A private rehab counselor discovers a billing practice that double-charges insurers for the same evaluation hour. What should the counselor do first as an ethical risk-management step?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
Double-billing is like charging the same parking ticket twice — it looks clever until the audit lights flash. Stop the practice, fix what you can, and use the reporting path your policy (and the law) expect.
Full Explanation
Billing insurers twice for the same evaluation hour is fraudulent and incompatible with ethical practice and risk management. The counselor should discontinue participation immediately, pursue correction of erroneous claims as feasible, and report through designated internal and external channels required by policy and law. Continuing the practice because leadership approved a template does not remove professional accountability.