In the News | The Health Law Firm Blog

August 27, 2012, Marks the Start Date of the CMS Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAPR)

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On July 31, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on its website that hospitals should brace themselves for prepayment audits beginning August 27, 2012.

The CMS originally announced the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review (RAPR) Demonstration Project in November of 2011 for a January 1, 2012 start date, then delayed it to June 1, 2012, then again to, “summer of 2012.”

To see the official announcement from the CMS, click here.

Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) will Review Claims with High Rates of Improper Billing.

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By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Medicaid, Medicaid audit, Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

South Florida Man Admits to a $42 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The owner and operator of a Miami home health care agency pleaded guilty for his part in a $42 million home health Medicare fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ), the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The 43 year-old man pleaded guilty before a U.S. district court judge to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud on August 2, 2012.

To see the entire press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), click here.

First Part of the Fraud Operation Involved Kickbacks […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

July Issue of Medical Economics Features Article by George F. Indest III

By Cori Pope, The Health Law Firm

The July 25, 2012, issue of Medical Economics features an article written by George F. Indest III, President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm. The article, “Beware Legal Ramifications of Unnecessary Tests,” discusses lists that were recently released by nine medical specialty societies on medical tests and procedures patients and physicians should question or avoid.

What Patients and Doctors Need to Know about These Lists.

In the article Mr. Indest provides his insights into what these lists of questionable procedures may mean for patients and doctors.

Patients now have access to some of the same […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|Health Care Industry, In the Know, In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Doctor Voluntarily Relinquishes License Due to Allegations of Malpractice and Over-Prescribing Oxycodone

By Danielle M. Murray, J.D., Attorney, The Health Law Firm

A doctor in Polk County, Florida, has lost his license to practice medicine. Rather than risk having his license revoked in an administrative proceeding, the now former doctor offered to voluntarily relinquish his license. The Florida Board of Medicine voted to accept the voluntary relinquishment on Friday, August 3, 2012, according to a Lakeland Ledger article.

Click here to read the entire Lakeland Ledger article.

Doctor Nabbed in Sting Operation for Allegedly Prescribing Oxycodone to Undercover Agents.

The article states the doctor from Winter Haven was nabbed in a sting operation in 2010 after allegedly providing prescriptions for oxycodone to undercover police officers without actually performing […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medical License, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Franck’s Pharmacy Closes; Compounding Lab is Now Wells Pharmacy Network

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

July 31, 2012, marked the end of an era for Franck’s Pharmacy in Ocala, Florida, as the retail location closed its doors for good. According to an Ocala Star-Banner article, in July 2012, Franck’s Compounding Lab, which was one of the largest compounding labs in the country, was bought by Wells Pharmacy Network. The deal included Franck’s Lifestyles, which sells supplements and wellness products, but did not include the retail pharmacy location.

Click here to see the official press release from Wells Pharmacy Network.

Closed Pharmacy Comes After a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Finding of Fungal […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:34-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Whistleblower Lawsuit Alleges Florida Adventist Hospitals Overbilled Millions of Dollars

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A whistleblower lawsuit based on information from a former Florida Hospital Orlando billing employee and a former staff physician alleges that seven of Adventist’s Florida hospitals overbilled the federal government between 1995 and 2009, resulting in tens of millions of dollars in false or padded medical claims, according to an article in the Orlando Sentinel and other sources.

To read the entire False Claims Act complaint filed, click here.

Hospital Allegedly Used Improper Coding to Overbill Medicare, Medicaid and Tricare.

The suit claims that seven Adventist Florida hospitals […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:35-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Medicaid audit, Medicare, The Health Law Firm Blog, Whistleblower|

MedVance Institute Must Retrain Students and Donate Direct Scholarships to Florida

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law and Joanne Kenna, J.D., R.N.

MedVance Institute, which is a healthcare training school with four Florida campuses, reached an agreement with the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG) on June 13, 2012. MedVance was alleged to have made misleading marketing claims to students. Under the agreement, the for-profit college is required to offer retraining to eligible students who attended specific programs between January 1, 2008, and March 31, 2012, at no cost. MedVance also agreed to direct $600,000 to Florida scholarships.

MedVance Institute has campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:35-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Medical Student, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Palm Beach Speech Pathologist Arrested for Alleged Medicaid Fraud

By Dr. Thu Pham, O.D., Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm

A Palm Beach, Florida, speech pathologist has allegedly been charged with Medicaid fraud and grand theft by the Attorney General’s (AG) Office of Statewide Prosecution. According to the press release posted on June 29, 2012, from the AG’s office, the speech pathologists is accused of attempting to defraud Medicaid out of more than $459,000.

To read the entire press release from the Florida Attorney General, click here.

Speech Therapy Performed by Unsupervised Assistants.

The speech pathologist allegedly allowed her assistants to perform unsupervised speech therapy to Medicaid recipients, many of whom were children. She then proceeded to bill Medicaid for their services, which was against […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:35-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medicaid, Medicaid audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

More than 30 People Charged with Pharmaceutical Drug Trafficking in Central Florida

By Dr. Thu Pham, O.D., Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm

Attorney General Pam Bondi along with special agent Mark R. Trouville of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Longwood Police Chief Troy Hickson announced, on June 20, 2012, the execution of 37 arrest warrants stemming from state drug charges. The defendants all reside in Central Florida.

Click here to read the entire press release from the Florida Attorney General.

Charges are Being Handed Down to the Defendants.

The charges for the defendants ranged from first degree to third degree felonies. The defendants have been charged with acts such as conspiracy to traffic Oxycodone, solicitation to deliver Oxycodone, and possession of Hydromorphone […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:35-04:00June 1, 2018|DEA, In the News, Pharmaceutical Drugs, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Blocks Shipping of Controlled Substances at Walgreens Distribution Center in Florida

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 14, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) blocked the Walgreens distribution center in Jupiter, Florida, from shipping oxycodone and other controlled drugs to its pharmacies in Florida and the East Coast with an immediate suspension order, according to the DEA. In the press release, the DEA called the Walgreens distribution facility an “imminent danger” to the public.

To see the entire press release from the DEA, click here.

Back in April 2012, the DEA served an administrative inspection warrant at the same […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:35-04:00June 1, 2018|In the Know, In the News, Pain Management, Pharmaceutical Drugs, The Health Law Firm Blog|