An Attack from Within

The consultant found diat: * Elizabeth had sole responsibility for tracking and collecting accounts receivable, data entry of all patient charges, data entry of insurance and patient payments (both checks and cash), daily deposits of all payments, and processing of all mail received with payments. *...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PT 2008-01, Vol.16 (1), p.48
Main Authors: Daulong, Mary, Hildreth, Paul, Swisher, Laura Lee (Dolly
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Embezzlement
Ethics
Financial analysis
Fraud
Health care
Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act 1996-US
Hospitals
Managers
Patients
Physical therapists
Physical therapy
Risk
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Summary:The consultant found diat: * Elizabeth had sole responsibility for tracking and collecting accounts receivable, data entry of all patient charges, data entry of insurance and patient payments (both checks and cash), daily deposits of all payments, and processing of all mail received with payments. * Cash received for on-site payments was listed on the "cash received" form that was given to Elizabeth for payment entry and deposit. * Cash payment receipts were provided to patients upon request only. * Petty cash and cash from patient payments were co-mingled, and no policy or procedure was in place to require daily reconciliation. * Payment posting was done by date of service rather than by line item. * Elizabeth ordered all of the clinic's checks, deposit slips, and deposit stamps. * Elizabeth had custody of and authority to use Mary Jane's signature stamp. * Elizabeth's monthly report to Mary Jane included these metrics: gross total of money in accounts receivable, total visits (current month and year to date), total new patients (current month and year to date), patients by financial classification, and physicians by number of referrals. [...] principle 6 of the Code of Ethics states: "A physical therapist shall maintain and promote high standards for physical therapy practice, education, and research" without mentioning the obligations of administrators or consultants.
ISSN:1065-5077