Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Apply what you find to prevent future problems.

If your facility doesn't yet have some form of prepayment audit process in place, now's the time to implement one, say experts.

Check out these expert tips for improving your prepayment audit process. To perform a self-audit, "take a sample of claims, both Part A and Part B, and review the entire process from admissions to the clinical chart to the vendor invoice" to make sure you're putting the proper information on the Medicare claim, advises Janet Potter, CPA, MAS, healthcare research specialist with FR&R Healthcare Consulting in Deerfield, Ill. Also review the MDSs related to the claims, "looking for errors, omissions, and inconsistencies."

Whenever possible, those conducting the self-audits shouldn't be the ones who initially prepare the MDS, claim, or other information, Potter advises. "Facilities should be sure to follow-up on any errors, omissions or inconsistencies -- not only by correcting the information when possible, but also by educating staff who are responsible for creating the documentation."