Compliance

Each Fall, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services releases updates to regulations associated with its Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems. This year's changes span nearly 600 pages, though many updates pertain to two key topics: reducing hospital readmissions and minimizing hospital reimbursements. Here's what you most need to know.

As has been evidenced by Walmart this year - and the heavy penalties leveled against it - the cost of noncompliance can be steep. With 2014 on the wane, we're looking back at some of the changes that have come about in compliance, as well as the challenges compliance practitioners are facing as a result. Here's what you need to...

A recent ruling has weakened Hong Kong's anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws, limiting its enforcement power to its borders. The FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and anti-corruption laws of most other Asia-Pac countries stand in contrast to this position, holding perpetrators responsible for corruption wherever they're located.

As is often the case, technology has evolved faster than the law. In the EU, this means that while there is an abundance of solutions available to users, there is also a great need for awareness of applicable regulations and directives. Here we have an in-depth look at recent legislation and the consequences to organizations of non-compliance.

According to a recent Ernst and Young survey, 67 percent of professionals questioned believe improving the GRC system within their companies should be high priority. There are three key areas to focus on if your firm's governance, risk management and compliance functions need bolstering. Jim Nortz, of Ethics Advisory Services, breaks them down.

With ever-changing legislation and ever-increasing regulatory scrutiny, the role of the CCO is continually evolving. Corporate compliance officers served once upon a time as compliance cops, but the scope of the role has grown over the last several years so that now CCOs must be champions within their organizations of a culture of compliance and ethics and more...

This summer, the FDA released guidance on how drug and device manufacturers are to use social media within the boundaries of appropriate marketing practices. It can be pretty tricky to present product benefits right alongside risk information - or respond to misinformation voiced by a third party - in the space of 140 characters. But the OIG is watching...

A number of recent rulings from the Supreme Court ought to be dominating compliance practitioners' attention. Here, we have highlights of some of the more significant decisions, on matters ranging from whether staff should be paid for donning and doffing protective gear and when interns must be compensated to employer liability in instances of workplace bullying.

Laws concerning same-sex couples and employer benefits are changing. U.S. v Windsor, a landmark case in 2013, was a huge win for those seeking equal rights for same-sex couples, and it has set the tone for many rulings since. For employers, the impact is significant, as their benefit plans and policies may now be out of compliance with federal law....

A recent ruling by the Supreme Court upholds individual's privacy in the course of an arrest by restricting officers from searching the arrestee's cell phone without a first obtaining a warrant. This is a huge stride in data privacy during an era when it seems little remains out of Big Brother's reach. It's also a reminder that companies should take...

Innovation is the name of the game at Apple, and the tech giant may be breaking into the medical device manufacturing sector with the introduction of the iWatch. Pending FDA approval, of course. But is the company ready for the move into such a highly regulated environment, where the product will be under constant scrutiny?

The tides may be turning in Ukraine. Anti-corruption measures were signed into effect in May, and the initiative's supporters expect improved transparency, with resulting increases in investment into the country from foreign investors. This comes just as the EBRD predicts a coming economic decline in the country. We'll have to stay tuned to see what happens.