Physical Therapy License Defense in Texas

You might hear a physical therapist license defense lawyer referred to as a compliance lawyer. The purpose of a compliance lawyer is to serve as the representative of a company’s ethics and compliance program. They ensure that the company uses due diligence and maintains a sense of integrity within their operations. They do so to protect the company against legal risk and potential lawsuits.

A compliance lawyer for a physical therapist will develop a standard of ethics and compliance policies that meet all the necessary requirements. Once these ethics have been created and documented, they will manage risk training on all compliance-related issues. The compliance lawyer will then seek to implement and maintain this code of ethics within the workplace. They often work alongside the human resources department and senior management in enforcing these policies.

In the case of an investigation or audit, the lawyer will also be responsible for handling legal support and defense. Their job is to evaluate the violation and respond to it through remedial action protocols.

In a high-risk industry such as healthcare, compliance is necessary. It requires that employees follow any rules, regulations, laws, and policies that relate to their practices. Healthcare compliance covers a broad area of practices and policies. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:

• Patient billing
• Reimbursement
• Patient care
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• HIPAA privacy and security
• Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• Managed care contracting

Though any of these could become a problem in healthcare compliance, the majority of issues that arise have to do with patient safety, privacy and patient billing practices.

There are several different government agencies that regulate healthcare compliance. Each focuses on its own area of control. For example, agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services focus on protecting healthcare programs from things like fraud, waste, or abuse. The Drug Enforcement Administration enforces laws that pertain to controlled substances and how to properly administer them.

Every organization or provider in the field of healthcare must adhere to a compliance program. A larger organization will need a compliance program that reflects their size. It must involve a large group of diverse individuals with many different disciplines. Some organizations might have as many as several hundreds of individuals within their program.

While in a smaller practice area, like a private or solo practice, physicians might not need nearly as large of a compliance program, but they need one just the same.

Healthcare compliance is always required, and it’s always changing. Organizations must remain up-to-date on any new laws, regulations, or professional standards in their field. Both federal and state healthcare laws are constantly changing, as well as the way we interpret those laws. Healthcare workers must constantly review and update their program if necessary. With these updates should also come continuous training to ensure each staff member is aware of new and changing regulations. They must also audit their performances routinely to make certain that they’re meeting these standards.

Every organization relating to healthcare must follow the compliance rules set in place to operate efficiently and effectively. This especially applies to physical therapy. The stakes in areas like this are much higher than in other industries because a deviation from procedure could result in serious injury to a patient.

Patient care is based on healthcare compliance, which is based on appropriate and current clinical standards. Healthcare compliance protects patients from injuries that might result from broken protocol.

Healthcare compliance isn’t just about protecting the patients, though. It is also about protecting doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Complying with the standards set in place helps these professionals work in a safe manner while continuously improving the quality of their care. Violation of these standards and regulations can bring about lawsuits, large fines, or even the loss of a professional license.

Government agencies are in charge of punishing organizations and providers for not complying with set standards. Having a good healthcare compliance system in place can help identify any problems and quickly find solutions before the need for the government to step in. It can also help providers avoid liability for medical malpractice suits. By ensuring that medical professionals are following the current clinical standards to the best of their ability, they are less likely to come under fire for malpractice claims.