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Risk Assessment

and Internal Audit What Expenses Are Covered

Considerations in Healthcare By the Child Support Payment?

Child Support is an amount of money one
parent pays to the other that is ordered by the
Groundbreaking changes • Supply Chain Court. Typically, child support covers or subsi-
in the healthcare industry • Denials Management dizes a portion of the receiving parent’s mort-
have increased the scope gage or rent expense, utilities, food and regular
and complexity of a health- Internal Audit monthly expenses. If not specifically stated in
care organization’s risks. Focus an agreement or Court order, then it also may
Risks appear to be around Internal audit’s tradi- cover the children’s clothing and entertainment
every corner, from legisla- tional focus on transac- expense, a portion of the children’s health
tion and regulatory develop- tions and related finan- insurance premium, field trip costs, school
ments to operational and cial business cycles has supplies, and grooming.
financial concerns. It is been sufficient for Some parents elect to enumerate child relat-
becoming more imperative healthcare organizations ed expenses that they will share in addition to
that an organization go in the volume-driven the payment of child support. Some examples BY ANGELA R. NEAVE,
through a robust compre- system in the past. That are: health related expenses, dental and ortho- ESQUIRE
hensive enterprise-wide risk BY SCOTT J. MARIANI, approach needs to be dontic expense, vision and mental health
assessment that goes JD modified now that costs, school uniforms, school supplies, SAT testing and college application
beyond traditional bound- healthcare organizations costs, car and insurance costs, private school tuition, extra-curricular activ-
aries and reaches more clin- are continuing to move ities and any other child expense unique to your family. If a specific expense
ical, operational and strategic areas. The from a reimbursement structure based on is not specifically stated as shared between the parents, then the parent
results of the risk assessment will be the claims and production to a system of incurring the expense may not be entitled to reimbursement from the other
basis of internal audit plan areas reflect- rewards based on value, including quali- parent.
ing the priority of risks for a healthcare ty, safety, efficiency and appropriateness If your child has a disability, severe or chronic health issue or other
organization. of care. Under value-based care, a extraordinary expense, how those expenses are shared should be explicitly
provider can be financially penalized for stated in any settlement agreement or Court order. These expenses could
2017 Top Healthcare failing to meet quality standards. Internal include physical and occupational therapy, tutoring, chiropractic or other
Risk Areas audit needs to evolve and consider alternative health treatments. If your child will be dependent upon you for
Based on the 2017 annual survey of expanding the use of data analytics as a support past the age of 18, you will want to specifically seek that designation
Healthcare Chief Audit Executives and tool in evaluating risks associated with a so child support does not terminate at the age of 18.
Internal Audit Leaders performed by value-based healthcare environment.
Protiviti partnering with the Association If you have questions about child support, and want to discuss those questions
of Healthcare Internal Auditors (AHIA), Conclusion with an attorney, call Angela R. Neave, Esquire,
the following were the top healthcare An internal audit infrastructure based at (954) 981-2200 for a free consultation.
audit plan areas for 2017: on the use of data analytics will support
• Information System Controls more efficient and effective coverage of
• Billing and Collections traditional audit areas while allowing
• Accounting/Finance more time and resources to assess and
• Information Security/Cybersecurity address the new and emerging risk areas
Program Effectiveness under value-based reimbursement. This
• Charge Capture approach will enable internal audit to
• Electronic Health Records generate and protect value within a
• Compliance and healthcare organization.
Regulatory Monitoring
• Ancillary Services For more information, contact Scott J.
•Accounts Payable Mariani, JD, Partner and Healthcare
• Data Information Governance Practice Leader, WithumSmith+Brown,
• HIPAA Compliance CPAs, at (973) 868-8124 or
• Fraud, Waste and Abuse smariani@withum.com
• Clinical Systems or visit www.withum.com.

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