INTRODUCTION
Message from the CEO
Dear Colleagues:
The reputation of Cody Consulting Group, Inc. (“Cody Consulting” or the “Company”) is the result of the drive, dedication, and hard work of its employees and contractors. Together, we are responsible for earning and maintaining our client’s trust and respect by delivering quality services, software, and solutions.
We are a values-based company, dedicated to conducting business in a manner that is socially responsible, and in compliance with the letter and spirit of the many rules and regulations that govern our business and the clients we serve.
For these reasons, Cody Consulting has developed a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (“the Code”) to guide employees and contractors in understanding our regulatory and contractual obligations. CODY® employees and contractors are charged with the responsibility to act with integrity in all aspects of our professional endeavors.
The Code serves as a guide that provides us with the fundamental principles and key policies that govern the conduct of our business. The Code applies to all CODY® employees and contractors.
The CODY® management team is fully committed to the principles set forth in the Code. Our continued success requires all of us to maintain this commitment and to respect the rules, regulations and standards governing our business and the clients we serve.
Thank you for the work you do every day and for your commitment to the principles of the Code.
With Respect,
Deb Mabari CEO
Purpose of the Code
The CODY® Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is designed to help all employees and contractors understand and comply with our regulatory and contractual obligations. The Code has been approved by the senior management team. The Code applies to everyone who works or contracts with the Company. The Code is an important piece of the CODY® Compliance Program.
Commitment to Compliance
The Code is the cornerstone of our commitment to conduct business with a high level of business ethics, personal integrity, and compliance. It is imperative that each of us hold a personal commitment to compliance with the numerous rules, regulations, and laws that affect our business and the clients we serve. The Code provides guidance in making appropriate decisions when faced with ethical issues or policy-based decisions. It is the responsibility for all CODY® personnel to understand and comply with applicable regulations in any business situation.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
Employee Responsibilities
The strength of our organization resides in the efforts and talents of our personnel who create our success and reputation. CODY® team members are responsible for performing their duties in good faith, and with honesty, fairness, and integrity.
It is the responsibility of all CODY® team members to understand and abide by the principles contained in this Code, to ask questions when faced with any ethical issue or when faced with any uncertain situation. It is the responsibility of CODY® team members to rely on this Code and the CODY® Employee Handbook as guidance for how we conduct our business.
Leadership Obligations
CODY’s senior management is committed to promoting, supporting, and enforcing the Compliance Program. Senior management will lead by example ensuring that compliance is an integral part of leadership responsibility. Management will encourage open communication with all CODY® team members and support individuals who report compliance concerns.
Acknowledgement
All CODY® employees, including leadership and contractors, are expected to comply with the policies set forth in this Code. The Code is provided to new hires upon hire and provided to existing employees annually, and as revisions are released. After careful study of the Code, each employee will acknowledge that he/she has received a copy of the Code and will abide by the principles and guidance contained within the Code.
Compliance Training
It is important that each employee, including senior management uphold the standards and policies within the Code. To this end, all CODY® employees will complete required training in a timely manner.
The CODY® Compliance Program provides the following compliance training:
(1) CODY® Compliance Program Training.
(2) Fraud, Waste and Abuse Training.
(3) CODY® Privacy and Security Training. This training addresses HIPAA, HITECH, and Company information security.
Duty to Report
It is everyone’s responsibility to report actual or suspected crime, fraud, or any misconduct in violation of the law, regulations or this Code by any employee or contractor acting on behalf of the Company. If you are contacted by any law enforcement or governmental agency about actual or suspected illegal conduct of any type, you must report this immediately to the Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer.
Employees and contractors may report compliance concerns without fear of retaliation by the Company for any report made in good faith.
See section ‘Seeking Guidance and Reporting’ for instructions on how to report compliance matters to the Compliance Department.
WORKPLACE CONDUCT
Respect for Our Employees
The manner in which we treat people and our work environment affects the way we do our jobs. All employees want a workplace where they are respected and appreciated. All CODY® employees must contribute to the creation of a workplace that fosters respect, honesty, integrity, and trust.
It is CODY’s policy to:
• Respect the privacy and dignity of all team members by protecting confidential employee information, including protected health information.
• Recruit, hire, train, and promote qualified persons in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran’s status, age or disability, or any other legally protected basis.
• Provide a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, veteran status, age or disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected basis.
• Provide courteous treatment to our team members and our clients in all working relationships and environments.
Alcohol and Drug Use
CODY® strives to maintain a work environment free from the effects of alcohol and drugs. Use of alcohol, legal or illegal drugs that may impair or interfere with the ability to conduct work, drive a Company vehicle including rentals, or use Company property is prohibited. Possession and/or trafficking of illegal or controlled substances or being under the influence of illegal or controlled substances is prohibited.
Health and Safety
Every CODY® employee and contractor is responsible for their individual safety as well as the safety of others in the workplace. Employees must be safety conscious at all times. The safety of personnel and ensuring appropriate working conditions is a top priority of all management.
THE COMPANY
Conflicts of Interest
The Company expects its employees and contractors to transact business according to the highest ethical standards of conduct. It is each employee’s obligation to act in the best interests of the Company and not allow any personal activity to conflict with or interfere with his/her service to the Company. You are expected to avoid any activity, investment, interest, or association that interferes or appears to interfere with the independent exercise of judgment in carrying out assigned job responsibilities or with the interests of the Company.
Corporate Opportunity
CODY® employees and contractors owe a duty to the Company to advance its legitimate business interests when the opportunity to do so arises. You may not take for yourself opportunities that are discovered through the use of corporate property, information, or position or use corporate property, information or position for personal gain. You may not compete with the Company.
Gifts and Gratuities
CODY® employees, contractors and management cannot accept gifts, payments, fees for services, discounts, valuable privileges or other favors or gratuities that might improperly influence them in their work duties.
Computer and Information Systems
Each CODY® employee and contractor is responsible for the appropriate use of any CODY-issued phone, computer or any other mobile communications device.
Employees and contractors should not expect a right to privacy in connection with the use of CODY® equipment or with the transmission, receipt or storage of messages or information associated with the e-mail system, Internet, Intranet, or any other Company-provided or approved system or service.
No employee or contractor should access or attempt to obtain access to another person’s password or electronic communications.
Employees and contractors are prohibited from downloading or installing any software on Company computers without prior permission from management.
Intellectual Property
Company trade secrets and confidential or proprietary information are not to be uploaded or downloaded without prior authorization from management. Company confidential information should never be transmitted or forwarded to outside individuals or companies not authorized to receive that information.
Insider Trading
In the course of your work with CODY® clients, you may become privy to confidential, material non-public information about the client. Employees and contractors may not pass material, non-public information to anyone who may trade securities based on that information or give others recommendation to buy or sell client securities.
Contracting Practices
CODY® employees may not undertake any performance, payment or other obligation unless authorized by management.
Record Retention
Cody Consulting is committed to compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to the preservation of records. The Company will identify, maintain, safeguard and dispose of records in CODY's possession in the normal course of business and to an established records retention schedule. If you learn of a subpoena or pending, imminent or contemplated litigation or government investigation, you should immediately contact the Compliance Department. You should retain and preserve all records provided in response to any subpoena or provided in the course of any litigation.
Responding to Press Inquiries
CODY® employees and contractors should not speak with the press, the public, groups or organizations as a Company representative unless specifically authorized by senior management. All inquiries from the media or public for statements regarding Cody Consulting should be referred to senior management.
REGULATIONS AFFECTING OUR WORK
FRAUD AND ABUSE
Fraud, abuse, dishonesty or criminal conduct involving CODY® business operations is prohibited and will not be tolerated.
Fraud is a broad concept that refers generally to any intentional act committed to secure an unfair or unlawful gain.
Abuse refers to an activity that is not consistent with generally accepted business, medical or fiscal standard practices.
Bribes, Kickbacks and Illegal Inducements
Cody Consulting complies with applicable federal and state anti-kickback laws and regulations. These laws make it a crime to offer or receive payments or other benefits that could be perceived as an inducement to conduct business, or for referrals of Medicaid, Medicare or federal health care program beneficiaries.
You may not accept or offer money, gifts, loans, rewards, favors or anything of value that could constitute or be perceived as constituting a bribe or improper business inducement.
Fair Competition
Cody Consulting depends upon its reputation for quality, service and integrity. CODY® employees and contractors should endeavor to deal fairly with the Company’s clients and competitors.
CODY® prohibits taking unfair advantage of others through manipulation, concealment, abuse of privileged information, misrepresentation of material facts or any other unfair dealings.
Ineligible Individuals
As a business associate to state and federal health care program contractors, Cody Consulting may not employ or contract with individuals or companies that are barred from taking part in such programs.
To meet this obligation, the Company must screen all employees and contractors against federal exclusion lists before hiring or entering into contracts. CODY® must re-screen employees and contractors on a monthly basis.
Safeguarding Client Information
All CODY® employees and contractors are required to comply with the rules of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Our clients may possess member health information and other proprietary, confidential information about persons or companies with which we conduct business. All such information must be handled properly in order to protect such information from inappropriate access, use and disclosure.
AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Compliance with Audits and Investigations
All CODY® employees and contractors have a duty to cooperate with any audits, inquiries or investigations conducted by the Compliance Department, the IT Security Department, Human Resources, the Finance Department, any government entity, or our clients.
Compliance with an audit or investigation means:
• Notifying the Compliance Department regarding all audit or investigation inquiries from any source, including government agencies and clients.
• Notifying the Compliance Department regarding notifications of fraud or abuse you might receive.
• Participation in audits or investigations as requested, such as interviews or requests for documentation.
• Providing accurate, complete, and timely responses for information as requested.
• Retaining all documents requested as part of an investigation or audit.
SEEKING GUIDANCE
Seeking Guidance and Reporting
The CODY® Compliance Department is committed to an ‘open door’ policy so that employees and contractors may report concerns of probable or actual violations of laws, rules, regulations and/or Company policies.
CODY® employees and contractors are obligated to report compliance concerns and potential or identified compliance violations to the Compliance Department regarding any issue or practice which a person believes in good faith may constitute a violation of laws, rules regulations and/or Company policies.
To seek advice and guidance or report compliance issues either directly or anonymously, please use one of the following avenues:
- The CODY® Compliance Hotline at 1-855-990-CODY (2639) ext 208. If a reporter chooses this avenue, the reporter’s phone number is visible to Compliance.
- Send an email to the Compliance email box at compliancereporting@codyconsulting.com. If a reporter chooses this avenue, the reporter’s email address is visible to Compliance.
- Send a letter to: Julie Hughes, Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer, 1513 Keeneland Rd, Fredericksburg VA 22401. When a reporter chooses this avenue, the reporter may remain anonymous.
- Call the Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer directly at 540-226-1893. When a reporter chooses this avenue, the reporter’s phone number is visible to the Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer.
Note that should a reporter want the Chief Compliance and Consultancy Officer to contact the reporter, he/she should leave a return number, email address, or postal address.
All reports will be thoroughly reviewed and investigated.
Non Retaliation
It is the Company policy that employees and contractors may report any compliance concern or any actual or suspected violations of the law, rules, or regulations that govern our business without fear of retaliation.
No form of retaliation or intimidation will be tolerated against an employee or contractor who makes a good-faith report of suspected or identified compliance violations or who participates in any investigation of a violation.
CODY CONSULTING GROUP CODE OF BUSINESS CONDUCT AND ETHICS ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I hereby acknowledge that I have received and read the Cody Consulting Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. I will abide by and comply with the standards and principles presented in the Code.
I will seek guidance regarding any compliance concern, actual, or suspected violation of any law, rule or regulation or Company policy.
I will attend and complete all required CODY® training.
V_Revised_February 2024