Surprise Visits from Government Investigators and Agents

It can be quite unsettling to have a government investigator appear unannounced in your office demanding copies of patient records or even an interview with you or your office staff. Several government agencies may authorize such surprise visits, including the Office of Professional Medical Conduct, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and agencies such as Centers for Disease Control or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Often, you will have no advance warning of the site visit, so there is no time to think and arrange your thoughts. It is important to appear cooperative to show the investigator(s) that you have nothing to hide, but you should always realize the risks of speaking to an investigator without legal counsel and allowing original medical records and documents to be removed from your office.

To continue reading more about the investigation of a complaint and the execution of search warrants, please click here (article can be found on page 6).