The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that Silver Lake Hospital, a long-term care hospital in Newark, New Jersey, and some of its investors agreed to pay $30.6 million to settle claims that they violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and the Federal Debt Collection Procedures Act (FDCPA). The hospital allegedly overbilled Medicare by claiming
Hospitals
Health Network Pays $345 Million for Compensating Physicians Above FMV
Community Health Network, Inc., based in Indianapolis, Indiana, has paid $345 million to settle alleged violations of the False Claims Act (FCA). The lawsuit was initiated through a whistleblower complaint that was filed in 2014 by the network’s former Chief Financial Officer. The suit alleged that, between 2008 and 2009, the network recruited hundreds of…
You can ‘fire’ patients for just cause, but hew to a clear policy
An August 24 article in Part B News, “You can ‘fire’ patients for just cause, but hew to a clear policy,” explained how healthcare providers can legally and ethically refuse service to a patient. Rivkin Radler partner Frank Izzo was quoted in the article.
Although healthcare facilities usually get into legal hot…
OIG Advisory Opinion Warns on IONM Company “Surgeon Deals”
On August 18, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) published an Advisory Opinion warning that a common arrangement under which surgeons profit from referrals of their patients for intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services can violate the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The Advisory Opinion, the first significant public commentary on…
Implementing an Effective Compliance Program: A Focus on Element Seven
In the next installment of Rivkin Radler’s Healthcare Compliance Lunch & Learn series, Rivkin Radler’s Bob Hussar and John Queenan will discuss the seventh required elements of an Effective Compliance Program: Responding to Compliance Issues.
Bob is a partner in Rivkin Radler’s Compliance, Investigations & White Collar and Health Services practice groups. John is a…
Yale New Haven Reaches $560K FCA Settlement
The U.S Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced on May 9 that Yale New Haven Health Services Corp. and Northeast Medical Group, Inc. have paid $560,718.48 to resolve federal and state False Claims Act (FCA) allegations. The hospital system allegedly submitted claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services provided by mid-level providers…
Implementing an Effective Compliance Program: A Focus on Elements Five and Six
In the next installment of Rivkin Radler’s Healthcare Compliance Lunch & Learn series, Rivkin Radler’s Bob Hussar and Mary Aperance will discuss the fifth and sixth required elements of an Effective Compliance Program. They will discuss:
- Disciplinary Standards
- Auditing and Monitoring
Bob is a partner in Rivkin Radler’s Compliance, Investigations & White Collar and Health…
OIG to Update Compliance Program Guidance Documents
On the heels of New York’s Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) releasing updated compliance requirements, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced today that it will also be updating and modifying its voluntary compliance guidance documents.
The OIG’s stated purpose for the modifications is to improve…
Implementing an Effective Compliance Program: A Focus on Elements Three and Four
In the next installment of Rivkin Radler’s Healthcare Compliance Lunch & Learn series, Rivkin Radler’s Bob Hussar will discuss the third and fourth required elements of an Effective Compliance Program:
- Training
- Effective lines of communication
Bob is a partner in Rivkin Radler’s Compliance, Investigations & White Collar and Health Services practice groups. The program will…
Healthcare Fraud Tops DOJ’s Annual False Claims Act Report – Again!
Rivkin Radler’s Michael Sirignano authored an article for the March 2 issue of the New York Law Journal entitled “Healthcare Fraud Tops DOJ’s Annual False Claims Act Report – Again!” The article discussed a report issued by the U.S. Department of Justice detailing the settlements and judgments it obtained under the federal False…