Compliance Officer
The designated individual responsible for operating the practice's compliance program.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Compliance Program
- Primary sources
- 1
- Workspace handoff
- compliance binder →
Where this comes up
Compliance committees and practice managers operate at this level — written policy, workforce training, sanction policy, monitoring and auditing cadence, response and corrective action. The seven elements of an effective compliance program (OIG) are the scaffolding; this term lives somewhere on that scaffold.
Full definition
What it is in practice
OIG guidance calls for a designated compliance officer or contact. In small practices the role is often combined with the privacy officer and HIPAA security officer.
How it shows up in your practice
Name the compliance officer in writing. Give them documented authority to investigate concerns and recommend corrective action.
Sources
- HHS-OIG — Compliance Program Guidancehttps://oig.hhs.gov/documents/compliance-guidance/812/physician.pdf
Document the compliance officer role in the Compliance Binder
Open compliance binder →Related terms
- Compliance ProgramOIG Compliance ProgramVoluntary compliance program structure recommended by HHS-OIG for physician practices.
- Compliance ProgramHIPAA Privacy OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.530(a)(1)(i) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA privacy policies.
- Compliance ProgramHIPAA Security OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(2) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA security policies.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossaryOIG Compliance ProgramVoluntary compliance program structure recommended by HHS-OIG for physician practices.
- GlossaryHIPAA Privacy OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.530(a)(1)(i) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA privacy policies.
- GlossaryHIPAA Security OfficerThe workforce member designated under 45 CFR 164.308(a)(2) to be responsible for the development and implementation of HIPAA security policies.
- GlossaryCompliance HotlineA confidential reporting channel for workforce members and others to report suspected compliance concerns.
- GlossaryCivil Monetary PenaltiesAdministrative penalties HHS-OIG may impose on healthcare providers for various violations including HIPAA breaches, kickbacks, and billing for excluded individuals.
- GlossaryCorrective Action Plan (CAP)A documented plan describing steps to address identified compliance deficiencies, the owners, timelines, and monitoring.
- BillingWhat to Do When a Payer Says You're UnderbillingGot a letter saying you're underbilling? Here's what it actually means, whether you should worry, and what action to take.
- ComplianceAmbulatory Surgery Center Compliance: CMS + State + Infection Control42 CFR Part 416 Conditions for Coverage, CMS State Operations Manual Appendix L, the ASC Infection Control Surveyor Worksheet, and where state ASC licensure tightens the standard.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.