How many sampling units are selected for review in a Discovery Sample under a CIA?

In the context of a Corporate Integrity Agreement (CIA), a Discovery Sample is typically utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a compliance program and to identify any potential issues. A Discovery Sample is designed to assess a random selection of claims to determine the overall rate of compliance and any patterns of error that might exist.

For the selection of sampling units, a Discovery Sample typically consists of 50 units. This number is often established as a standard guideline within the auditing community to ensure a statistically significant analysis without being overly burdensome on the entities under review. The use of 50 sampling units allows auditors to obtain reliable insights into the compliance and accuracy of billing practices while maintaining a manageable sample size for review.

This standard helps ensure that the findings are robust and can accurately reflect overall compliance, which is important for both the auditor's conclusions and the organization’s efforts to improve its practices. Thus, the rationale for selecting 50 sampling units in a Discovery Sample under a CIA aligns with best practices in the field of medical auditing.