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Auditors to assess hospital charges  Share
Lawrence County Memorial Hospital is getting prepared to meet the demands of a program established in 2005 by the federal government in which they will be audited for accuracy of services and financial charges. Herb Winters of Quorum Health Services, the hospital's management firm, spoke to the board during their Wednesday, Aug. 26 meeting concerning the upcoming audit. He said that RAC (Recovery Audit Contractors) began their audit of hospitals in Region B which includes Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Minnesota on August 1. All hospitals and physicians or anyone providing healthcare services are subject to be audited if they receive reimbursement payments from the government. Winters said that it is likely that most of the process will be done via submittal of records, as opposed to actual on-site auditing. RAC searches through records for medical necessity, incorrect codes, and insufficient documentation. If the government finds that it has overpaid the facility through medicaid or medicare charges, the government could request that money to be returned. Healthcare providers can, however, dispute any findings. LCMH CEO Doug Florkowski said that a task force had been assigned to review all hospital records for compliance. LCMH is joining forces with three area hospitals (in Fairfield, Mt. Carmel and Eldorado) to purchase a digital mammography unit. According to Florkowski , the unit will be available within 60 days. ''It is a significant upgrade in technology for the women of Lawrence County,'' he said. The computer aided detection has a 96 percent detection rate, Florkowski added. In addition to new equipment, hospital personnel are optimistic about the possibility of getting a new general surgeon on board with its staff. The availability of the surgeon would give the hospital the capability to perform colonoscopies; gynocological surgeries, such as hysterectomies, and removal of fybroid tumors and tonsils.
Barbara E. Allender is editor of the Bridgeport Leader.
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