Compliance/Regulatory Oversight

In the health and human services sector, the years-long transition in the provider claims payment system – from contracted cost to fee-for-service reimbursement – is nearly complete.  One question that provider agencies now directly billing Medicaid are asking is: “When will we start seeing recovery audits?”  While recovery audits within waivered services in the State…

The Mercadien Group is pleased to announce several promotions within the firm’s corporate leadership team. Ms. Raji Sathappan, CPA, MBA, CRCM, CAMS, a member of the Financial Institutions Services Group, is promoted to managing director of The Mercadien Group and principal in Mercadien, P.C., CPAs (the official titles of firm partners). Raji has been employed…

“Oh great, an audit!” When the word audit is seen or heard by most people working in any type of organization, it usually invokes a negative response.  They view the term as an unpleasant event that may be disruptive or unsettling to their normal course of business.  To add to the displeasure, audits generally are…

Expansion and growth present both excitement and challenges for a company. During such periods, new systems are introduced, processes are redesigned and refined, and employees are trained in the changes. Management may find that what worked before may not be effective or efficient anymore. These changes lead to an increased demand on the company’s internal…

It is a well-publicized fact that HIPAA enforcement has been on the rise in recent years.  The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has now released its annual report, which confirmed that 2018 was a record year for HIPAA enforcement activities. The OCR settled ten (10) cases in 2018, with fines and penalties totaling nearly $29…

Regulatory guidance for banks has become increasingly forceful. Recent developments are making it clear that should is to be interpreted as shall. Financial institutions are working to establish compliance frameworks to meet these standards. It is critical that your organization develop a strategy for how to assess compliance with applicable guidance and enhance your enterprise…

Nearly all of us were following the news headlines or stories about the recent federal government shutdown and wondering when it would be over. While the duration and visibility of this one may have reached new levels, shutdowns have happened before. Whenever a federal government shutdown occurs, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) partially ceases…

The Mercadien Group congratulates managing director and co-chair of its Forensic & Litigation Support Services Group, Mr. Frank Pina, CPA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, who was bestowed the Distinguished Achievement Award for meritorious service in the detection and deterrence of fraud by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ (ACFE) Board of Regents at the 26th Annual…

Opioid use and addiction have reached epidemic proportions in this country.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, an average of 115 Americans per day died from an opioid overdose,1  leading President Trump to declare a Public Health National Emergency in October 2017 and set goals to address the issue. The…

Traditional roles of Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) in the public sector, whether at the federal, state or local level, revolve around the areas of auditing, financial reporting and management accounting. These roles, however, have undoubtedly expanded to include both detective and reactive forensic accounting services. Mercadien’s Forensic Accounting and Government Services practices work together, occasionally…