Since its inception, The Aspen Group has
demonstrated its commitment to ethical business behavior and
compliance with the letter and spirit of ever-changing rules,
regulations and laws.
The company formalized these expectations in
writing, and The Aspen Group's Compliance and Ethics Program
continues to evolve with changes in the home care and
hospice industries. This Program includes attention to ethics
and assures the public of The Aspen Group's long-standing
reputation for complying with state and federal laws in every
activity.
Additionally, there is an
auditing and monitoring system for key compliance risk areas
to prevent errors. Citizens, patients, caregivers, referral
sources, and employees may contact The Aspen Group's
Compliance Officer at
208-529-0800,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to request additional
compliance information or to report concerns.
Code of Ethics and Ethics Committee
Ethical behavior is
considered essential to the effectiveness of The Aspen Group.
The Aspen Group provides its employees with written guidelines
for compliance and ethics. Staff members are invited to
contact the Compliance and Ethics Office with any relevant
ethical concern or question. The Ethics Committee regularly
meets to discuss and resolve general and specific ethical
issues with input from administrators, clinicians and legal
counsel.
The Aspen Group
Code of Ethics
The Aspen Group
has established this Code of Ethics in recognition of our
responsibility to our patients, staff and the communities we
serve. It affirms the corporate policy of conducting
business and operations in accordance with both the law and
the highest standard of business ethics.
It is the
responsibility of every employee of
The Aspen Group,
independent contractor, vendor and others who render services
for and/or on behalf of The Aspen Group to act in a manner
that is consistent with
The Aspen Group’s
Mission Statement and its supporting polices. Our
performance is guided by the company’s values that support and
advance our mission. Our mission is to strive to
consistently exceed our customers’ expectations by maintaining
an ethical, positive, efficient and financially sound
workplace environment that allows our organization’s caring,
multi-skilled and empowered employees to provide high quality
home-based services through a system of clinically superior
programs.
The
Aspen Group requires all employees’ compliance with all laws and
regulations to which it is subject. When the application
of a law or regulation is uncertain, the guidance of the
company’s Compliance Officer and/or General Counsel shall be
sought. The Aspen Group
requires
independent contractors, vendors and others who render
services for and/or on behalf of The Aspen Group
to affirm that their services will be provided in accordance
with all laws and regulations.
The
Aspen Group’s policy is to maintain contacts with
governmental officials and other government personnel, whether
directly or indirectly, as proper business relationships.
Such contacts must never suggest undue influence or cast doubt
on
The Aspen Group’s
integrity. Furthermore, The Aspen Group
is committed to ensuring the accuracy of all filings with the
government.
The
Aspen Group
maintains accurate and reliable corporate records that
disclose all disbursements and other transactions to which
The Aspen Group
is a party.
The
Aspen Group
requires the undivided loyalty of its employees in the
exercise of their responsibilities. Except as may be otherwise
approved by the Board of Directors or an appropriate committee
thereof, personal investments or other activities which may
create a conflict of interest are prohibited, and
circumstances that may give the appearance of a conflict of
interest are to be avoided.
The
Aspen Group
requires all employees, independent contractors, vendors and
others who render services for and/or on behalf of The
Aspen Group
to report wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing. Reports of
wrongdoing may be reported verbally to one’s supervisor,
through the Compliance Helpline
208-529-0800
or in writing. Reports of wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing
may be made anonymously; however, such reports allow for
limited feedback and follow up. All reports must be directed
or forwarded to the Compliance Officer for appropriate follow
up and investigation.
It is a violation of this Code for personnel not to report a
violation of this Code or to fail to report any wrongdoing or
suspected wrongdoing.
It
is our policy to promptly and thoroughly investigate reports
of wrongdoing or suspected wrongdoing or violations of this
Code. Personnel must cooperate with these investigations. No
reprisals or disciplinary action will be taken or permitted
against personnel for good faith reporting of and/or
cooperating in the investigation of illegal or suspected
illegal acts or violations of this Code.
Personnel who violate the Code or commit illegal acts are
subject to discipline up to and including dismissal.
The
Aspen Group
conducts quarterly Ethics Committee Meetings to facilitate
discussion of ethical questions; to furnish ethics educational
resources; to educate staff, physicians, patients and
caregivers about ethics; to provide advise, training and
consultation to the staff on actual and potential questions of
ethics; and to analyze specific ethical questions and assist
in the resolutions.
The company’s Board
of Directors has adopted the foregoing Code of Ethics to apply
to
The Aspen Group
.
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