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| Health Care Service Corporation's Code
of Conduct |
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When the Government is Our Client
In the course of our employment we may directly
or indirectly perform services or work related to one or
more government contracts, e.g., Federal Employee Program,
Indian Health Service and Medicare. When the government
is our client, there are additional requirements that we
must adhere to. When we act as a government contractor or
subcontractor, we have a special obligation not only to
the government and the beneficiaries of those government
programs but also to the public at large to ensure that
we perform with the highest degree of integrity. Specifically,
it is our responsibility to know the terms of the government
contract(s) that we are performing services for or are
working on and all of the policies and procedures related
to those contracts. We may also be required to sign certifications,
either internal or to the government, regarding the accuracy
of information or the Company’s performance under
the contracts. If we have any doubt regarding any aspect
of the Company’s performance under any government
contract, it is our duty to come forward immediately.
The unique nature of doing business with the government
implicates particular statutes and regulations that do not
normally apply to commercial transactions. There are also
a number of laws that apply to government agencies and who
they do business with so that the legal obligations of these
agencies “flow down” to the Company as a contractor
or subcontractor. Below is a brief general summary of what
we must do and what we must not do under some of these statutes
and flow down provisions of our government contracts, e.g.,
Federal Employee Program, Indian Health Service and Medicare.
When Bidding on a Government Contract
| We Must |
We Must Not |
Submit pricing data that contains
all the facts that a prudent buyer and seller would
reasonably expect to affect price
Truth In Negotiations Act |
Offer or give gifts to any procurement official
or make offers or promises of future employment to
government employees that are involved in the bid
Federal Procurement Integrity Act
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Obtain non-public bid or proposal information such
as cost or price data, proprietary information about
techniques or indirect costs, etc., or agency source
information prior to the award of the contract
Federal Procurement Integrity
Act |
See also “kickbacks”
below |
In Performance of our Government Contracts
| We Must |
We Must Not |
Obtain the necessary written approvals prior to
information being used for any purpose other than
as allowed under our government contracts and provide
assurances that personal information about individuals
collected and disclosed is limited to that which is
legally authorized and necessary
The Privacy Act of 1974 |
• Offer or accept any form of kickback, i.e.,
money, fee, commission, credit, gift, gratuity, thing
of value or compensation for the purpose of improperly
obtaining or rewarding favorable treatment including
obtaining unwarranted waivers of deadlines and acceptance
of non-conforming goods in connection with a prime
contract or subcontract.
Anti-Kickback Act |
Protect the confidentiality and do not disclose
beneficiary records regarding any assistance that
such beneficiary may have received from the government
related to the treatment, diagnosis, or prognosis
of substance abuse
The Alcohol, Drug Abuse &
Mental Health Admin. Reorganization Act |
With actual knowledge of falsity, reckless disregard
for the truth or falsity, or deliberate ignorance of
the truth or falsity, submit false or fraudulent claims
for payment
False Claims Act |
| Honor appropriate requests from the public for government
records that we create and maintain Freedom
of Information Act & Electronic Freedom of information
Act Amendments of 1996 |
Make any false statements or representations False
Statements Accountability Act |
| Provide required evaluations and reports regarding
our internal accounting and administrative controls
including compliance with the law, reasonable assurance
and safeguards, etc.
Federal Managers Financial Integrity
Act of 1982 |
Hire or do business with individuals or entities that
have been debarred or excluded from participation in
federal health care programs Social
Security Act, HIPAA &
Balanced Budget Act of 1997
|
In Regards to Our Workplace
| We Must |
We Must Not |
| Maintain a drug-free workplace by prohibiting the
manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession
or use of narcotics, drugs or other controlled substances
in the workplace or while conducting Company business
Drug-Free Workplace
Act of 1988 |
Discriminate against individuals in the terms and
conditions of employment based on race, color, religion,
sex, national origin or age Civil
Rights Act of 1964
(Title VII)
Age Discrimination Act of1975 |
| Take affirmative action to ensure that applicants
are employed, and that employees are treated during
employment, without regard to their race, color, religion,
sex or national origin and identify and eliminate impediments
to equal employment opportunities Executive
Order 11246
41 CFR Part 60-2
Federal Acquisition Regulations Subpart 22.8
|
Discriminate against individuals in the terms and
conditions of employment based on disability or perceived
disability
Americans with Disability Act
and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 |
| Take affirmative action to ensure that veterans and
disabled veterans are provided equal employment opportunities
Affirmative Action for Disabled
Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam
Era |
Offer to hire, hire or otherwise do business with
certain current or former government employees |
Failure to comply with these laws, the terms of our government
contracts and Company policies and procedures can:
-
Jeopardize the Company’s ability
to participate in any government programs;
-
Result in the loss of a particular government
contract;
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Require the Company to refer our actions
to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, a government
agency or others, which could lead to criminal or civil
prosecution of both you and the Company; and/or
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Subject you to the full range of disciplinary
actions, up to and including termination.
If an issue should arise or if you have any doubts
or questions regarding government contracts you should contact
our Supervisor, a higher level Supervisor, any of the Corporate
Resources or call the Corporate Integrity Hotline (1-800-838-2552).
Return to the Code of
Conduct Page
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