Government authorities recently accused a former surgeon turned business owner of running a criminal enterprise in Texas. The physician transitioned from practicing medicine within the operating room to serving as the owner of an orthopedic and spinal disorder clinic...
Month: July 2020
Novartis to pay millions to settle health care fraud claims
The government continues its crackdown on the use of bribes in the medical field. Although it is noble to better ensure physicians are motivated by patient need and not financial gain, the distinction between what is legal and what is not can be difficult to...
Not just for the mafia: Racketeering in medicine
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act is a federal law that triggers visions of the mafia and other forms of organized crime. Although this law is likely most popular for those types of cases, it can play a role in health care law. Individuals...
Hospital system agrees to $16M settlement for decade old claim
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a southern hospital system, Piedmont Healthcare, Inc., had agreed to pay $16 million to settle allegations of wrongdoing. Both parties intend the settlement to resolve two separate legal claims. How did the case...
Which court is the right venue for health care disputes?
The answer depends on the details of the allegations. In a recent case, a group of patients filed a class action lawsuit against a New York health system accusing the group of failing to protect their financial, medical and personal information from security leaks....
Did a pharmaceutical company use charity to hide kickbacks?
Federal prosecutors have accused a pharmaceutical company, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, of using charitable organizations to funnel illegal kickback payments to doctors. The allegations are connected to the use of an injectable drug used to treat macular...
Two things to know about new HHS proposed rules
The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released proposals that will directly impact the health care industry. Two potential impacts to watch include changes made in response to the current coronavirus pandemic and a potential move...
Hospitals take on HHS over price disclosure rule
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a rule in November that requires hospitals to disclose the rates they negotiate with insurance providers. The rule requires hospitals begin to provide this information to the public in 2021. In...
Hospital fights allegations of false claims
Hospitals often face allegations of wrongdoing. In some cases, the allegations can be severe and can lead to serious financial penalties as well as criminal liability for individuals that are involved. In one recent example, former employees of a hospital from...