CAH Compliance Tips

Badge Compliance & Data Stewardship
Because the system is only effective when clinicians are wearing functioning beacon badges, VersaBadge works closely with our CAH customers to improve badge wearing compliance.  Badge compliance is typically highlighted on your monthly and quarterly reporting and inconsistent badge data is typically excluded from reports.  It is critical that the hospital review all data closely and ensure that any problematic data is removed prior to submitting data to your MAC, any other third party payer, or CMS.  The hospital should not claim ED physician availability time for Part A reimbursement for clinicians who failed to wear a badge, whose badge did not function properly, or for any other reason that clinician availability time could not be accurately determined in a given time period.

Clinician Sign Off
We strongly advise that you review on at least a monthly basis, or as otherwise advised by your MAC, the VersaBadge reporting data with each clinician who we are tracking and have them sign off on the reporting to confirm validity.  This can be helpful to the hospital in the event of an audit. 

Policies, Procedures & Data Use
It is important that current and future clinicians understand why and how the VersaBadge system is utilized at their facilities.  Having clear "Policies & Procedures" documentation specific to your hospital's use of VersaBadge can be helpful both in terms of educating clinicians and supporting the hospital in an audit.  We recommend that the hospital keep their policies and procedures up-to-date and obtain clinician sign off for documentation purposes. The hospital is solely responsible for any claims it makes for reimbursement from Medicare and other third party payers. 

Data Interpretation & Submission
The VersaBadge system has been developed in close coordination with CAHs, hospital accounting firms and consultants.  VersaBadge has also reviewed the system with representatives from NGS (National Government Services) and received positive feedback from them.  Keep in mind that VersaBadge and our representatives are not CPAs, and we are not qualified to advise hospitals regarding their finances and accounting.  It is the hospital's responsibility to proactively notify its MAC of the time study methodology it is utilizing.  While VersaBadge works closely with hospitals to understand their requirements and adapt the system for their needs, it is the hospital's responsibility to interpret the VersaBadge data and ensure the accuracy of any data that is being utilized for reimbursement purposes.  Hospitals should thoroughly review all data with their accountants, cost report preparers and other appropriate professionals and make their own determinations as to whether or not data is defensible and appropriate for submission to CMS contractors and other third party payers for reimbursement purposes.  In some cases, hospitals may not utilize all of the data collected by the VersaBadge system and may elect to supplement VersaBadge data with other time study data.  

*The above terms and tips are not intended to be exhaustive and may change from time to time.  VersaBadge makes no guarantee regarding the completeness or accuracy of these tips and hospitals should consult their fiscal intermediary regarding any issues or decisions that may have CMS compliance implications.  Additional VersaBadge terms are included in the hospitals’ customer contract.