The United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas recently announced the sentencing of a nurse practitioner (NP). The feds had accused the NP, who practiced in Texas, of engaging in a scheme to defraud Medicare...
One business buying another to further its operations or reach is not a new concept, but the laws and regulations that surround these transactions are constantly changing. In a recent example, a medical staffing firm out of Texas finalized its acquisition of a virtual...
The feds are aggressively pursuing allegations of healthcare fraud related to relaxed regulations and incentives to help address the pandemic. In a recent example, the government charged 14 people with healthcare fraud related to the pandemic. They claim that those...
The pandemic forced us to reevaluate how we work. In an effort to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19, we shifted a large portion of our workforce to remote status. This provided an opportunity not just to increase the safety of our workforce, but also to see if a...
A group of Texas hospitals recently joined others from Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and other states where the United States Health and Human Services (HHS) did not expand Medicaid to demand payment. The hospitals state they did not receive payment for care...
United States Attorney’s Offices throughout the country continue their aggressive pursuit of physicians and other medical professionals who fail to follow the regulations set out in the False Claims Act (FCA). The feds have found success, reportingly pursuing the...
Older teens have more rights to make their own decisions when it comes to dental care. However, when it comes to prescribing opioids, the consent of an authorized adult is still often necessary. A dentist who prescribes opioids to a minor without consent could face...
There are many misconceptions surrounding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Some of these are fairly harmless, others can cause big problems. Medical professionals like nurses are wise to understand this law, as a failure to properly...
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced updates to its Phase 2 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Audit Program. These audits aim to check for an entity’s compliance with certain requirements. The...
Medical boards are responsible for protecting the public from incompetent physicians. Although the particulars will vary depending on the jurisdiction, most states have laws that require physicians’ practice in a professional manner. Unprofessional conduct is...
