Health Care Sector Targeted for 2009 EPA Study of Pharmaceutical Disposal Practices

Posted on: December 29, 2008  |   Author: Brett
Filed Under: Hospitals & Health Systems, In-House Counsel, Labor & Employment   |   1 Comment

In response to recent studies showing that substantial levels of pharmaceutical waste are present in the nation’s water supply, USEPA (or the “Agency”) has begun to focus on discharges by health care facilities. This means hospitals, clinics and physicians’ offices need to be prepared for possible inspections and information requests.

For more on this please visit http://www.hinshawlaw.com/health-care-sector-targeted-for-2009-epa-study-of-pharmaceutical-disposal-practices-12-10-2008/

Advisory Opinion 08-21 Continues OIG’s Pattern of Acceptance in Cost-Savings Arrangements

Posted on: December 29, 2008  |   Author: Brett
Filed Under: Fraud & Abuse   |   Leave a Comment

On December 8, 2008, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) posted Advisory Opinion No. 08-21 regarding a hospital’s cost savings arrangement with four cardiology groups and a radiology group. Under the arrangement, the hospital agreed to share its cost savings from specified cost reduction measures in cardiac catheterization procedures. After reviewing the facts and circumstances of the proposed arrangement, HHS OIG chose not to impose sanctions on the requestors of the Advisory Opinion.

http://www.healthlawyers.org/News/Advisory%20Opinions/Pages/SummaryofOIGAdvisoryOpinion08-21.aspx

Medicare Fraud Results in 14-year Prison Term

Posted on: December 29, 2008  |   Author: Will
Filed Under: Fraud & Abuse, Medicare   |   Leave a Comment

Thomas McKenzie, a 53-year-old physician’s assistant in Miami, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for defrauding Medicare of $119m in an HIV infusion scheme. McKenzie also admitting to training physicians how to make their clinical records appear legitimate for Medicare billing purposes. McKenzie’s case follows the case of another Miami doctor sentenced to 30 years in prison for Medicare fraud.

The story is found here.

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