Fraud, Waste and Abuse (FWA) Training

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has mandated a new fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) training requirement. As a Medicare Advantage HMO we are required to assure all affilated providers and staff complete FWA training no later than December 31, 2009, and annually thereafter. All physicians and staff within each organization, including hospitals, group practices, facilities and ancillary providers (such as nursing homes, home health agencies, durable medical equipment suppliers, pharmacies, etc.) must complete the training. 

Employees only need to complete Fraud, Waste and Abuse training once through any Medicare Advantage Plan or in-house compliance training to fulfill the CMS requirements.  To attest to completion of FWA training, Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan requires the Compliance Officer or Designated Representative at each facility to complete an attestation form. It is not necessary for each individual provider or staff person to complete a form.

Review the three scenarios below to determine how you can best comply with this requirement:

Option 1: Your facility has an internal FWA training program established. That is sufficient. Simply complete the attestation form and return it to Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan.

Option 2: Your facility has completed FWA training through another Medicare Advantage Plan. That is sufficient. Simply complete the attestation form and return it to Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan.

Option 3: Your facility does not have an established FWA training program and has not completed one through another Medicare Advantage Plan. Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan has developed training materials for your use. It takes about 10 minutes to view the presentation and it is free of charge. Facilitate completion of training and return the attestation form to Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan

We recommend providers and/or facilities keep records of training participation for staff, as CMS and/or health plans may request additional information to substantiate the statements made in attestations. 

For additional assistance or questions, please contact Gundersen Lutheran Health Plan Customer Service at 1-800-394-5566 or 775-8077.