Nurses work hard to provide quality care to their patients. Sometimes, a patient, patient’s family member, or even a co-worker may disagree with the methods used and file a complaint with the state board. This can trigger an investigation and result in penalties such...
Texas Health Care Law Blog
Physicians, prescriptions, and prison time
Authorities have announced crackdown after crackdown on the issuance of certain prescriptions in an attempt to combat the opioid crisis. Although those behind these announcements are likely doing so with noble intentions, there is fallout. Stories abound of the...
Hospice centers face scrutiny for potential AKS and Stark Law violations
The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has strict rules when it comes to business relationships between healthcare providers who file claims for payment from Medicare. Two primary examples are the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the Stark...
What are safe harbors for the Anti-Kickback Statute?
The Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) is a federal law that lawmakers intend to help better ensure physicians and other medical professionals focus on quality healthcare over financial gain. The law makes it illegal to file false or fraudulent claims for payment with...
Can nurses keep working if they are accused of misconduct?
No nurse wants to find themselves in the middle of allegations of misconduct. These allegations can result in an investigation and an adverse action report. Unfortunately, those that find themselves in this situation are not alone. The National Practitioner Data Bank...
Physician practices take note: Should we worry about AI in medicine?
Healthcare professionals should note recent advances and the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the industry. With every new technical advance, there are benefits and risks. AI can certainly change how we provide healthcare by streamlining medical...
Can I use social media to promote my private practice?
Gone are the days when doctors make house calls and help heal anything that may ail a patient. Patients now travel to their doctors and physicians practice in a world that expects physicians have years of specialized training in their chosen field. This can also lead...
When does an investment lead to a Stark Law violation?
Physicians often have more financial flexibility than the general public. They can often find high paying jobs and set themselves up with extra funds to pursue different investment options. In some cases, these strategies can lead to a steady stream of additional...
Can burnout trigger a medical or nursing board investigation?
The idea of professional burnout is not a new one. We have studied the statistics and likely causes for decades, and one industry consistently has the highest burnout numbers: healthcare. A study digging into the burnout rates for physicians, nurses, and other...
3 things to know before selling a healthcare business
Anyone working in the healthcare industry knows this market is like no other. Regulations abound, demands are high, and the profit potential is seemingly endless. Unfortunately, it also comes with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Not surprisingly, this...