The health care industry includes health care providers (hospitals, nursing homes, pain management clinics, doctor’s offices, surgical centers, rehab facilities, etc.) and health care professionals (physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, medical students, medical interns, hospital administrators, etc.). These health care providers and health care professionals are often the subject of legal issues.

More Reasons Not to Voluntarily Relinquish Your Professional License or Fail to Appeal an Exclusion Action

In the past, I have written articles and blogs on why a physician, nurse, dentist, psychologist, pharmacist, mental health counselor or other licensed health professional should never agree to voluntarily relinquish his or her license after any notice of a possible investigation being opened.  This is treated the same as if the state licensing agency had revoked that license for cause.  This applies even if the license is in another state, is inactive, or has expired.

The consequences of this include the action that will surely follow from the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to exclude that professional from the Medicare Program.  Of course, this exclusion means any federal health care […]

Under Review: What You Need to Know About Clinical Privileges Hearings

The term “fair hearing” is used by different individuals and different organizations to refer to an administrative hearing or a private hearing in a hospital or professional association. There are a number of different types of proceedings that are often referred to as “fair hearings,” including clinical privileges (or peer review) hearings, which allow a physician who has had his or her clinical privileges revoked to be reviewed.

This type of hearing can also be referred to as:
• Privileges Hearing
• Fair Hearing
• Medical Review Hearing
• Credentials Hearing
• Medical Staff Hearing
• Disciplinary Hearing
• Credentials Committee Hearing or
• Ad Hoc Committee Hearing.

The physician that is subject to these hearings is not a Hospital employee, does not have a direct contract with the Hospital, is not a member of a group with […]

What Does Proposed Liposuction Bill Mean For Florida Plastic Surgeons?

A new Florida bill aimed at making liposuction procedures safer is making its way through the Senate in Tallahassee. The bill was created as a result of the deaths of four South Florida mothers in their 30s during liposuction procedures, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Present state rules say physician surgery offices must be inspected by the state Department of Health or accrediting organizations, unless the doctor performs procedures using only local sedatives that leave the patient awake. Cosmetic surgeons who perform liposuctions using local sedatives such as lidocaine do not have to have their offices inspected.

The bill says that any liposuction that removes more than 1 liter of fat can only be done in a regulated office. This would cover […]

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