Which of the following is NOT a recommended action to prevent FWA?

• A. Look for suspicious activity
• B. Keep up to date with policies and CMS guidance
• C. Verify all information provided
• D. Ignore CMS guidance

Answer: (D)

Not following CMS guidance undermines the controls that are specifically designed to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse. To guard against FWA, you need to stay vigilant by looking for suspicious activity, keep up to date with policies and CMS guidance, and verify all information provided.

Looking for suspicious activity helps you spot early warning signs like unusual billing patterns or unfamiliar providers, so you can investigate before losses occur. Keeping current with policies and CMS guidance ensures you’re applying the right rules, thresholds, and reporting processes, reducing the chance of errors or missed requirements. Verifying all information provided guarantees that decisions are based on accurate, complete facts, preventing actions grounded in incomplete or incorrect data.

Ignoring CMS guidance removes essential protections and can lead to actions that miss red flags, misclassify cases, or fail to meet regulatory and programmatic requirements.