Which is a stated benefit of an effective compliance plan?

• A. Encourages employees to report potential problems
• B. Delays corrective action
• C. Increases operating costs without benefit
• D. Reduces focus on patient care

Answer: (A)

An effective compliance plan fosters a reporting-friendly culture, encouraging staff to raise potential problems without fear of retaliation. When employees can report issues early, the organization can investigate, address root causes, and prevent larger fraud, waste, or safety problems. This proactive detection helps reduce legal risk, protect patient safety, and maintain trust.

The other suggested outcomes describe scenarios that undermine a compliance program: delaying corrective action allows problems to grow, increasing costs without benefit ignores value from early detection, and reducing focus on patient care harms quality and safety. These are not benefits of a solid compliance plan.