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Florida Cardiologist Receives Emergency Suspension Order Linked to Stem Cell Treatments

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

A Florida cardiologist recently had his medical license emergently suspended by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) for allegedly performing stem cell treatments on a patient. According to the emergency suspension order (ESO), the DOH had previously warned the doctor to stop performing these treatments in 2011. Now, his license is at risk of being revoked. To view the ESO click here.

Doctor’s License Suspended by the DOH for Allegedly Performing Stem Cell Treatments.

The DOH ordered the emergency suspension of the cardiologist’s medical license in March 2012. He is being accused of violating an emergency restriction order (ERO) against using stem cell treatments […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:31-04:00June 1, 2018|Department of Health, In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Franck’s Pharmacy Recalls Compounding Prescriptions and Shuts Down Sterile Compounding Service

Franck’s Pharmacy, Inc. located in Ocala, Florida, has issued a recall for its compounded prescriptions. The prescriptions impacted by this recall include all sterile human and veterinary compounded prescriptions distributed by Franck’s Pharmacy from November 21, 2011 to May 21, 2012. Franck’s Pharmacy made the announcement on the company’s website on May 24, 2012. To see the recall click here.

Recall Based on FDA Findings of Fungal Growth in Pharmacy’s Clean Room.

The recall was apparently prompted by action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA notified Franck’s Pharmacy that environmental sampling of the pharmacy’s clean room revealed the presence of microorganisms and fungal growth. Because of the FDA’s findings, […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:31-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

411-PAIN Settles with Florida Attorney General

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

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that her office has reached a settlement with 411-PAIN. The settlement requires 411-PAIN to pay $550,000 and change its advertising practices for allegedly making misrepresentations to consumers. 411-PAIN is a Florida-based attorney and chiropractic referral service.

411-PAIN Allegedly Misrepresented Consumer Entitlements.

The Attorney General pursued action against 411-PAIN for the company’s alleged violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Chapter 501, Part II, Florida Statutes. To view Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, click here.

Allegedly, the company misrepresented that […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:31-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Investors can Continue to Bring Claims Against KV Pharmaceutical

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

The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that investors can continue to bring claims against KV Pharmaceutical Co. (KV) for making false or misleading statements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ruling was reached on June 4, 2012.

To view the appeals court ruling in Public Pension Fund Group v. KV Pharmaceutical Company, click here.

Appeals Court Ruling Revives Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit.

The appeals court has revived a securities fraud class action that was dismissed by a trial court in 2010. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Pharmacy, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Settlement Reached in GlaxoSmithKline Healthcare Fraud Case

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

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), a prescription drug manufacturer, will pay $3 billion in fines to resolve allegations of healthcare fraud. The settlement was announced by federal prosecutors on July 1, 2012, and in a press release from the Florida Attorney General on July 2, 2012. This is the largest healthcare fraud settlement in U.S. history.

Settlement Resolves Allegations Against GSK Related to Healthcare Fraud.

The settlement resolves allegations that GSK:

Marketed the depression drug Paxil for off-label uses, such as use by children and adolescents;
Marketed the depression drug Wellbutrin for off-label uses, such as for […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Man Charged with Medicare Fraud in Ambulance Scheme

By Miles Indest

A Pennsylvania man has been charged in a 23-count indictment in relation to an alleged scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for fraudulent ambulance services. The charges were announced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on June 29, 2012.

Man Allegedly “Straw” Owner Used to Start Ambulance Company.

According to the indictment the man allegedly used a “straw” owner (someone who was not actually the owner) to fraudulently open Starcare Ambulance because he was otherwise ineligible to own the company. Between 2006 and 2011, the man allegedly billed Medicare for transporting kidney dialysis patients who did not medically need ambulance service. This indictment seeks forfeiture of over $5 million in cash as well as a GMC Hum-V […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:32-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, Medicare, The Health Law Firm Blog|

Florida Lawmakers Greatly Reduce Risk of Zombie and Cannibal Attacks for First Time Ever!

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

Florida Governor Rick Scott signed House Bill 1175 on March 23, 2012. This bill outlaws over 90 new forms of synthetic drugs. It modifies Section 893.03(1)(c), Florida Statutes, by expanding the list of banned hallucinogenic substances in Schedule I of the Florida Comprehensive Abuse Prevention and Control Act. To view Florida HB 1175, click here.

Florida’s Synthetic Drug Legislation Imposes Restrictions on Synthetic Substances Including Bath Salts.

The new law puts in place restrictions to prevent abuse of synthetic substances including certain synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic stimulants. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:33-04:00June 1, 2018|In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

South Florida Man Busted for Fraudulently Working as a Pharmacist

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

On July 24, 2012, a 49-year-old man from Ruskin in South Fla., pleaded guilty in federal court to fraudulently working as a Central Florida pharmacist from 2000 to 2009, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ) in a press release.

Man Allegedly Gave the Wrong Prescription to At Least One Customer.

Prosecutors said this man worked at pharmacies throughout Central Florida, including CVS pharmacy and Walgreens. According to the Orlando Sentinel, while working at one of the pharmacies, he gave a customer the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:33-04:00June 1, 2018|Department of Health, In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|

New Hampshire City Auditing Ambulance Service for Allegedly Overbilling

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

On July 16, 2012, a New Hampshire city allegedly launched an audit into its primary ambulance service, American Medical Response (AMR), after the company acknowledged overbilling hundreds of patients since 2011, according to a Union Leader article.

AMR Allegedly Incorrectly Billed More Than 300 Ambulance Trips.

According to the report, an in-house audit by the city showed that 323 ambulance trips out of nearly 5,000 in 2011 and 2012 had been incorrectly billed. This amounts to slightly more than six percent (6%). AMR attributes the overbilling to human error.

After concerns that the […]

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