As part of its 2023 state budget, New York State has allocated $1.2 billion for the payment of bonuses to certain frontline healthcare workers. This bonus program is intended to reward healthcare workers for their services during the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote employee retention and recruitment in the healthcare sector. Qualified employers who wish
Medicare and Medicaid
Kaiser to be PLI Panelist on Drug and Device Enforcement Trends
On September 28, Rivkin Radler’s Jeff Kaiser will be a panelist at the Practising Law Institute’s program, Life Sciences 2022: Navigating Legal Challenges in Drug and Device Industries. The program is designed for attorneys and allied professionals who counsel pharmaceutical and life sciences companies.
Entitled “Enforcement Trends Impacting the Drug and Device Industries,” Jeff’s…
Private Insurers Must Watch Out for Medical Equipment Fraud
Healthcare fraud related to durable medical equipment (DME) is extremely costly to insurers, yet often continues without criminal or civil consequences. Rivkin Radler’s Michael Vanunu recently wrote an article on the topic for Law360.
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NY Medical Practice Settles False Claims Act Allegations Related to “Incident-To” Billing
By Mary Connolly on
On August 3, North Country Neurology, P.C., a physician-owned medical practice located in Watertown, NY (the “Practice”), reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York to pay $850,000 for submitting false Medicare claims for payment.
Among other things, the Practice admitted to having submitted 120 claims between September…
Spinal Device Distributor, Owners and PODs Settle Kickback Claims for $1 Million
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced that Reliance Medical Systems LLC, a Utah-based distributor of spinal implant devices, two of its individual owners, and two of its physician-owned distributorships (PODs) agreed to pay $1 million to resolve a lawsuit brought under the False Claims Act. Reliance allegedly operated the PODs as a vehicle…
HHS OIG Issues Telehealth Fraud Alert
By Eric Fader on
On July 20, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Special Fraud Alert to caution healthcare practitioners who may wish to enter into arrangements with telehealth companies. The Alert describes several types of fraud schemes that have resulted in federal investigations and civil and/or criminal charges, particularly…
HHS Renews COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Again
By Eric Fader on
On July 15, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra formally extended the COVID-19 public health emergency for another 90 days. The PHE, which originally went into effect in January 2020, provides important flexibilities for healthcare providers, including expanding the types of telehealth services that are reimbursable for Medicare beneficiaries and
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New OMIG Compliance Regulations: What You Need to Know
By Rivkin Rounds Staff on
On July 13, the New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) published proposed regulations implementing 2020 changes to law relating to provider compliance programs, Medicaid managed care fraud, waste and abuse prevention programs, and OMIG’s self-disclosure program. The proposed changes will significantly affect both payers and providers alike.
In the next installment of Rivkin…
The Anti-Kickback Statute’s Role in Health Insurance Fraud Cases
By Rivkin Rounds Staff on
Rivkin Radler’s Michael Sirignano authored a recent article for the New York Law Journal entitled “The Anti-Kickback Statute’s Role in Health Insurance Fraud Cases.” The article discussed recent lawsuits against physicians, laboratories, hospitals, and a large pharmaceutical company, McKesson Corporation, under the False Claims Act and federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
OIG Permits Arrangement Involving Physician-Owned Medical Device Company
In a recent Advisory Opinion, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined that an arrangement involving certain physicians who have an ownership interest in a medical device company that manufactures products that may be ordered by the physician owners (the “Company”) was not considered a suspect physician-owned…