Jay P. Anstine (jay.anstine@bannerhealth.com) is Compliance Program Director, Western Division, Banner Health, Greeley, CO.

For any healthcare organization participating in a federal healthcare program, there are two agendas: business agenda and the compliance program’s agenda, including the privacy program. Since these two agendas may not always be aligned, they have the potential to become a playing field you have to navigate.

The organization’s business agenda relates to the operational and financial goals of the organization. If the organization provides care to patients directly, then providing high-quality care is also part of that agenda. The organization’s business agenda therefore lies in the background to many, if not all, of the business-related decisions that leaders make.