At Temple Health, we’re dedicated to always doing things the right way, which wouldn’t be possible without our Corporate Compliance team. The department has several key areas of oversight, including HIPAA compliance, CMS regulations for coding and billing, HRSA 340B Drug Discount Program regulations, and federal laws regarding the distribution of controlled substances. It supports the Health System’s mission by ensuring quality care and revenue integrity, and fosters a culture of accountability and transparency, which is essential for building trust with patients, staff, and stakeholders.
“Everyone at Temple Health is here to help our community and provide the very best treatment, and that means following the correct procedures,” says Maribel Valentin, Esq., Associate General Counsel for Corporate Compliance and Temple Health’s Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer. That’s why she and her department decided to promote education and awareness by hosting Corporate Compliance Awareness Month.
The celebration took place from November 12-21, and featured in-person events across the Health System. “We spent about four hours on each of our campuses, engaging staff in activities like a game where they answered compliance-related questions,” Valentin says. “We also gave away coasters and koozies with the Temple Health Compliance Hotline (800-910-6721), so they have the number they should call right on their desks if they ever need assistance.”
Like the IT department’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which inspired Valentin and her team, Corporate Compliance Awareness Month also had virtual keynote speakers. Diana E. Vincenzo and Amy Kaplan, Equal Opportunity Specialists for Civil Rights, Reg-3, Mid-Atlantic, delivered the first keynote address, which covered HIPAA Privacy and Security. Paul W. Kauffman, Esq., Assistant US Attorney for the District of New Jersey, gave the second keynote address, which was on Fraud and Abuse Hot Topics.
“Paul teaches a class at Temple University Beasley School of Law, and each year, I come to lecture to his class,” Valentin explains. “I’ve also worked with him on compliance-related matters, and I’ve done the same with Diana and Amy, who are the Chief Investigators in the Office of Civil Rights. I knew all of them would do a great job.”
Ultimately, Valentin’s goal was to get all of our employees to understand the importance of compliance, no matter their department. “Compliance is critical to every part of Temple Health, because it’s all about keeping our patients safe,” she says. “If you have questions and need a partner to work with, don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re here to help.”