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LEGAL ALERT
Five Compliance Questions Every Physician
Should Ask Themselves
BY PATRICK J. HADDAD, ESQ. AND KATHLEEN A. WESTFALL, ESQ.*
There are several risks which physicians may encounter if they fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including disciplinary action against their medical license, post-payment audit and recoupment, fines/penalties, and other liability risks. As a best practice for managing risks associated with non-compliance, physicians should periodically evaluate their medical practices to ensure they comply with applicable laws and regulations. The following is a list of five compliance questions which every physician should ask themselves.
1. Do I have all of the licenses and registrations I need for my medical practice?
Although a Michigan license to practice medicine enables a physician to perform most acts and tasks
that fall within the practice of medicine for patients located in the State of Michigan, many physicians are unaware that they may not have all of the licenses required under Michigan law for their medical practice. Some of the common licenses that physicians fail to obtain and maintain include the following:
• Michigan Controlled Substances License: In addition to registering with the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Michigan physicians who wish to prescribe, possess, store, or dispense controlled substances are required to obtain and maintain a Michigan Controlled Substances License.
If a physician only prescribes controlled substances at more than one location, only one Controlled Substances License is required.
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JUNE/JULY 2021 | WWW.OCMS-MI.ORG