What happens when a patient, co-worker or other medical professional files a complaint about a physician's work? If the complaint involves allegations of misconduct, the New York Health Department's Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC) and state Board for...
Physicians And Group Practices
Tips to reduce liability for telehealth services
The Department of Health and Human Services has relaxed regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), at least temporarily. This allows medical professionals to conduct communications with patients using technology like Zoom and...
What should providers know about next wave of CARES Act relief?
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will begin accepting applications for Relief through this package October 5th. The agency has stated the goal is to help cover approximately 2% of patient revenue lost as a result of the pandemic.The HHS is encouraging...
Cardiologist sues hospital officials for wrongful termination
The physician received his medical training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor St Luke's Medical Center in Houston. Hospital officials hired the specialist in 2018 to fill a variety of cardiology...
HHS states my physician group chose the wrong code. Now what?
The United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has stated physician groups throughout the country are mistakenly choosing the wrong code when it comes to charging Medicare for services provided to stroke patients.What is the problem? According to a...
NJ healthcare insurance negotiation deal: 3 lessons
New Jersey healthcare company Humana Inc. recently adjusted its insurance offerings to expand in-network access for members. After much negotiations with local healthcare providers, the private insurance provider agreed to expand its terms to include additional...
How serious are allegations of overpayment?
Medical professionals who receive a notice of overpayment from Medicare or commercial insurance companies may find themselves facing a massive bill. These letters demand repayment, sometimes asking the health care professional to pay millions of dollars back to the...
Why are private equity firms purchasing physician groups?
The purchase of physician groups by private equity firms has soared in recent years. According to a recent publication in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), private equity firms acquired 1,426 sites and almost 6,000 physicians from 2013 through...
CMS announces resumption of enforcement efforts
The United States Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced it will resume enforcement and routine inspection efforts. The agency had suspended the efforts in response to the current coronavirus pandemic in an effort to help reduce the risk...
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...