Pharmacist Specialized Compliance Training Available

Based upon regulations found in the Medicare Part D Program to Control Fraud, Waste and Abuse, subcontractors that have responsibilities with the Part D program of a Sponsor (i.e. pharmacy, pharmacists, technicians) should receive specialized compliance training at the time of contracting and annually thereafter as a condition of ongoing contractual relationship. Guidance provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicates that specialized training should be a minimum of four hours in length and that a record of this training should be kept for a minimum of 10 years and be made available to the CMS upon request. Several Part D plan sponsors have been requesting documentation of pharmacy staff fraud, waste and abuse training.

Pharmacies needing to provide a fraud, waste and abuse training program for their staff can view one of the following programs:

• Medicare Fraud and Abuse (85 minutes) – provided at no charge by CMS here
• HIPAA traning (60 minutes) – provided at no charge by CMS here
• CMS 1500 (08-05) (60 minutes) – a web-based training course that will allow providers to learn to file a Medicare Part B claim accurately, provided at no charge by CMS here
• Audio conference training programs – provided by CMS at no charge here
• Preventing Fraud, Waste and Abuse – available on the National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations learning portal at www.naspa.learnsomething.com.  Two versions of this training program are available; 30 minute general compliance program for employees who do not process any prescription plan claims and and a 50 minute specialized version (with one hour of ACPE credit) for pharmacists and technicians. These programs are associated with a cost.

• Reviewing and documenting staff review of Medicare Prescription Drug Information provided by Part D plans (PDP’s and MA-PDs) as well as other organizations (MPA Medicare Updates, journal articles …).

• Humana’s Principles of Business Ethics: Exerpts for Physicians and Other Health Care Professionals
• First Health Part D: 2008 Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Benefit continuing education course   www.CoventryCE.com

• Preferred Care Services, Inc. Pharmacy Fraud, Waste and Abuse Training program.

http://www.bcbsal.com/RxFWATraining and enter the password rxdrug2007.

Several continuing educational training programs presentated during the MPA Annual Convention & Exposition in Febuary 2007, qualified for fraud, waste and abuse training programs in Dearborn. Individuals interested in a list of those programs that met the criteria for fraud, waste, and abuse training can contact Karen Jonas as (517) 377-0254 or by e-mail at kjonas@michiganpharamcists.org