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APR
14
0

Proposed New York State Law Seeks Regulatory Oversight of Healthcare Transactions Involving Private Equity

In February 2023, New York State proposed Senate Bill S4007 , which aims to introduce regulatory oversight of certain healthcare transactions involving private equity firms. The proposed law would apply to various healthcare entities, including physician practices, home care agencies, providers of behavioral health services, physician groups, and M...
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  501 Hits
501 Hits
JUL
13
0

The Future of Your Telehealth Practice in a Post-COVID World

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, we saw exponential growth in the usage of telehealth. In fact, early growth of the industry displayed a 78X increase in the utilization of telehealth services verses the traditional, in-person office visits. As of July 2022, the utilization of telehealth has stabilized at levels 38X higher than before the pandemic, d...
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  1104 Hits
1104 Hits
MAR
24
0

GOV. CUOMO, DOH COMMISSIONER ORDER FACILITIES TO INCREASE BED AVAILABILITY FOR COVID-19 PATIENTS

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and NYS Department of Health Commissioner Howard A. Zucker have ordered all medical facilities located in New York State— i.e. hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery practices, and diagnostic & treatment centers—to take certain measures aimed at increasing bed capacity for COVID-19 patients. An offi...
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  2705 Hits
2705 Hits
JUL
22
0

Sauchik & Giyaur, P.C. secures reversal of network termination of five providers

Sauchik & Giyaur, P.C. (the "Firm") recently secured reversal of network terminations for five providers, ensuring that the providers continued as participating providers. The individual providers, who were part of the same practice, had received abrupt network termination notices from a prominent insurance plan. The Firm, on behalf of the prov...
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  3551 Hits
3551 Hits
JAN
18
0

Medicaid Providers, Beware: OMIG Places Provider Compliance Programs Under Review

The NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General ("OMIG") has dramatically increased enforcement activity in connection with Medicaid provider compliance programs: OMIG is notifying providers that their compliance programs are being placed under review. Providers should take immediate action to avoid the prospect of serious sanctions, including but...
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  2888 Hits
2888 Hits
OCT
16
0

Medicare Appeals Backlog – Light at the End of the Tunnel?

The number of Medicare appeals cases pending to be heard by administrative law judges has been growing exponentially.  The backlog is now almost ten times larger than it was five years ago and is projected to reach two million by 2020 if no change is made.  The appeals process, as of now, takes at least three to four years, duri...
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  2129 Hits
2129 Hits
SEP
23
0

DOJ APPROVES CIGNA-EXPRESS SCRIPTS MERGER

This is the time for independent pharmacies to be actively preparing for the impact of the Cigna-ESI merger—and the ensuing Aetna-Caremark merger—if they have not already done so. The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has approved the proposed Cigna-Express Scripts merger, clearing a significant obstacle to Cigna's acquisition of...
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  2380 Hits
2380 Hits
SEP
04
0

HHS Echoes Importance of HIPAA Compliance for Closed Businesses

Recently, HHS reiterated that severe consequences can be imposed for HIPAA violations, regardless of whether a business is still operational. If HIPAA violations were committed, a business can be charged long after its doors close. Moreover, providers working with associates who shut down operations or went bankrupt are equally liable for HIPAA vio...
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  2627 Hits
2627 Hits
SEP
04
0

CMS Updates Final Adverse Actions to Be Reported

CMS has released a list of updated final adverse actions that need to be reported to CMS in a timely fashion. The list includes, but is not limited to, certain convictions, exclusions, and revocations, regardless of whether records are expunged.  Additionally, CMS revoked certain requirements of Medicare enrollment in an effort to reduce provi...
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  2403 Hits
2403 Hits
AUG
16
0

Compounding Pharmacies Under Scrutiny for Medicare Part D Billing Practices

OIG calls for "further scrutiny" of pharmacies and prescribers in connection with compounded drugs billed to Medicare Part D.   Pharmacies must be prepared to aggressively defend against this latest attack on the independent retail pharmacy industry. An explosive new report calls for "further scrutiny" of hundreds of pharmacies and prescr...
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  2573 Hits
2573 Hits
JUL
19
0

New York Court Decision Demonstrates Importance of Proper Audit Response

It is of utmost importance that Medicaid providers take prompt measures when under audit to avoid such consequences. Recently, the New York Court of Appeals upheld a recoupment of funds by the NYS Office of the Medicaid Inspector General ("OMIG") against a provider, rejecting the provider's claim that it was not sufficiently notified of the recoupm...
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  2378 Hits
2378 Hits
JUL
19
0

Can a Physician’s Medical Judgment be Basis for a False Claims Action? Appellate Court Rules Yes.

A doctor's certification or medical judgment regarding a certain treatment can be considered "false" if the treatment is not considered "reasonable and necessary" under the government's definition, even if the terms are not defined for the specific medical treatment. In a recent decision, United States ex rel. Polukoff v. St. Mark's Hospital ,...
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  2741 Hits
2741 Hits
JUL
02
0

Nationwide Crackdown Charges 601 Individuals with Over $2 Billion in Healthcare Fraud

In a sweeping crackdown that vastly exceeded investigations of years' past, the U.S. Department of Justice and Medicare Fraud Strike Force charged 601 individuals with over $2 billion in healthcare fraud. In Brooklyn and Long Island alone, numerous healthcare providers were charged with over a combined $163 million in healthcare fraud. The Medicare...
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  2495 Hits
2495 Hits
JUN
08
0

New York State Takes Action Against Abusive PBM Audits, Grants New Protections to Independent Pharmacies

The recently passed New York State budget bill including sweeping new protections for independent pharmacies facing PBM audits.  The bill, which amends the Public Health Law, requires PBMs, when conducting audits, to accept purchase invoices from a broader range of wholesalers and distributors.  This provision is notable as PBMs...
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  3269 Hits
3269 Hits
NOV
29
0

The Rising Cost of Employing Excluded Individuals

Healthcare providers are increasingly feeling the cost of employing excluded individuals.Indeed, over the past year, the number of enforcement actions taken against physician's offices, pharmacies and other entities employing excluded individuals have risen sharply. "Excluded individuals" are parties excluded from Federally-funded healthcare progra...
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  3299 Hits
3299 Hits
NOV
15
0

Under the Travel Act, Aggressive Federal Enforcement Against Providers Expands

Q.  When does a purely state criminal law-based matter transform into a federal felony prosecution? A.  When the Federal Travel Act (the "Travel Act") is implicated.Under the Act, a party who travels in interstate commerce or uses the mail or any facility in interstate commerce, with intent to promote or carry on "unlawful activities...
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  3179 Hits
3179 Hits
OCT
11
0

FEDERAL CRACKDOWN ON PRESCRIBERS OF COMPOUNDED MEDICATIONS

A recent health care fraud guilty plea by a physician has caught the attention of prescribing physicians and the broader industry surrounding compounded medications.Under the plea agreement in New Jersey District Court, the physician admitted to prescribing approximately $25 million worth of compounded medications that were either medically unneces...
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  3214 Hits
3214 Hits
SEP
26
0

COMPOUNDING PHARMACIES MAY SOON HAVE NEW MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

Compounding pharmacies, one of the fastest growing sectors in retail pharmacy, may soon be able to expand the market for their products in exchange for agreeing to be placed directly under federal oversight, according to U.S. Food & Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb. Currently, a sterile compounding pharmacy may&nbs...
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  3204 Hits
3204 Hits
SEP
21
0

PHARMACY COMPLIANCE UPDATE: GROWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

Membership programs are a common tool used by retail pharmacies to grow their business. Under this type of program, a pharmacy will give member patients certain benefits, usually taking the form of rebates, discounts, or coupons on in-store items, as a way of developing customer loyalty. As these member patients often fill prescriptions at the same...
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  3046 Hits
3046 Hits
JUL
14
0

Medicare Fraud Strike Force Announces $1.3 Billion Healthcare Fraud Takedown

In what is becoming an annual tradition, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, comprised of members from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Health and Human Services (more about which can be read here ), announced the latest "unprecedented" healthcare fraud takedown. The nationwide bust netted more than 412 individuals suspected of a c...
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  3276 Hits
3276 Hits