Homework 1
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
California State University, Los Angeles *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
4520
Subject
Philosophy
Date
Feb 20, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by BrigadierJellyfishPerson4025
1.What is the ethical question?
The ethical question for the SLP (speech language pathologist) is, if she should allow Greg to bill Medicare “incident to” under her name and continue signing the notes?
2.What do we know?
We know that Greg kept accurate and descriptive notes that were then signed by Mary.
Medicare would not pay for the aural rehabilitation services and arranged for speechreading and auditory training, twice a week for six weeks. Greg knew that Medicare would not pay for these services if an audiologist provided them. He contacted the ENT(ear nose throat) office and requested a referral to Mary for speech therapy for Janet. 3. What do we need to know?
Janet, informed Greg of a pre-existing moderately severe sensorineural hearing loss in the
right ear and now has suffered hearing loss in the left ear. The patient was sent back to ENT with
a Williams Pocke Talker for use while undergoing medical treatment. Janet was treated with oral
steroids and antiviral medications but no recovery of hearing was obtained. She was once again
referred to Greg for hearing aids. While Greg was able to fit her with binaural amplification, her
response to the hearing aids was unsatisfactory.
4. Who are the people involved?
The people involved are the audiologist which is Greg S., AuD, CCC-A, his wife Mary T, M.A.,
CCC-SLP who is the speech language pathologist, and works primarily with voice and
swallowing but does see patients with adult language disorders secondary to CVA. Dr. Smith
from the ENT practice who was asked by Greg, if he could evaluate a 72-year-old woman with
report of a sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Janet is the older woman getting evaluated and
treated. 5.What are the possible actions?
One possible option is to have Mary continue to allow Greg to continue billing Janet’s Medicare under her ID. If they continue, she can either keep signing off on the notes that she did take or start providing therapy herself. Another option is to have Mary prevent Greg from billing Janet’s Medicare under her ID. In result, an action from ASHA could be that they withhold Mary’s and Greg’s membership and certification.
6.What evidence, legal and ethical guidance, and/or personal, social, and professional insights support/contradict this action?
This is unethical under ASHA’s code of ethics for multiple reasons. First, billing is not being done accurately through insurance and can be considered insurance fraud. An AuD is providing services billed to an SLP and can be outside their scope of practice, which is another ethical violation. Mary is signing off on fraudulent notes for a service she isn't providing, as well as failing to report a violation made by an audiologist. In the ASHA code of ethics, Principle II it states; individuals should honor their responsibility to achieve and maintain the highest level of professional competence and performance.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help