L INING UP EVERYTHING THAT’S NEEDED for a successful accreditation compliance program is no small task, and it can seem a bit daunting. The ABC Accreditation Compliance Kit is designed to help make accreditation compliance simple and

successful. This year, we’re spelling it out for you in a way that’s sure to make you smile. With a little humor and lots of encouragement, you’ll be well on your way to achieving compliance and improving your facility’s patient care and business operations.

NEW this YearGovernment Regulations Quick Reference Guide—Terms, tips and resources provided all in one place to help you stay compliant with applicable Government Regulations and requirements. Privileging Guide—The How and Who of Privileging— A deep dive into what privileging is, how to use it appropriately and effectively and how it affects your facility’s accreditation.

? i

THE KIT INCLUDES:Patient Care Accreditation Guide—everything you need to get on board with accreditation compliance.2020 Calendar—helping you keep track of important compliance milestones throughout the year.  

Resource Pack—your online resource for sample forms, templates, checklists and articles available for you to review, use and modify to fit your practice’s needs. Look for the icon throughout the calendar and access the Resource Pack from your facility’s MY ABC account.

Privileging

Test your compliance knowledge for a chance to win Free Lunch for you and your staff! Simply fill out and mail in the postcards found at the back of this calendar.

GOOD LUCK!!

Free Lunch Postcard Challenge

January Q: You can request up to 21 black-out dates a year and you must submit your request form no later than 2 weeks from your application received email.MAIL IN JANUARY

AprilQ: You are required to have documented fire/evacuation drills every year. What else is

required as part of this compliance activity? MAIL IN APRIL

JulyQ: Name two of the annually required standards that, if not met, will result in a Force CAP during your survey. MAIL IN JULY

NovemberQ: Name two of the templates that ABC has created to help you with your annual standards review.MAIL IN NOVEMBER

Did You Know?• We don’t visit facilities on major Federal Holidays or their observed days

• If you’re unavailable longer than 14 days, you’ll be required to put your application and survey on hold.

We like to think of ourselves as a pretty flexible bunch—

happy to work with you when the unexpected arises. However, there’s just no getting around the need for deadlines when it comes to operating a successful business.By far the most important deadlines to track are those for your Accreditation Renewal. Whether you’re in line to renew your accreditation this year or you’ve still got a while, here are some important Dos and Don’ts:DO–Know when your accreditation expires and reapply on timeDO–Make sure we have your correct email and mailing addressDON’T–Trash, delete or ignore our status update emails and letters like your ESTIMATED SURVEY WINDOW emailDO–Apply online before application due date

DO–Take advantage of our Blackout Date Submission form (in your ‘Application Received’

confirmation email and facility’s MY ABC account)DON’T–Miss the deadline to submit up to 14 blackout dates—online forms due 2 weeks from date of ‘Application Received’

confirmation email.DO–Mark your calendar (Ahem! Like the one you’re reading now) and set reminders so you don’t forget to applyDO–Call or email us if you have questionsDON’T–Apply late. We can’t guarantee you’ll be surveyed before your accreditation expires, potentially resulting in rejected claims and additional time and paperwork

Blackout Date Submission

form

JANUARY S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A Y

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New Year’s Day

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Chinese New Year

FEBRUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

DECEMBER1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

No one likes surprises (us included) and that’s why we do all we can to help ensure you aren’t left guessing what will happen next. While your surveyor can’t tell you if you’ve

passed or failed before they leave, that’s ultimately to your benefit. Each surveyor’s findings must go through a stringent scoring and review process prior to being finalized. This ensures the accuracy and objectivity of your surveyor’s findings.

Here’s What You Can Expect:

TIMELINE• After your onsite survey, ABC will validate your surveyor’s results and determine your accreditation outcome based on your compliance with each standard.• Within 4-6 weeks, you will receive your accreditation results by email and mail.

EMAILS• It’s very important to check your email regularly for important accreditation communications, such as your accreditation decision email. This will be the first communication from ABC letting you know whether you need to submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP).• You will also receive an email asking you to participate in a customer satisfaction survey. Please take the time to provide us with any suggestions on how we can improve your experience with ABC and the survey process.

SECOND CHANCESIf you are required to submit a CAP, don’t worry! Think of a CAP as your second chance to be compliant. We’re here to help you succeed. Just remember that CAPs…• Are due within 60 days of the facility’s decision date• Must address ALL of the Non-Compliant (N) and Partially Compliant (P) standards

• Don’t cost anything

Don’t hesitate to

contact us if you have any questions or

concerns.(Or cookies)

• What to Expect—Surveyor

Leave Behind

• CAP FAQ Flyer

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YFEBRUARY

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ACCREDITATION DECISION LINGO:

PASS—3-year accreditation (no further actions required)

PASS with CAP—1-year accreditation contingent upon a CAP

FAIL with CAP—Failed survey, must address deficiencies with a CAP

DENIED—Failed survey, deficiencies too severe to grant accreditation

Groundhog Day

Valentine’s Day

Presidents’ Day

MARCH1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JANUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Just because Alexa® can’t help you, doesn’t mean there isn’t help available. 

Alexa—bring me Support Personnel. “SORRY, I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS.”

treatment plan, final fitting and delivery and any follow-up care that modifies the function of the device as originally prescribed. For more information on Support Personnel, refer to the ABC Scope of Practice or check out the standard and tip–HR6.1, Guide, pg. 33.

We changed the privileging standards last year to improve patient care while

still providing you with ample professional support. You can now only privilege certified or licensed staff to provide direct patient care – HR.6, Guide, pg. 33. However, the protocols for privileging certified and licensed staff, as well as how NCOPE

residents are supervised, has remained the same— 

Support Personnel are any non-credentialed individuals to whom an ABC credential holder can delegate certain tasks. This must be done under the direct supervision of the credential holder and within their scope of practice. Keep in mind, Support Personnel cannot perform the patient assessment, formulation of the

We have several resources to make this process easier to document and understand. Check out the Individual Privileging Record template as well as the detailed Instructions for Establishing Written Objective Criteria in the online

Resource Pack. We also have a BRAND NEW resource! Privileging Guide–The How and Who of Privileging.

• Still need Written Objective Criteria

• Have to co-sign all chart notes.

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YMARCH

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March 4-7–AAOP Annual Meeting and Scientif ic Symposium, Chicago

Daylight Savings Time Begins

St. Patrick’s Day Spring Begins

APRIL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

FEBRUARY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Don’t forget about federal, state and local regulations!

Your facility must be unobstructed and fully accessible to patients with disabilities from the outside in—starting in the parking area with any ramps or elevators to inside your facility with wheelchair accessible doorways, hallways and bathrooms.

You must also comply with local health codes and occupancy classifications.  Additionally, ABC requires that each of your patient care locations provide specific, dedicated and private treatment areas that are properly equipped for the evaluation and care of all patients.

A BIG MISS…SHOULD’VE HAD YOUR COFFEE!Many facilities are dinged for not conducting an annual fire/evacuation drill. It’s not a difficult task, but one that many business owners often overlook. Standards FS.3.2.1 and FS.3.2.2 (Guide, pg. 61) address the need to not only have an annual drill but also dictates the need for a written evaluation of the drill’s effectiveness. Don’t forget to include the results of the evaluation in your performance management plan — an important and required final step.

Don’t get too fired up!We have resources available to help you with these safety standards. Check out the Fire Emergency Drill Documentation template as well as the Annual Facility Review Checklist to help focus your facility safety efforts. 

All joking aside, we know that safety is ALWAYS first, especially when it comes to your patients and employees. In fact,

there are two ABC safety focused standards that are required (or you risk receiving a CAP request)—FS.2 and FS2.1 (Guide, pg. 60). These

standards specifically address patient access to your facility.

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YAPRIL

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26 27 28 29 30 It’s Limb Loss Awareness MonthVisit limblossawareness.org to learn more and find out how you can get involved.

Aprils Fool’s Day

Passover (Begins at Sunset)

Easter

Earth Day Ramadan Administrative Professionals Day

World Plagiocephaly Awareness Day

Good Friday

MAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

MARCH1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Now that you’re nearly halfway through the year, it’s a good time

to check with your patients to see how you’re doing. So put on your communication hat (or sombrero) and LET’S TACO ‘BOUT…Patient Satisfaction. First, decide the best way to distribute your patient satisfaction surveys. Many practices are transitioning to an electronic system, so consider creating an online survey (check out free tools like Google Forms or Survey Monkey). There are several ways to give patients access to electronic surveys–via email, a tablet or computer in the waiting area or survey link listed on a handout or other takeaway.   If you need ideas, download our Sample Patient Satisfaction Survey and customize it to fit your facility and patients’ needs. 

At least once a year (better yet, quarterly), evaluate and document the survey responses–PM.2.1, Guide, pg.56. Note any positive feedback as well as areas that need improvement. Communicate the results at your next staff meeting–be sure to praise employees on a job well done and encourage input and ideas on how to make your practice better. Take the survey data and write a review of your performance management program. You must document any changes to your processes at least once a year–PM.10, Guide, pg. 58. Whether you’ve chosen to make a change or keep things at the same high level, be sure to promote consistency. When your staff makes an effort to improve, your patients are sure to take notice!

Sending Positive Vibes Your way!Download these tools from the RP. 

• Guide to Satisfaction Trends

• How to Write and Analyze Surveys 

• Sample Patient Satisfaction Survey

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YMAY

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May is National Stroke Awareness MonthLet’s work together to raise awareness about the third leading cause of death in the U.S. (up from fifth last year!).

Cinco de Mayo

Mother’s Day Armed Forces Day

Eid al-Fitr

Memorial Day

APRIL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JUNE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

We all do it, we take mental notes and forget to write things down, because…LIFE. We know you’re super busy trying to run a business, but it’s important to

slow down and take the extra steps to accurately document your patients charts in real-time. The following standards require you to keep thorough and complete patient records not only to ensure that you’re on track but that you’re delivering the best care possible. Remember to:• Review the treatment plan—Do this at every visit so you and your patients are both on the same page. Be sure to note in the record if your patient isn’t following instructions and help correct any issues through patient education and communication with the referral source–PC.3.2, Guide, pg. 39.• Be consistent—Your follow-up care, level and frequency of service must be consistent with the diagnosis and complexity of services provided. Follow-up appointments are based on potential risks and the likelihood of changes in the fit of the device or the patient’s function over time–PC.3.3, Guide, pg. 39.• Evaluate the patient’s needs—Your patient records must document your determination and rationale for the appropriate device and the appropriate materials, components and design based on the patient’s need –PC.3.4.1, Guide, pg. 40.• Follow the treatment plan—Remember that you are a provider, not a prescriber, and therefore should consistently follow the prescription and consult the prescriber when necessary. As always, everything should be documented in the patient’s record–PC.3.4.2 Guide, pg. 40.

That’s why we have great tools available in the RP to

keep you on track:

Thinking aheadGet into the habit of taking detailed patient notes during every patient visit and properly train your qualified staff to do to the same. It may even be helpful to create a step-by-step checklist on patient note-taking that your staff can follow. This simple act will also serve you well when a surveyor asks to review a patient chart at your next onsite survey (yes, it will happen!).

Patient Care Communication LogPatient Chart Audit FormWebinar Library (News & Events section of our website)

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YJUNE

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28 29 30 June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Join the Scoliosis Research Society in highlighting the growing need for education, early detection and awareness to the public about scoliosis and its prevalence within the

community. Visit www.srs.org to learn more.

Summer begins

International Scoliosis Awareness Day

Father’s Day

MAY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JULY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Time to start your Annual Facility Review!Pace yourself and you’ll be on track for a great review!

Download the Annual Facility Review Checklist from the Resource Pack to get a complete list of tasks needed to stay compliant.c Review your written policies and procedures–AD.3.1.1, Guide, pg. 30.c Review the Office of Inspector General (OIG) List to ensure that no employees, contractors and new hires are on the list–AD.5.1, Guide, pg. 30.c Document verification of staff certifications and licenses–HR.2, Guide, pg. 31.c Conduct employee performance reviews–HR.7, Guide, pg. 34.c Assess risk from emergency and disaster and ensure a contingency plan addresses the identified risks–PC.8, Guide, pg. 44.c Have a written contingency plan that describes your response to after-hours and emergency maintenance, backup or replacement of equipment, devices and/items. PC.9.1, Guide, pg. 44. c Seek input from employees, patients and referral sources–PM.1.1, Guide, pg. 56.

c Review patient satisfaction surveys and document how you use the results– PM.2.1, Guide, pg. 56.c Review your written performance management program and document any changes that were made–PM.10, Guide, pg. 58. c Review your written safety management program and document your annual safety inspections and any corrective actions taken–FS.1 and FS.1.1, Guide, pg. 59.c Conduct and document safety management for all staff–FS.3, Guide, pg. 60. Check out the Safety Management Checklist in the Resource Pack.c Conduct an emergency evacuation drill–FS.3.2.1, Guide, pg. 61.c Document the effectiveness of your evacuation drill–FS.3.2.2, Guide, pg. 61. c Write and evaluate the results of file auditing and monitoring– CB.4.1, Guide, pg. 64.

Remember…IT’S A

JOURNEY, NOT A RACE

Think of compliance as the training for a marathon and the

finish line is, you guessed it, your annual review. You’ll be ready if you start training early, or in this case, start reviewing the 14 required standards well in advance. Maybe you’ve already addressed and reviewed many of these standards as part of your regular staff meetings–that’s great! Just make sure you’ve documented any changes you’ve made to your policies and procedures, informed your staff of those changes and ensured all of the required documentation is in a central location available to staff.

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YJULY

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5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

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26 27 28 29 30 31

As you enjoy the Fourth of July, keep in mind that this is National Safety & Fireworks Safety Month.

Independence Day

Eid Al-Adha

Mid-month Motivation—

You Got This!

AUGUST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

JUNE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Whether you discover an employee or contractor on the OIG Exclusions list or witness

harassment, discrimination or violations to the ABC Code, we strongly encourage you to speak up and let someone know.  The O,P&P profession depends on the integrity of its professionals to maintain a safe and positive environment for all. Here are a few resources that we think you’ll find helpful when navigating these sensitive issues and informing and guiding your staff.• OIG Verification form• Sexual Harassment

Resource Guide• ABC Professional

Ethics Program• Code of Professional

Discipline

ABC CredCast PodcastsAt work, in the car or even at the pool...you’re just one click away from valuable education to help you get the most out of your O&P career. Your source for everything you need to know about certification, continuing ed, accreditation and more! Join host Jim Lawson, ABC Outreach Development Manager, as he speaks with subject matter experts to provide valuable insights and tips. 

Subscribe to ABC CredCast now on iTunes and Google Play.

OIG Verification

form &

Harassment Guide

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YAUGUST

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Shout it Out! Tell EVERYONE how proud you are of your facility’s accreditation and your patient care excellence. Take time to share your accreditation accomplishment via your website, social media or even by sending out a press release using our Sample Accreditation Press Release in the online Resource Pack.

SEPTEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JULY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

We know you have a lot to remember,

and sometimes things slip through the cracks. However, changes happening within your facility could affect your accreditation status. That’s one of the reasons we encourage you to keep us in the loop on changes within your facility.

These changes require you to REAPPLY for accreditation and be resurveyed:

• Facility moves to a new location• Change ownership (either sell or add a

partner)• Add a new service• Open an affiliate location

These changes only require that you NOTIFY us in writing:

• Facility days/hours of operation changes• Add or remove personnel• Discontinue a service• Close your facility• Update your NPI or PTAN number

For specific information related to these circumstances, refer to the Guide, pgs. 20-22.

If you have changes to report, it’s easy. Simply log in to your facility MY ABC account and manage your profile. You can update personnel, apply for renewal or add a new facility location. You can also update your contact information. Make sure we have your current email address and primary contact; otherwise,

we can’t contact you with important reminders or notices of changes to our accreditation standards and policies. And most importantly, insurance representatives and Medicare won’t be able

to verify that your site is accredited, which could

impact billing. We know you don’t want that! For written notification of changes,

please send an email to accreditation@abcop.org within 30 days of the change.

Meeting

at 10:30

Contact Stacy

Call IT Dept!!!

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YSEPTEMBER

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27 28 29 30 Did you know that all ABC credentialed individuals get a free Digital Badge to promote their credential and expertise to their patients, peers and the profession? Digital badges are a great way for others to verify a credential and understand what it took to earn it. Consider adding digital badges to the staff section of your facility website to promote your staff’s expertise. Visit ABCop.org to learn more.

Rosh Hashanah (Begins at sunset)

Yom Kipur (Begins at sunset)

Autumn begins

Labor Day ABC’s Birthday!

September 9-12—AOPA National Assembly, Las Vegas

OCTOBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

AUGUST 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

No one wants to be caught off guard by an unexpected

chart audit. But, if proper documentation is found missing from your patient charts then it can lead to some very unfortunate consequences, like not being reimbursed by Medicare—scary!

DON’T BE A SAD PUMPKIN…Learn from your past mistakes! Have policies and procedures in place for auditing and monitoring your clinical and financial records to ensure consistent compliance with all applicable payers—CB.4, Guide, pg. 64. Actively performing your own audits will ensure that you get reimbursed and also cover this important standard for your annual review: CB.4.1. says that you must annually review your program and write an evaluation of the effectiveness of your compliance program, Guide, pg. 64.

Turn that frown upside down!Check out the Patient Chart Audit template available online and make sure your staff is trained on your chart auditing procedures.

WEBINAR LIBRARYABC hosts accreditation specific webinars geared to further your knowledge of the accreditation process. Check out our online webinar library at ABCop.org to watch recordings of past webinars and take quizzes to earn CEUs!

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YOCTOBER

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4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Columbus Day/Indigenous People’s Day

Boss’s Day

Halloween

NOVEMBER1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

SEPTEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

And because we think you are extraordinary, we have EXTRAS just for you!

Speaking of…Your Facility’s MY ABC Account Includes many items to help you run your business:Facilitator eNewsletterSurvey Blackout Dates Request formOnline Renewal ApplicationDownloadable ABC logosPrintable Invoices & ReceiptsResidency Site InfoReal-time Facility Staff Updates

Even More Value…Why Two Fees?Annual Fees AND Renewal Application FeesInstead of having you pay up front for all three-years of accreditation fees, we want you to keep that money to help you run your business. That’s why our initial application fee is significantly less than other accrediting organizations. The portion you pay when you apply, or reapply, covers the cost of processing your application, the extensive and consultative onsite survey and your first year’s annual fees. Then in years two and three, you only pay an annual fee.

What do we DO with your annual fee? • Notify Medicare weekly of all accredited facilities in good standing—so you can get paid• Maintain your ABC Directory account—so that third party payers, referral sources and patients can find you• Answer your questions and guide you through becoming and staying compliant • Maintain our standards, ensuring they comply with current Medicare standards• Continually improve our programs and services to better serve you

The Resource Pack—our gift to you, no strings attached.The pack contains a cornucopia of items like:• Annual Accreditation Task Planner• Top 10 Overlooked Items During

a Survey• What to Expect During Your Onsite

Survey• Customizable Templates and Forms• Relevant Standards Tool• Podcasts• Webinars• Compliance CalendarWe add new resources to the pack every year, so if you have an idea for something, just let us know! Not sure how to access the Resource Pack? It’s all online in your facility’s MY ABC Account.

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YNOVEMBER

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28

29 30 American Diabetes MonthThe rate of amputation for people in the U.S. with diabetes is 10 times higher than for those without the disease. Think of a meaningful way that you can promote awareness this month within your practice.

Remember to set your scales back

ten lbs this weekend!

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Daylight Saving Time Ends

Election Day

OCTOBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

DECEMBER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

No facility wants to be on CMS’s naughty list or found guilty of

violating HIPAA. That’s why we want to make staying compliant with these and all other government regulations as easy as possible. This year, we’re concentrating on standards AD.5 and 6 (Guide, pgs. 28-29) which require your business to comply with the requirements of the CMS DMEPOS Supplier Standards and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

These regulations were created to ensure that your patients are receiving the care and privacy they deserve. Staying compliant with these standards is important, but sometimes hard to stay on top of. To make things easier, we’ve created a Government Regulations Quick Reference Guide—new to our online Resource Pack—with definitions, tips and important websites compiled together in one place. Once you’re done referencing this new resource, make a list for your patients and have them check it twice! Each patient will need to acknowledge that they’ve received or were offered copies of both the Medicare Supplier Standards and HIPAA notice. Whether you choose to make this a separate form for your patients or to combine it with the delivery

acknowledgement like we’ve done in our template Patient Acknowledgment form, this completed form must be kept in each patient’s record.

Fun Fact!Legend holds that the 1953 holiday hit “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” was recorded as a fundraiser to bring a hippo to the Oklahoma City Zoo; but a 2007 interview with singer Gayla Peevey clarified that an Oklahoma-based promoter is the one that launched a campaign to present her with an actual hippopotamus on Christmas. The campaign succeeded, and she got her hippo, which she

then donated to the zoo. The hippopotamus lived for

nearly 50 years.

Happy Holidays from ABC!

NEW!• Government Regulations Quick Reference Guide• Patient Acknowledgment Form

S U N D A Y M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y W E D N E S D A Y T H U R S D A Y F R I D A Y S A T U R D A YDECEMBER

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6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Hanukkah (begins at sunset)

Winter Begins Christmas Eve Christmas Kwanzaa Begins

New Year’s Eve

NOVEMBER1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JANUARY 2021 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

accreditation@abcop.org

ABCop.org(703) 836-7114

© 2019 American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics & Pedorthics, Inc.

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