Stark Law/Anti-Kickback Statutes

Stark law. Congress intended this prohibition of self-referrals to reduce the risk of physicians referring to certain labs purely for financial gain. Any connection must fit within an exception, referred to as IOAS exception.   Anti-Kickback Statues. This...

Pockets throughout the country are experiencing a jump in COVID-19 cases that require medical intervention. As a result, local facilities are finding themselves facing an onslaught of patients. This surge can lead to physically and mentally overwhelmed medical...

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...

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...

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently accused a Texas pharmacist of partaking in a scheme to defraud the government. The agency claimed the medical professional and his wife billed the federal government for over $20 million for medically unnecessary topical...

The government recently accused a Texas woman of partaking in a health care fraud scheme that took place in Arkansas. The woman allegedly used her role recruiting patients for a company that marketed prescription medications for a Mississippi pharmacy.The prosecution...

Health care fraud is a broad term used to encompass different allegations of criminal activity. The types of allegations the government commonly prosecutes for health care fraud can vary year to year.This piece will touch on recent trends and provide some examples to...

Lawmakers are taking action against the current opioid addiction crisis. One specific example involves the passage of the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018 (EKRA). The law, discussed in detail in a previous post available here, is designed to help better...

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...

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) take violations to healthcare laws very seriously. A conviction can come with hefty penalties that may include exclusion from federal healthcare programs, fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment.These fines are...