Introduction
Hometown Health Centers is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) incorporated under New York State’s not-for-profit law. It provides quality healthcare services without regard to the patient’s ability to pay. As part of the Medicare and Medicaid programs, Hometown maintains robust compliance standards to identify and stamp-out fraud, waste, and abuse.
Anyone affiliated with Hometown Health Centers — contractors, board members, and staff (including interns and students) — is required to promptly report concerns about fraud, waste, and abuse. Patients are also strongly encouraged to report concerns. Anyone reporting concerns is protected under State and Federal whistleblower protections. If you make a report, you cannot lose a contract, be fired from your job, demoted or denied a work promotion, be removed as a board director, or denied care as a patient for making a report.
Hometown’s Compliance Program is designed to meet obligations under Federal Law, New York State Social Services Law, and New York Code of Rules and Regulations. Updating the Program to include the latest healthcare industry best practices is ongoing.
Doing business with Hometown
Hometown sometimes requires quality services or products at a fair price from carefully screened contractors. Vendors are checked on State and Federal Exclusion Lists, their business reputation is evaluated, and a final selection is based on a competitive bidding process if applicable. Contractors are expected to comply with Hometown’s Compliance Program or maintain a comparable program.
Reporting fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicaid/Medicare programs is not an option — it is a requirement for doing business with Hometown.
Exclusion Lists
All staff, vendors, board members, job applicants, prospective board members, and anyone seeking to do business with Hometown are regularly checked on State and Federal Exclusion Lists. It is illegal for any vendor or consultant on a State or Federal Exclusion List to do business with an entity participating in the Medicare, Medicaid, or other State or Federal healthcare programs.
Medical malpractice
Hometown Health Centers is classified as a “Federal Public Health Service” employee. It receives some of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and has Federal Public Health Service deemed status regarding certain health and health-related claims, including medical malpractice. Hometown employees and some persons affiliated with it are covered under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA).
For further information, visit Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, or the Federal Tort Claims Act page — or contact Paul Jesep at Hometown Health Centers, [email protected], (518) 370-1441 ext. 4168.
Important Hometown documents
The following documents are governed and approved annually by Hometown’s Board of Directors. Copies are available on request from the Compliance Officer.
- Board Bylaws — governing rules of the not-for-profit, enforced by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors.
- Standards of Conduct — principles of ethics, integrity, character, professionalism, and compliant behavior.
- Board Resolution — annual commitment by the Board of Directors to the Compliance Program.
- Mission & Values — Hometown’s commitment to patients and the community.
- Corporate Compliance Manual — primary resource for meeting the requirements of the Compliance Program.
- Compliance Policies and Procedures — reviewed and approved annually by the Board’s Compliance Committee.
Applicable State and Federal regulations
Federal: False Claims Act (31 USC §§ 3729-3733), Anti-Kickback Statute (42 USC § 1320a-7b(b)), Physician Self-Referral Law (42 USC §1395nn), Exclusion Statute (42 USC §1320a-7), Deficit Reduction Act (42 USC §1396a(a)(68)), Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 USC §18001).
New York State: False Claims Act (State Finance Law §§ 187-194), Social Services Law § 363-d (Effective Compliance Program), § 145-b (False Statements), §§ 145-c & 366-b (Penalties & Sanctions), Penal Law Articles 175 (False Written Statements), 176 (Insurance Fraud), 177 (Healthcare Fraud), Part 521 of Title 18 NYCRR.
Report a concern
See something? Say something.
Help fight fraud, waste, and abuse. Concerns can also be reported to the State and/or Federal Office of Medicaid Inspector General.
Compliance Officer: Paul Jesep, Esq., MPS, MA
Hometown Health Centers, 1044 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12307
[email protected] · (518) 370-1441 ext. 4168
Anonymous Compliance Hotline: (518) 688-3460 — available 24/7