Archive for June 2018
Doctors, Nurses, Other Healthcare Pros Rounded up in Opioid and Medicare Fraud Sweep
Doctors, nurses, addiction treatment professionals, pharmacists and hundreds of others are among the 601 people across 58 federal districts charged this week in what the Justice Department is calling “the largest national healthcare fraud enforcement action†in its history. The fraud resulted in more than $2 billion in losses. Of those 601, more than 162…
Read MoreDo you Know Your Obligations Under the Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) Provisions?
A Philadelphia-based personal injury law firm has paid $28,000 to settle allegations that it failed to reimburse the government for Medicare payments made to healthcare providers on behalf of its clients. The agreement should serve as a reminder to personal injury lawyers and others of their obligation to reimburse Medicare for conditional payments after receiving…
Read MoreAdvisory Opinion: Clinic Can Provide Free Telemedicine Equipment, Services
A nonprofit, federally qualified health center look-alike (FQHC) can use grant funds to provide telehealth equipment and services for free to facilitate encounters with patients of a county-run clinic that provides testing, treatment and counseling for HIV, based on a recent advisory opinion issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the…
Read MoreCMS Policy Changes to Drug Benefit Program Targets Opioid Abuse
Effective June 15, policy changes for the prescription drug benefit program finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) take effect. CMS published the final rule updating Medicare Advantage (MA) and the prescription drug benefit program (Part D). Â The new rule is expected to result in nearly $300 million in annual savings over five…
Read MoreOIG Opinion: Providing Sample Ostomy Products Does not Violate Anti-Kickback Statute
An ostomy product distributor can give free samples to Medicare patients without worrying about violating the federal Anti-Kickback Statute, according to a recent advisory opinion from the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Anti-Kickback Statute makes it a criminal offense to knowingly and willfully offer, pay, solicit…
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