Developing and Implementing an Audit Program for Physician Practices.

Abstract

The word "audit" generates fear in any situation. Many practices do not audit-sometimes because they are so overwhelmed with just day-to-day management, but sometimes because they would rather not know of issues that they do not wish to confront. Even practices that currently audit may have the wrong focus. Common errors in auditing include performing internal audits only, choosing the wrong auditor, auditing based on the wrong parameters, not repaying or resubmitting after an audit, not performing follow-up education, and thinking that attorney-client privilege provides unlimited protection. Although practices should perform some internal auditing, if this is the only auditing done, there is the risk of the "fox watching the henhouse" effect.