Opioid Kickbacks May Be Fueling Epidemic
Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has intervened in five anti-kickback lawsuits against Insys Therapeutics, Inc. (Insys), the manufacturer of Fentanyl. In 2012, Insys received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Fentanyl to treat persistent breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who developed tolerance toward around-the-clock opioid therapy. It is a spray […]
» Read More...May 31, 2018
Health Care Professionals Pursue Whistleblower Litigation
Qui tam litigation can be a complex and exhausting process. If the case is not settled and must go to trial, it can take even longer to reach a resolution. In a case that dates to 2015, United States of America, et al v. BlueWave Healthcare Consultants, Inc., et al. has yet to be fully […]
» Read More...May 17, 2018
Ridesharing Rivals Anti-Kickback Laws
An increasing number of patients are missing doctor appointments, blood draws, X-ray appointments, and other routine non-emergency testing due to lack of transportation. Statistics show that over three million patients each year will miss a medical appointment because of transportation issues. Many patients in rural areas have limited access to transportation for non-emergency medical appointments. […]
» Read More...April 30, 2018
Changes in the Stark Law
Many physicians are familiar with Stark Law, which prohibits a physician from referring a Medicaid or Medicare patient to a health care entity where the physician or their family has a financial interest. With a goal of reducing healthcare fraud and abuse, the law sets forth technical compliance requirements. Also known as the Physician Self-Referral […]
» Read More...April 11, 2018
Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Law Presents Challenges to Physicians
In 2016, Pennsylvania passed Act 16, which legalized the use of medical marijuana in the state. Under Act 16, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has the authority to issue licenses to those that grow medical marijuana and operators of medical marijuana dispensaries. Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program To participate in Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Program, patients […]
» Read More...March 29, 2018
Charitable Donations Do Not Result in Liability Under False Claims Act
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit recently held that charitable donations found in violation of anti-kickback statutes do not necessarily provide the grounds for liability under the False Claims Act (FCA). According to the ruling, without additional evidence that the alleged kickback was tied to a specific claim for payment, violators of […]
» Read More...March 16, 2018
Kmart Pays $32 Million for Overbilling Federal Health Programs
National retail giant, Kmart Corporation, recently agreed to pay the United States $32.3 million to settle allegations that in-store pharmacies overcharged federally-funded health care programs for generic drugs. The settlement stems from a 2008 False Claims Act lawsuit filed by an Ohio pharmacist, who stands to receive more than $9 million for his portion of […]
» Read More...March 1, 2018
Racism Causing Concerns in the Healthcare Industry
While our society is adapting to change and becoming more open to differences, discrimination due to racial and sexual differences is still a cause for concern in the healthcare industry. Although physicians work tirelessly to treat and provide for patients of all backgrounds, the same cannot be said of patients, who have blatantly lashed out […]
» Read More...February 16, 2018
Credential Registry
Credential Engine, a non-profit organization, has launched a centralized data platform that it hopes will help all medical professionals better understand what credentials are available. The platform, Credential Registry, gathers data from multiple sources, including degrees, certificates, badges, apprenticeships, licenses, micro credentials, and PhDs. The nonprofit debuted its platform at an event attended by higher […]
» Read More...January 26, 2018
New Medical Pilot Program May Prevent Medical Kickbacks
Medical practitioners and health care professionals that conduct business to receive propositions and payment in the form of kickbacks are violating anti-kickback laws in place at federal, state, and local levels. While partnerships with pharmaceutical companies are one of the biggest violators in compliance with physicians and hospitals, the Department of Health and Human Services […]
» Read More...January 10, 2018
