Hospital administrators are not alone when thinking about using a policy that would require workers to get a COVID-19 vaccine. This is especially true at a time when the virus is evolving and appears to be more contagious than before. But such policies can come with...
Physicians & Physicians Groups
Is professional self-regulation on the verge of collapse?
Our country is one with a long-standing tradition of professional self-regulations. State medical boards regulate physicians, state nursing boards regulate nurses, etc. But what happens if the public feels this type of self-regulation weighs too heavily in favor of...
Officials slam private practice for billing out-of-network patients
Officials recently accused an anesthesia practice of failing to disclose information to patients prior to providing care. This information included the likelihood that their services were out-of-network for billing purposes because the group did not participate in the...
Can I get my medical license back after a conviction?
Back in early 1997, a medical student out of New York went through painful dental surgery. He began to take opioids to help manage the pain and became addicted to the meds. He finished medical school and residency, was board certified for physical medicine and...
What is the future of remote work in healthcare?
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...
Surgical group fights back when DOJ claims collusion
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently accused a surgical group out of Texas of illegal collusion with competitors. According to the feds, the group agreed not to poach senior-level employees from competing practices. The group is composed of physicians who own and...
One important lesson from federal case against NY doctor
With certain professions come increased responsibility. Arguably one with the most responsibility is that of a physician. The ability to advise patients on healthcare options, lead procedures and prescribe medications can have a life-altering impact on the patient. As...
Physician faces decades imprisonment for healthcare fraud
Feds recently accused a physician of falsely certifying patients for home health services. The prosecution is aggressively building a case against the medical professional and claims that she received financial incentive for these certifications. What exactly...
Can a neurosurgeon have ties to a medical device company?
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced a settlement between the feds and a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon owned two medical device distributorships and was accused of the following: The feds state the accused used illegal kickbacks to...
What is the role of the Texas Medical Board?
The Texas Medical Board is a group of physicians and other members of the community that is responsible for the oversight of medical professionals within the state. They license a variety of professionals including physicians, technologists, and assistants. According...