Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) audits of hospitals play a key role in ensuring compliance with 340B rules and regulations. In this episode, Dave Lacknauth, executive director of pharmacy services at Broward Health in Fort. Lauderdale, Fla., joins us to discuss the importance of taking a proactive, comprehensive approach to audit readiness with the goal of ensuring clean audit results.

Compliance protects 340B access

Being prepared for HRSA audits serves a crucial function that ultimately benefits the patients whom hospitals serve, Lacknauth explains. Maintaining the integrity of 340B means protecting access to 340B savings that hospitals can invest in crucial care for community members that need it.

Continuous audit readiness

Lacknauth discusses how Broward Health maintains audit readiness by conducting internal audits, bringing in external consultants, and identifying areas of opportunity for improvement. A robust system of internal reviews means that when HRSA comes knocking, Broward Health is already prepared. This was evident after a recent audit of one of the system’s hospitals that resulted in zero recommendations for improvement.

Organization, resources, transparency are key

Preparing for audits requires a health system to invest time and resources, but Lacknauth stresses that these investments pay off. Engaging a comprehensive team from various departments in the audit readiness process allows for a health system to have the appropriate level of responsiveness and transparency during a HRSA audit.

Resources:

1. Nebraska Is 12th State To Enact Contract Pharmacy Protections
2. Idaho Becomes Fourth State To Mandate 340B Reports From Hospitals