A nurse from Texas with over two decades of experience recently filed a civil suit against a local hospital. The lawsuit states the hospital moved forward with illegal retaliation when officials decided to fire the nurse for making complaints about patient safety within the facility. Here is a timeline of how the issue progressed:
What happens when the feds accuse a doctor of criminal activity?
A federal investigation can result in criminal charges, but what does this mean? The implications of these charges can vary, depending on the details of the alleged crime. But, when the allegations involve a medical professional, the impact extends beyond dealing with the court system. The accused will also need to deal with their local medical licensing board.
3 things to know about HHS' recent investment in diagnostic labs
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced it will invest $6.5 million into two commercial diagnostic labs. The agency has stated it expects the labs, one in Nashville, TN the other in Austin, TX, to use the funds to boost staffing and infrastructure with an ultimate goal of increasing their COVID-19 testing capacities.
Can you get sued for not filling opioid prescriptions?
As the government continues its crackdown on the opioid crisis, whether or not a pharmacy could find itself the center of a lawsuit for failing to fill an opioid prescription may seem like a surprising question. And yet, that is exactly what three big companies are currently facing. CVS, Walgreens and Costco were all named in a recent lawsuit for not filling opioid prescriptions. The lawsuit claims that because these pharmacy giants failed to fill these prescriptions, patients are unable to continue to manager pain from chronic conditions.
DOJ accuses TX company of billions in health care fraud
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is continuing its scrutiny of groups that provide Medicare Advantage plans. Just over a year ago, the Office of Inspector General reported that these plans led to billions in risk-adjusted payments that were not supported by specific services provided to patients - ultimately leading to allegations of health care fraud. This report has likely led to increased scrutiny of these programs, as recently highlighted in a case out of Texas.
TMB threatens TX doc with reprimand for COVID-19 claims
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) recently issued a statement calling out a local physician for allegedly making false claims about the potential benefits of certain treatments for COVID-19. The TMB reminded the doctor and those within the medical profession at large that it has the authority to reprimand medical professionals who provide “false, misleading, or deceptive” medical claims.
What happens if the government claims PPP fraud?
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the arrest of a Texas man accused of fraudulently obtaining over $1.6 million from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and using the loans for improper expenses. The prosecution states the entrepreneur used the funds not to help keep his business afloat during these uncertain times, but instead to purchase luxury vehicles and fund trips to a local strip club. If the government can provide enough evidence to substantiate these claims, the accused could face serious penalties.
Will CMS delay APP loan repayment deadlines?
The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has set a deadline for providers to begin repaying Accelerated and Advanced Payment Program (APP) loans provided through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In most cases, the repayment period was set to begin 120 days after the organization received payment. Unfortunately, many medical establishments continue to struggle to meet financial obligations as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
