It is the policy of Citizen Advocates to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. It is also our policy to adhere to the Code of Conduct that is adopted by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and the Compliance Committee.
Certain program components of Citizen Advocates may have policies and procedures and/or other regulatory requirements that are different and more stringent than OPWDD/OMH/OASAS regulations. Nothing in this Compliance Plan is intended to modify or contradict any of these more stringent requirements.
We are committed to our responsibility to conduct our business affairs with integrity based on sound ethical and moral standards. We hold our employees, contracted practitioners, and vendors to these same standards.
Citizen Advocates is committed to maintaining and measuring the effectiveness of our Compliance Plan through monitoring and auditing systems reasonably designed to detect noncompliance by our employees and agents. We shall require the performance of regular, periodic compliance audits by internal and/or external auditors who have expertise in federal and state health care statutes, regulations, and health care program requirements.
We have designated an individual to serve as our Corporate Compliance Officer (CCO) and have established a Compliance Committee (CC) to assist with implementation and operation of the Compliance Plan. Activities related to the implementation and operation of the Compliance Plan will be reported regularly to the Board of Directors.
All employees, contracted practitioners, and vendors shall acknowledge that it is their responsibility to report any instances of suspected or known non-compliance to their immediate supervisor, the Chief Executive Officer or the Corporate Compliance Officer. Reports may be made anonymously without fear of retaliation, retribution, or breach of confidentiality. Failure to report known or suspected noncompliance or making false reports will be grounds for disciplinary action, including termination. Reports related to harassment or other workplace-oriented issues, will be referred to Human Resources.
Citizen Advocates communicates its compliance standards and policies through required training initiatives to all employees, contracted practitioners, and vendors. We are committed to these efforts through distribution of this Compliance Plan and our Code of Conduct.
This Compliance Plan will be consistently enforced through appropriate disciplinary mechanisms, including, if appropriate, discipline of individuals responsible for failure to detect non-compliance.
Detected non-compliance, through any mechanism, i.e. compliance auditing procedures, confidential reporting, will be responded to in an expedient manner. We are dedicated to the resolution of such matters and will take all reasonable steps to prevent further similar violations, including any necessary modifications to the Compliance Plan.
Citizen Advocates will, at all times, exercise due diligence with regard to background and professional license investigations for all prospective employees, contractors, vendors, and members of the Board of Directors.
Any inquiries surrounding Citizen Advocates’ Corporate Compliance program can be directed to a Corporate Compliance Officer. Additionally, any reports may be filed using the Anonymous Corporate Compliance Hotline at 518.354.4182 upon which Citizen Advocates will promptly investigate allegations.
Citizen Advocates compliance resources:
Federal and State compliance resources:
- Office of the Inspector General
- New York State Laws and Regulations
- HIPAA Information
- Corporate Compliance Officer
- CorporateCompliance@CitizenAdvocates.net
- Anonymous Corporate Compliance Hotline: 518-651-2831
Billing & financial aid
Citizen Advocates provides exceptional, high-quality care to all individuals regardless of ability to pay.
Our staff will work with individuals who need financial aid if they are uninsured or underinsured based on their income and needs. In addition, we may be able to enroll you in free or low-cost health insurance. In addition, our services are provided on a sliding-fee scale.
Citizen Advocates is also proud to be designated as a National Health Service Corps site, and as such we promise to serve all patients, offer discounted fees for those who qualify, and not deny services based on a person’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or inability to pay.
We accept most insurances, including Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
If you have any questions, please contact our Finance or Billing Departments at (518) 483-1251.
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