012.
Background: In 1998, OIG published the Provider Self-Disclosure Protocol (the Protocol) to establish a process for health care providers to disclose potential fraud involving the Federal health care programs. The Protocol provides guidance on how to investigate this conduct, quantify damages, and report the conduct to OIG to resolve the provider’s liability exposure under OIG’s civil money penalty (CMP) authorities.
Over the past 14 years, we have resolved over 800 disclosures, resulting in recovering over $280 million to the Federal health care programs. Through our experience in resolving Protocol matters, we identified areas where additional guidance would be beneficial to the provider community and would improve the efficient resolution of Protocol matters. Specifically, we issued three Open Letters to Health Care Providers to address some of these issues.
First, in 2006 we announced an initiative to encourage disclosure of conduct creating liability under OIG’s antikickback and physician self-referral law CMP authorities.
In 2008, we issued additional guidance and requirements for Protocol submissions to increase the efficiency of the Protocol, including new requirements for the initial submission and specific time commitments from the provider. This Open Letter also announced the presumption of not requiring a compliance agreement as part of settling a cooperative and complete disclosure.
Finally, in 2009, we stated we would no longer accept disclosure of a matter into the Protocol that involved only liability under the physician self-referral law in the absence of a colorable anti-kickback violation. We also announced a minimum $50,000 settlement amount for kickback-related submissions. After over a decade of experience in resolving Protocol disclosures, we are considering revising the Protocol to provide additional guidance.
We are soliciting comments, recommendations, and other suggestions from concerned parties and organizations on how best to revise the Protocol to address relevant issues and to provide useful guidance to the health care industry.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Inspection of Public Comments: All comments received before the end of the comment period are available for viewing by the public. All comments will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov after they have been received. Comments received timely will also be available for public inspection as they are received at Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201, Monday through Friday of each week from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule an appointment to view public comments, phone (202) 708–9848.
RESPONSE - ADDRESSES: In commenting, please refer to file code OIG–1301–N. Because of staff and resource limitations, we cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission. You may submit comments in one of three ways (no duplicates, please):
1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific recommendations and proposals through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov.
2. By regular, express, or overnight mail. You may send written comments to the following address: Kenneth D. Kraft, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: OIG–1301–N, Room 5541B, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period.
3. By hand or courier. If you prefer, you may deliver, by hand or courier, your written comments before the close of the comment period to Kenneth D. Kraft, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Cohen Building, 330 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20201. Because access to the interior of the Cohen Building is not readily available to persons without Federal Government identification, commenters are encouraged to schedule their delivery with one of our staff at (202) 708–9848. All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this Federal Register document. All comments, including attachments and other supporting material received, are subject to public disclosure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenneth D. Kraft, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Office of External Affairs, at (202) 708–9848.
Here is comment:
Trash the program! It’s useless and invites fraud. You have only recovered $280 million in 14 years!
There is an old auto racers trick where they make one illegal or unapproved thing obvious to inspectors and they don’t check what you really are doing.
