A paramedic alleges his employer terminated his position because he followed a patient’s request instead of adhering to conventional medical practices. The patient was suffering from a serious infection and asked the paramedic not to move forward with an...
Month: April 2019
Two Home Health Care leaders in TX sentenced to prison time
April has proved a successful month for the Department of Justice (DOJ). The agency has already had two successful prosecutions against local leaders in the Home Health Care industry accused of health care fraud crimes.Both will serve prison time for their alleged...
ZPIC audits on the rise: Tips for pharmaceutical companies
Zone program integrity contract (ZPIC) audits are on the rise. These audits can result in evidence given to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and potentially result in criminal charges. ZPICs were created by the...
Texas Medical Examiner’s Office accused of fraud
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) has reportedly extended an investigation well past the usual 180-day limit. A forensic anthropologist serving on a contract basis at a local Medical Examiner's Office was one of many individuals who came forward with complaints about the...
Man accused of health care fraud agrees to $40M settlement
A Philippine born American citizen agreed to pay the United States government $40 million in restitution for his role in the largest health care fraud scheme in recent history. He is one of over two dozen suspects arrested and accused of partaking in this scheme....
TX uses new tool to charge doctors with health care fraud
The medical profession's first concern should be the welfare of the patient. Most physicians, nurses and other medical professionals go into this field because they share a similar belief. However, as is true in any profession, there are some who stray and find the...
Request for medical billing records can trigger payment problems
Health insurance companies may request a copy of billing records to substantiate claims for payment. If not provided in a timely manner, the company could report physicians who fail to comply to the state medical licensing board. Unfortunately, additional problems can...
Nursing licenses and loans: Is disciplinary action possible?
Nurses are part of a skilled workforce. This workforce provides valuable medical care to patients at hospitals, medical centers, nursing homes and other health care facilities. Those who choose to enter this profession must pass a nursing program—a program that can...
TMB questions doctor’s prescription methods, restricts license
The Texas Medical Board's (TMB) disciplinary panel announced the temporary restriction of a Houston physician. The group accused the physician of administering opioids at a high volume. The TMB further chastised the physician, stating he not registered as a pain...
Can doctors protect themselves from allegations of fraud?
The health care market accounts for a large chunk of the nation's economy. Individuals in the United States spend trillions of dollars to meet their health care needs. As a result, it makes sense that prosecutors follow through on allegations of health care fraud.The...