Letter from the OIG Terminating You from the Medicare Program? What You Need to Do!
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
Have you received a letter from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) proposing to terminate you or exclude you from the Medicare Program? This is an extremely serious matter. You need to take action right away! For a physician or other health professional, this may be the most serious situation you have ever faced. Yes, even more serious than that jail sentence you just finished serving.
Do not let the time period to appeal or challenge this expire without […]
What You Need to Know Right Now If the DEA is Knocking on Your Door!
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
Is the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) knocking at your door or, even worse, going through your files inside your office?
If so, this is what you need to know right now!
YES, you do have the right to call your attorney. Call your attorney right now. If you cannot, ask one of your employees or spouse to call your attorney. Get your attorney involved right now!
NO, do not sign a document to relinquish or voluntarily give up your DEA registration number. If you do so, this will probably be the biggest mistake you make in […]
Centene Agrees to Pay $19 Million to Washington State For Medicaid Fraud Allegations
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On August 24, 2022, managed healthcare company, Centene Corporation, agreed to pay $19 million to the State of Washington to settle fraud allegations. Centene owns and operates Sunshine State Health Plan, d/b/a Sunshine Health, in Florida. In addition, it has been reported that Centene/Sunshine Health reportedly has over $31 billion in contracts with the state of Florida alone. Click here to learn more.
The agreement with Washington State resolves allegations that it overcharged its Medicaid program for pharmacy benefit management services, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced in a […]
Many Adverse NPDB Actions Are Reported That Should Not Be; Here Are Examples
We are constantly being contacted by physicians, nurse practitioners, and other licensed health professionals seeking to appeal adverse National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reports. Often, we find that an adverse report has been made when the matter should not have been. Federal regulations and NPDB guidelines establish the types of incidents authorized to be reported to the NPDB. When an employer or other organization makes an improper report, it should be challenged and removed.
Types of Matters That Are Not Authorized for NPDB Reports.
Department of Health Quarterly Report Released Covering Through March 2021
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
The Florida Department of Health’s Quarterly Performance Report (QPR) for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2020-2021, was recently released. It provides information and statistics on actions involving licensed health professionals through March 2021.
Scope of the Florida Department of Health’s Control.
First, note that Florida’s Department of Health regulates 22 health care practitioner boards and four health professional councils. This makes it one of the largest such organizations in the country. Second, this also means that the practice of health care in Florida is one of the most heavily regulated anywhere in the U.S., with each professional board, […]
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Says Serial Killer Cannot Sue Psychiatrist for Medical Malpractice
By: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law and Hartley Brooks, Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm
On November 22, 2023, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania unanimously decided that a serial killer cannot sue his psychiatrist for gross negligence because the action is barred by the Pennsylvania state law that prohibits criminals from benefitting from their crimes.
The Murderer’s Mental Health History.
In February 2016, Cosmo DiNardo was diagnosed with a major depressive disorder. Three months later, DiNardo was in an ATV accident in which he sustained head injuries. His mother reported that […]