American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

How often should practices check their policies to maintain compliance?

1. Monthly

2. Quarterly

3. Annually

4. Whenever there are changes in healthcare laws

The correct answer is: Quarterly

The requirement for practices to check their policies to maintain compliance is ideally aligned with option B, which states quarterly reviews. Regularly reviewing policies on a quarterly basis allows practices to stay responsive to ongoing changes in regulations, operational practices, and potential areas for improvement within their compliance frameworks. This frequency strikes a balance between ensuring that policies are current and effective while not overwhelming the staff with constant reviews that may distract from their primary responsibilities. Conducting these reviews quarterly can help practices to identify and rectify compliance issues before they escalate, promote a culture of accountability and adherence to protocols, and accommodate any mid-year adjustments necessary based on regulatory updates. While it's true that some practices might only review their policies annually, this approach can leave a significant time gap where compliance issues might arise unnoticed. Also, reacting primarily to changes in healthcare laws, as suggested, can lead to a reactive rather than proactive compliance strategy, meaning that practices may not adequately address internal compliance weaknesses until forced to by legal changes. Regular quarterly assessments ensure that both external and internal factors are continuously monitored.