The Health Law Firm Blog | The Health Law Firm Blog

Overcoming License Suspension and Revocation Pending Appeal

By Lance O. Leider, J.D.

If you are a doctor, nurse, dentist, psychologist, pharmacist, massage therapist or other licensed health professional whose license has been recently revoked or suspended, there may still be hope. Ordinarily, you must immediately stop practicing or you risk being prosecuted for unlicensed practice, a felony. Although this blog deals with Florida law, similar relief may be available in other states, too.

One of the hardest things about having a license suspended or revoked is that it immediately cuts off the licensee’s sole source of income. If you have a thriving practice, this will usually destroy any value your business has. Without income, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:36-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, Department of Health, Licensing issues, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Ambulance Company in Tennessee Settles A $2 Million Overpayment Lawsuit

George F. Indest III, Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law and Dr. Thu Pham, O.D., Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm Attorney

A Tennessee ambulance company and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) announced a settlement in a case over a post payment audit for more than two million dollars in May 2012. Back in March of 2010, the Nashville ambulance company sued the DHHS after being sent a $2.65 million overpayment demand, according to the Nashville Business Journal.

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By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:37-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

You Must Challenge Overpayment Demands from Medicare and Medicaid Audits

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

We have recently received numerous communications from health care professionals, including physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, mental health counselors, durable medical equipment (DME) providers, assisted living facilities (ALFs), group homes, and psychologists, who have been placed on prepayment review after failing to challenge Medicare or Medicaid audit results. The problem is that these providers, once placed on prepayment review, have their payments held up for many months and are often forced out of business. Sometimes it appears that this may actually be the goal of the auditing contractor or agency.

What Happens on Prepayment Review.

Failing […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:45-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, In the Know, Medicaid, Medicaid audit, Medicare, Medicare Audit, The Health Law Firm Blog|

American Medical Association Joins Minnesota Medical Staff in Its Fight for Autonomy

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

The American Medical Association (AMA) and several other physician organizations announced support of a court appeal by physicians at Avera Marshall Regional Medical Center in Minnesota. The medical staff at Avera alleged the hospital’s governing board amended the medical staff’s bylaws and took away the medical staff’s right to self-govern. On February 6, 2013, the AMA, the Minnesota Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the hospital’s medical staff.

Click here to read the press release from […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:48-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, Health Care Industry, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Supreme Court Rules that Government Regulators Can Sue Over Pay-for-Delay Agreements Between Brand and Generic Drug Manufacturers

George F. Indest III, Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

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

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 17, 2013, that pay-for-delay agreements between brand name and generic drug manufacturers are subject to anti-trust scrutiny. These pay-for-delay agreements, or reverse payments, are usually a form of settlement between the two manufacturers in patent litigation. The Supreme Court decided that each instance must be considered on a case-by-case basis. This verdict rewrites the rules governing the release of generic drugs. It is […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:49-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, Health Care Industry, In the Know, In the News, Pharmaceutical Drugs, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Wow! Did You Know That There Were All of These Different Medical and Dental Examination and Specialty Boards out There?

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

Did you know there are many different medically-related examination and specialty boards out there screening applicants’ credentials and administering national examinations required for licensure? What is more, if an applicant is accused of some type of wrongdoing by that board (which may include allegations of “irregular behavior or conduct,” “cheating,” “compromising examination materials,” or other similar allegations) each has different procedures and appeals for handling investigations.

Types Of Medical Specialty Boards.

I have recently had to advise clients on or become involved in hearings or appeals for:

The Educational Commission for Foreign […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:59-04:00June 1, 2018|Appeal, Board of Medicine, Dentist, Informal Hearings, Licensing issues, Medical License, Our Firm, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs) Allowed to Terminate a Resident For Almost Any Reason

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

Currently, Florida law and regulations allow an assisted living facility (ALF) to relocate or terminate a resident for almost any reason. However, the administrator must provide a 45-day notice and document the reason for termination or relocation.

Section 429.28(k), Florida Statutes (2011), states that an ALF resident must receive:

At least 45 days’ notice of relocation or termination of residency from the facility unless, for medical reasons, the resident is certified by a physician to require an emergency relocation to a facility providing a more skilled level of care or the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|Assisted Living Facilities, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Orlando-based Assisted Living Facilities Appeal ALJ Decision, Win Case Against AHCA

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

Two related assisted living facilities (ALFs) based in Orlando won a case against the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) on appeal. The First District Court of Appeal heard the case and filed an opinion in favor of the ALFs on November 30, 2011.

To view the opinion in this case, click here.

Appeals Court Dismissed Three Complaints Made by AHCA.

On appeal, the ALFs challenged a final order issued by AHCA. The amended final order revoked the ALFs’ licenses, denied their licensure renewal applications, and […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|Assisted Living Facilities, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Appeal Court Rules AHCA Was Justified in Withdrawing Home Health Agency’s License Application

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

The First District Court of Appeal has ruled that the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) had substantial justification to withdraw a home health agency’s application for licensure in a recent case. To view the opinion, click here.

Home Health Agency Challenged AHCA’s Decision to Withdraw Application.

AHCA withdrew the home health care facility’s license application because the application allegedly contained insufficient information. The application did not provide enough information for AHCA to verify actual ownership of the facility.

The home health agency challenged AHCA’s decision. The […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:33-04:00June 1, 2018|Assisted Living Facilities, Home health care facility, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Almost 19% of Nurse Aides Charged with Abuse and Neglect in 2010 had Prior Criminal Records

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

A report released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) on October 5, 2012, found that nineteen percent (19%) of long-term care nurse aides who were found guilty of on-the-job abuse, neglect or property theft in 2010 had prior criminal records that would have showed up on a background check. Click here to read the entire report from the HHS OIG.

Background Check Program Initiated to Decrease Abuse Cases.

Section 6201 of the Affordable Care Act establishes a background check program. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:38-04:00June 1, 2018|Assisted Living Facilities, Nurses, The Health Law Firm Blog|