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Physician Law Blog

We provide insights and analysis for physicians, nurses, chiropractors, dentists, physical therapists and other health professionals on issues impacting their practices.

Physician Law Blog
August 5, 2015

Beware of Low Hanging Fruit - OIG Targets for Fraud and Abuse

On June 18, 2015, the US Attorney announced two investigations resulting in a number of accusations of Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse. The “Home Alone IV” take-down and the largest national health care fraud take-down to date involving more than 200 subjects accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of more than $700 Million in 14 states. Each of these takedown operations demonstrate just how seriously the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team (HEAT) is in its efforts to reduce fraud and abuse in healthcare operations.

Physician Law Blog
July 10, 2015

New Risk for Hospitals - CMS Proposes Bundled Payments for Hip & Knee Replacement Surgeries

Building upon the bundled payment demonstration programs currently underway for Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposal for a major shift in the way hospitals will be paid for hip and knee replacements. In an effort to incentivize hospitals to encourage quality and care improvements as patients transition from surgery to recovery, CMS proposed a change in the manner of payment to focus on episodes of care, rather than a piecemeal system.

Physician Law Blog
June 28, 2015

Learning the Hard Way – Omnicare to Pay $124M False Claims Settlement

False Claims Act (FCA) allegations are serious business. Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid and other federally funded programs. Omnicare learned the hard way just how serious FCA actions can be when a whistleblower made allegations against it.