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
Medicare and Medicaid
Brooklyn Cardiologist Hit with Fraud Charges
By Eric Fader on
On December 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and other agencies announced the indictment of Niranjan Mittal, a Brooklyn cardiologist, on multiple fraud charges. Mittal allegedly fabricated patient records, paid physicians for patient referrals, and billed for medically unnecessary procedures. The U.S. Attorney’s Office also filed a civil fraud…
New HHS Rule for Nursing Home Ownership and Manager Disclosure
By Lindsay Brocki & Sean Simensky on
A new rule will require nursing homes enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid to make disclosures about certain facility ownership, management and other operational information. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the rule on November 17, with lawmakers emphasizing that greater transparency in the operation and ownership of nursing homes will improve…
2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Extends Telehealth Flexibilities
By Eric Fader on
The 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier this month, extended certain telehealth-related flexibilities that were implemented during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS issued a Fact Sheet summarizing the telehealth updates, as well as other important Medicare policy changes.
Until 2020…
NY Physician, Wife and Staff Admit AKS Violations
By Eric Fader on
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Trenton, NJ announced on November 22 that primary care physician Yitzchok “Barry” Kurtzer of Monsey, NY, and his wife pleaded guilty to soliciting and receiving kickbacks and bribes in exchange for ordering genetic tests. Kurtzer had offices in the Scranton, PA area that his wife helped manage. Two of his…
Recent OMIG Updates (NOTE NEW DATE)
By Rivkin Rounds Staff on
On Friday, October 27, in the next installment of Rivkin Radler’s Healthcare Compliance Lunch & Learn series, Rivkin Radler partner Bob Hussar will present an overview of recent regulatory developments at the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG). The program will take place from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM Eastern time…
NY Cardiologist Settles AKS Claims for $6.5 Million
By Eric Fader on
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on September 18 that cardiologist Klaus Peter Rentrop and his practice, Gramercy Cardiac Diagnostic Services, P.C., agreed to pay $6.5 million to settle allegations that they violated the federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law. Rentrop admitted to paying physicians millions of dollars in…
Kaiser and Janocinska Author ABA Book on the Federal AKS and Safe Harbors
By Rivkin Rounds Staff on
The American Bar Association has published the second edition of “The Federal Anti-Kickback Statute and Safe Harbors: A History and Practice Guide.” Written by Geoffrey R. Kaiser and Ada Janocinska, the book is a comprehensive reference for one of the nation’s most commonly cited, investigated and enforced health care fraud and abuse laws.
The book…
Telehealth After the Pandemic: Recent Federal and State Developments
On Thursday, September 14, in the next installment of Rivkin Radler’s Healthcare Compliance Lunch & Learn series, Rivkin Radler partner Eric D. Fader will present an update on the regulatory landscape for the provision of telehealth services, including recent changes to federal and state laws and rules. The program will take place from 12:00 noon…
OIG Advisory Opinion Warns on IONM Company “Surgeon Deals”
By Eric Fader on
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…