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Related News
Medicare claims were paid in names of dead providers; related issues cost $1B in 2009 - December 18, 2011Private contractors that are supposed to guard against Medicare fraud paid claims submitted in the names of dead providers or for unnecessary medical treatments, which were among problems estimated to cost more than $1 billion in 2009, according to an inspector general report released Friday....
2-year Medicare pay patch passes House but hits roadblock - December 18, 2011
The House has approved legislation that delays Medicare physician payment cuts until 2014, while providing 1% pay raises in 2012 and 2013. However, Senate Democratic leaders and the White House rejected the House measure based on several other provisions in the GOP bill, which was passed by a largely party-line vote of 234-193 on Dec. 13....
Fraud hunt expected to save Medicare, Medicaid $25 billion - December 18, 2011
Federal health investigations and other anti-fraud activities could produce $25 billion in Medicare and Medicaid savings in 2011, according to a November report from the Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General....
ICD10monitor Launches Groundbreaking, Live Roundtable on Fate of ICD-10 - December 16, 2011
ICD10monitor.com is hosting a groundbreaking live roundtable discussion with a panel of experts selected to analyze a recent decision by the American Medical Association (AMA) to make a bid to halt implementation of the ICD-10 coding system. "At the Crossroads: AMA's Impact on ICD-10" is scheduled to be held 10:30 a.m.-noon EST on Tuesday, Dec. 13. ...
12 Challenges and Opportunities for Hospitals in 2012 - December 16, 2011
The year ahead brings a presidential election, a change in leadership for CMS, value-based purchasing and other scheduled changes. Then, of course, there are the forces that ebb and flow, such as consolidation and market competition. All together, here are 12 for '12 - a dozen challenges, changes and opportunities facing hospitals this year....
New CMS program to assist physician ID theft victims - December 14, 2011
A physician who has been victimized by an identity thief now has a new federal option to restore his or her financial integrity and clear bad debts. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has created the provider victim validation/remediation initiative for physicians whose identification has been stolen and used to defraud federal health programs....
ICD-10 Coding Knowledge Assessment Tool Released - December 13, 2011
The ICD-10 Preparation Analyzer is a fast, easy way to test knowledge of the CM and PCS guidelines and identify knowledge gaps for physicians, coders and other healthcare staff. This tool is the latest in a series of training tools from HCCS designed to prepare healthcare personnel for the upcoming shift to the new ICD-10 coding system....
Docs Bill Insurer $99,750 for Ear Wax Removal - December 13, 2011
Aetna claims two doctors self-referred insured patients to their out-of-network hospital so it could charge dizzying fees, including "a bill for $99,750 for the removal of ear wax."...
Local Physician Gets 11 Years in Prison --- Again - December 13, 2011
Dr. Ira Klein, the local physician who was sentenced in 2007 to federal prison for defrauding insurance companies of more than $10 million, has once again appeared in federal court for a resentencing hearing, United States Attorney Kenneth Magidson announced today....
GOP senators chide Medicare over enrolled felons - December 12, 2011
Two Republican senators have questioned the agency overseeing the Medicare program about what it is doing to exclude convicted felons from billing for health care services....
Indiana doctors face challenge to medical liability cap - November 17, 2011
An appeals court has cleared the way for a lawsuit testing the constitutionality of the state's $1.25 million damages limit....
To gauge vendor's ICD-10 readiness, turn to its partners - November 17, 2011
Many hospital software application vendors aren't coding-savvy, so they rely on third parties to provide ICD-10 modules. That's according to Kelly Jorgensen, vice president of business development at VitalWare. His company developed VitalView, software that gives hospital IT leaders a dashboard view of their vendors' ICD-10 readiness....
Database allows consumers to check on doctors in Illinois - October 26, 2011
Consumers can now check up on thousands of doctors and chiropractors in Illinois, including accessing information about malpractice cases, thanks to a public database that went back online today. ...
Kernan Hospital faces $8.1 million lawsuit - October 26, 2011
The federal government has filed a lawsuit against Kernan Hospital seeking $8.1 million because of what is says was improper billing to the Medicare and Medicaid system....
Nation's Leading Seniors, Veterans, Advocacy Groups Ask Congress to Fight Fraud First - October 26, 2011
National organizations representing millions of older Americans, patients, veterans and Medicare beneficiaries today announced a new initiative – Fight Fraud First! – to collectively call on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to focus on eliminating fraud within the Medicare and Medicaid programs that wastes taxpayer dollars instead of considering harmful cuts....
Investigations find N.J. Medicaid spending, fraud detection are too lax - October 26, 2011
State Comptroller Matt Boxer released a report today showing that in 2009 and 2010 Horizon NJ Health only identified $188,207 in improper payments of the $1.3 billion it received from the government to pay claims, or less than one-tenth of one percent of the program's costs....
CMS: Count on lower reimbursement levels, tougher scrutiny of provider billing practices - October 26, 2011
A top long-term care official with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services systematically rejected common complaints and excuses regarding the $4 billion take-back by the federal government. She also warned of increased scrutiny by various federal agencies and authorities....
Meaningful Use Compliance: A Piece Of Cake? - October 24, 2011
The feds have already paid out $653 million in incentives to clinicians who've implemented electronic health records. For some providers, the work wasn't so hard after all....
Ex-medical coding director questions Prime's Medicare billing practices - October 24, 2011
Chuck Phelps went to work for Desert Valley Hospital as a medical coding specialist in 2006 and soon was promoted to a corporate position at Prime Healthcare Services. But the closer Phelps got to the top of the hospital chain, he said, the more evident it became that he would have to leave....
White House eliminates insurance program for long-term care - October 19, 2011
Because the insurance program had been projected to reduce the federal deficit by $86 billion over the next 10 years, terminating it complicates the nation's budget picture. It is now estimated that the health-care law will cut the deficit by $124 billion from 2012 to 2021, according to the Congressional Budget Office. ...
For Medicare plans, reaching for stars means more revenue - October 19, 2011
Nine Medicare Advantage plans scored top marks on the five-star government rating system for 2012, up from only three plans this year, according to new figures posted by Medicare on Wednesday. That's a small share of the 569 private Medicare plans, but it's a laurel much of the industry is now chasing. For the first time, Medicare plans will get big cash bonuses for higher scores, a new reward created by the 2010 federal health law....
OIG to study physicians who leave Medicare - October 19, 2011
The HHS Office of Inspector General announced the study along with dozens of others in its 2012 work plan. The office has 1,800 professionals who conduct audits and investigations to ferret out fraud, which can lead to civil penalties or administrative actions. The office also has inquiries into Medicare, Medicaid and public health programs to evaluate system performance....
HBMA Develops Standard Definitions for 5010 Readiness - October 19, 2011
The Healthcare Billing & Management Association (HBMA), a non-profit educational resource and advocacy group representing third-party medical billers and billing professionals, has developed standard definitions for 5010 readiness for providers, software vendors, clearinghouses and health plans in response to the inconsistency of definitions found between each entity. The association shared these definitions with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials in a letter, dated October 10, 2011. ...
ICD-10 And Meaningful Use Dominate AHIMA 2011 - October 19, 2011
Last week marked the 83rd annual American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) convention. This year's event was held in Salt Lake City, and attendance seemed a bit lighter this year than in years' past - perhaps the result of fiscal cautiousness given our struggling economy. However, one contingent of the AHIMA membership community was at the conference in full force - coders. ...
Two Doctors Among 10 Arrested In L.A.-Based OxyContin Ring - October 19, 2011
The 10 defendants are named in a federal indictment that describes a drug ring allegedly run out of the Lake Medical Group, a medical clinic where doctors wrote prescriptions for Medicare, Medi-Cal and uninsured patients who had no medical need for the powerful painkiller, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office....
Churchville hospice operator bilked Medicare out of $14 million - October 19, 2011
Matthew Kolodesh renovated his Northampton McMansion with money meant for the dying, according to the feds. He did it by duping Medicare, saying his hospice care business was aiding a bunch of people on their death beds, court documents show. But the taxpayer money really paid for a luxury car, his kid's college tuition and other expenses that have nothing to do with death, the U.S. Attorney's Office said....
Atlanta doctor gets prison for Medicare, Medicaid fraud - October 19, 2011
An Atlanta doctor who admitted filing more than $2 million in bogus Medicare and Medicaid claims, asserting he treated patients who turned out to be dead and others he never saw, was sentenced Wednesday to 1 year and 3 months in federal prison....
Survey Finds 70% of Hospitals and Health Systems Will Increase Number of Employed Doctors - October 13, 2011
A trade report this month sponsored by MedSynergies Inc. found 70% of responding national hospitals and health systems plan to employ more physicians in the next 12 to 36 months. The HealthLeaders Media Hospital-Physician Alignment survey also saw full employment trump the long-dominant "volunteer medical staff" as the top medical staff model, evidencing momentum in the move towards hospital-physician alignment. ...
Medical Liability Monitor's 2011 Rate Survey Indicates a Medical Malpractice Insurance Soft Market Twice as Long, Twice as Deep as Any Previous - October 13, 2011
Since 1991, Medical Liability Monitor-an independent, industry newsletter-has been surveying the leading providers of medical professional liability insurance (MPLI) for its annual rate report. This year's survey reports rates from more than 40 companies that represent as much as 75 percent of the physician's malpractice insurance market. It is the most comprehensive report on MPLI premium rates available. ...
Owner of Houston Health Care Company Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud - October 13, 2011
The owner and operator of a Houston durable medical equipment (DME) company was sentenced yesterday in Houston federal court to 33 months in prison for his role in a Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Department of Justice, the FBI and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ...
Hospice owner charged with Medicare fraud in Philadelphia - October 13, 2011
A Philadelphia hospice owner and Bucks County resident was charged Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office Wednesday with conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program of more than $14 million....
'Worst' Hospitals Treat Much Higher Shares Of Minority And Poor Patients - October 13, 2011
The nation's 178 "worst" hospitals-the lowest-quality, highest-cost institutions-care for more than twice the proportion of elderly minority and poor patients as the nation's 122 "best" hospitals, where costs are lowest and quality highest. What's more, the patients at the worst institutions are more likely than patients elsewhere to die of certain conditions, such as heart attacks and pneumonia. And these hospitals and their patients may be the ones most at risk under new Medicare payment arrangements that could cut payments to hospitals that fail to meet quality metrics....
SourceHOV Teams with 3M to Provide Outsourced Coding Solution - October 13, 2011
SourceHOV, LLC, a leading provider of Business Process Solutions and Knowledge Process Outsourcing, has signed an agreement with 3M Health Information Systems to make its outsourced coding resources, provided through SourceHOV's subsidiary LexiCode Corporation, available with 3M's complete suite of ICD-10 products and services. ...
Edifecs Introduces the Healthcare Industry's First Product-Based Testing Solution for ICD-10 - October 13, 2011
While most testing solutions focus on a resource-intensive consulting services approach, Edifecs ICD-10 Testing enables healthcare organizations to automate much of their ICD-10 testing, which can reduce the time and resources needed for testing, improve how well healthcare organizations can predict operational and financial results, and more effectively integrate trading partners into the testing process. ...
Medicare tests monthly incentives for innovative primary care - October 10, 2011
Medicare will partner with private insurers to offer physicians patient management fees and the opportunity to share savings under a primary care payment initiative led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services....
Tackling the Business Impact of ICD-10 – An Edifecs Webinar - October 10, 2011
In this complimentary webinar, Edifecs healthcare consulting expert Kristine Weinberger will discuss effective strategies for mitigating ICD-10 transition risks, creating more accurate code maps and overcoming testing and implementation challenges....
5 Reasons to Take ICD-10 Seriously Today - October 10, 2011
At first glance, the codes within ICD-10 seem almost too detailed. You were bitten by a macaw in your friend's garage and now require medical attention? Documented. However, ICD-10's specificity should be taken seriously, just as seriously as its implementation deadline of Oct. 1, 2013....
Agencies fight Medicaid fraud, return millions annually to program - October 10, 2011
Medicaid fraud is a growing problem here and around the country, and two different Nevada agencies are tasked with investigating cases and returning ill-gotten taxpayer dollars to the program....
Medicaid claims audits to begin in January - October 10, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Sept. 14 released a final rule detailing implementation of the Medicaid Recovery Audit Contractor program, based on a similar Medicare program in operation nationwide. The Medicare RACs have come under fire from physicians for what doctors have termed aggressive auditing tactics, prompting some critics to label them "bounty hunters."...
Medical Specialists Seeks Innovative Ways to Increase Patient Interaction by Utilizing Electronic Medical Record Technology - October 6, 2011
Much has been said and written about electronic medical records (EMRs) depersonalizing the doctor patient relationship, as doctors spend much of a visit typing on a screen. However, when Medical Specialists implemented the EMR in its clinics and worked toward meeting the industry standard of meaningful use, President and CEO, Alexander Stemer, MD, also sought ways to merge the company's various forms of advanced technology to achieve better care and better patient interaction....
MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society to Address ICD-10 Transition in Continuing Medical Education - October 6, 2011
Practice Management Institute® and MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society will present a CME-approved workshop on October 6 to prepare physicians and medical coding staff for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10-CM....
Precyse Offers Electronic Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Through Natural Language Comprehension-Driven Coding Solution - October 3, 2011
Precyse, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) technology and services, is revolutionizing Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) initiatives for its healthcare provider clients through precyseCDI™, a tool that enables integrated CDI with coding workflow and electronically facilitates identification of gaps and areas for improvement in clinical documentation....
Obama Medicare reforms on margins - October 3, 2011
President Obama proposed enough health care savings in his debt plan last week to delay Medicare's looming insolvency by three years, but stopped short of the major reforms all sides say are needed to shore up the program for the long term - and mostly ignored the changes his own deficit commission suggested last year....
Elsevier / MC Strategies Collaborates With Care Communications, Inc., to Offer Complete ICD-10 Solution to Healthcare Organizations - September 30, 2011
Elsevier / MC Strategies, a pioneer in providing eLearning solutions to more than 1,300 healthcare organizations, today announced its collaboration with Care Communications, a leader in Health Information Management (HIM) consulting. The result is a comprehensive resource for an ICD-10 transition, from planning through implementation and beyond....
Massachusetts taxpayers defrauded of about $10 million in Medicaid fraud - September 30, 2011
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley will announce 118 criminal indictments against 10 individuals in connection with four Medicaid fraud cases. The AG says taxpayers and the Massachusetts Medicaid Program, also known as MassHealth, were defrauded of about $10 million....
Career Step Medical Coding and Billing Earns AHIMA Approval - September 29, 2011
Career Step, a leading online school, is proud to announce that its Inpatient and Outpatient Medical Coding and Billing program has been added to the list of medical coding education programs approved by American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)....
Medicare Tests Alternative To Fraud-Fighting Smart Card - September 29, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is already looking at an alternative to the smart card system that new Congressional bills are proposing that are designed to fight Medicare fraud. Unlike the system envisioned in this legislation, which would require a new data network dedicated to Medicare, the pilot underway in Indianapolis uses magnetic-stripe cards that can be read by conventional credit-card terminals....
One Frustrated Florida County Tackles Auto Insurance Fraud On Its Own - September 29, 2011
One county in Florida has decided not to wait on state lawmakers' promise to address the insurance fraud and fix the state's automobile no-fault law. It has passed its own ordinance to crack down on fraudulent medical clinics....
Medicare pay-for-performance plan criticized over early launch - September 29, 2011
The health system reform law requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to use a value-based payment modifier -- another term for pay-for-performance -- for some physicians starting in 2015. The modifier would adjust payments to physicians based on the quality of care they provide and how much cost they incur relative to their peers during the course of a reporting period, CMS said....
New Assessment Tool Measures Readiness for ICD-10 - September 28, 2011
Physicians, coders, office managers, consultants, and others have been tasked with developing a roadmap for ICD-10 integration within their organizations, and many don't know where to begin. Contexo University has developed a tool that makes preparation and study of the ICD-10 guidelines easy, and allows medical professionals to assess their readiness for ICD-10 implementation – the ICD-10 Preparation Analyzer. ...
Hospitals Risk Lower U.S. Payments for Failing to Reduce Repeat Patients - September 28, 2011
The report tracked 10.7 million discharges at 1,925 hospitals from 2004 to 2009 and found that readmissions of elderly patients within 30 days of a hospital stay have remained the same or increased. Earlier work by the Lebanon, New Hampshire-based research group influenced strategies in President Barack Obama's 2010 health-care overhaul. ...
Data on Bad Docs Now a Little Less Available - September 28, 2011
Until recently, the data bank also has protected patients in another way: by helping journalists and the public learn about physician's pasts, both in terms of malfeasance resulting in disciplinary action and in terms of malpractice suits. That's because the data bank also has a public use file that is accessible by the public -- although in this part of the data bank, individual physicians are not readily identifiable. ...
Elsevier / MC Strategies Introduces Additional Resources to its ICD-10 Roadmap, Helping Healthcare Organizations Prepare for October 2013 - September 25, 2011
Elsevier / MC Strategies, a pioneer in providing eLearning solutions to more than 1,300 healthcare organizations, today announced the addition of a white paper, "Two Years and Counting", as well as updates to its eBook, A Guide to Education and Training for ICD-10 Implementation, to its ICD-10 Roadmap....
Physician report cards must give correct grades - September 25, 2011
Physicians are all for giving patients the best and most complete information about their medical options and letting them choose the doctors who are right for them. But if patients are given false choices based on faulty data, it's not just a wasted opportunity -- it's a recipe for genuine harm....
Medicare Smartcards Aim To Thwart Fraud, Waste - September 22, 2011
A small but notably bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced antifraud legislation that would create smartcards for Medicare enrollees and providers, a move that sponsors say could save $30 billion a year. ...
One in 20 patients will contract a serious hospital infection - September 22, 2011
Her C-section wound had become infected with Group A strep, a bacterium often found in the throat and on the skin that usually causes strep throat or impetigo, at worst. In rare cases, it can invade the blood, muscle or lungs and cause severe disease such as necrotizing fasciitis, the so-called flesh-eating bacteria....
President Obama calls for $320 billion in health care cuts - September 21, 2011
President Barack Obama's deficit reduction plan, announced last night in a Rose Garden speech, includes $320 billion slashed from Medicare and Medicaid and increased costs for beneficiaries. ...
Lawsuit claims illegal bonuses bumped up doctors' pay at Daytona hospital - September 21, 2011
Some of the highest-paid physicians at Halifax Health are at the heart of a federal lawsuit that claims the area's largest health system defrauded Medicare of tens of millions of dollars. The whistleblower suit claims one neurosurgeon at the public hospital -- its top earner, Federico Vinas -- received $1.89 million in total compensation in 2008, including incentives. ...
Hot Topics that Coders and Medical Office Staff Need to Know - September 21, 2011
In today's medical office, it is crucial for coders and office staff to stay updated on the latest code changes, new advances, industry news and more. Over 60,000 medical office staff and coders receive the Coder's Voice from Contexo Media, which includes tools, tips and teasers for the coding and billing community....
First, Do No Harm - September 18, 2011
Nearly 250,000 doctors age 55 and over are facing the same choice-take on time-consuming obligations to document quality care and the real possibility of cuts in what the government pays them if they slip up, or just get out before penalties kick in. These older practitioners make up 32 percent of the physician workforce, according to the American Medical Association's data from 2009, the most recent year available....
Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) Debuts New Healthcare Education and Career Resource Center Online - September 18, 2011
With the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projecting strong healthcare employment growth, many individuals are exploring healthcare education as a means to break into or advance within the allied health field. Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) is pleased to introduce a new healthcare education and career resource center designed to help prospective students make informed decisions regarding their healthcare training and employment options....
Medicare Taps 3M For ICD-10 Conversion - September 16, 2011
3M, which originally designed the ICD-10 Procedure Coding System, will help the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) prep its computer systems for ICD-10 coding. ...
New Online Training Library for ICD-10 Transition - September 16, 2011
This eLearning library addresses the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) mandate for all healthcare providers to transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10 by October, 2013. The courses are being offered in partnership with Contexo Media, a division of Access Intelligence, and are available for delivery today through HCCS. ...
Maxim Healthcare settles $150M fraud case with federal government - September 12, 2011
Staffing company Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. has entered into a $150 million settlement with the federal government after a five-year investigation found the company had submitted claims for services it did not perform and operated offices that were not properly licensed....
Hardship waivers last chance to avoid Medicare e-prescribing penalty - September 12, 2011
An estimated 100,000 physicians and other health professionals at risk for being hit with Medicare electronic prescribing program penalties next year have until Nov. 1 to report a hardship exemption and give the Medicare agency a reason why they should not have their pay reduced in 2012....
Medicare turning retirees into new "medical tourists" - September 11, 2011
Most people don't make the connection among cuts in Medicare physician payments, the rising cost of medical care and their own welfare. They think that Medicare will be there for them when the time comes, or as it has been since they turned 65. And for many, that will be true....
Staten Island doctor among 91 nabbed in national Medicare bilk - September 11, 2011
A Staten Island doctor is among 91 people -- including physicians and other medical professionals -- charged with participating in fraudulent Medicare billing schemes nationwide, to the tune of $295 million....
ICD-10: Will It Kill a Hospital's Productivity? - September 11, 2011
Converting to ICD-10 can be viewed as a homework project in two different ways: Some hospitals may want to complete it early to put their minds in a state of relative ease, while other hospitals may be putting it off until the 11th hour, dreading the very thought of picking up the pencil and starting the assignment. ...
Herding Nerds: 5 project management tips for ICD-10 implementation - September 11, 2011
To successfully implement ICD-10 coding in your organization, you will need some strong project management skills. To successfully implement ICD-10 coding in your organization, you will need some strong project management skills....
Scores charged in massive healthcare fraud scams - September 10, 2011
Ninety-one suspects, including doctors and nurses, have been charged in connection with a new rash of healthcare fraud schemes aimed at bilking the government out of about $295 million, U.S. authorities said on Wednesday....
IOD to Enter Testing Phase in CMS esMD Pilot Program - September 10, 2011
IOD Incorporated, a leading provider of integrated HIM solutions to hospitals, IDNs, healthcare systems and clinics, today announced it will enter the testing phase of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pilot program for the Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD)....
Medical Billing Company Trainer Discusses Medical Terminology for ICD-10 at Local AAPC Chapter - September 10, 2011
Katie Jennings from Capture Billing will be Discussing Why Medical Terminology is Important for ICD-10 at the Leesburg, Virginia Chapter of American Academy of Professional Coders on September 7, 2011...
Hospitals put out 'Help Wanted' sign for IT personnel - September 9, 2011
While stubbornly high unemployment continues to drag on the rest of the economy, the healthcare industry can't seem to find enough qualified people to fill its information technology needs. Unlike other sectors where hiring remains muted, health systems are crying out for talent in IT, information management and coding, employment specialists say....
Can One Medical Group Succeed As A New Model For Physician Practice Management? - September 9, 2011
The San Francisco-based company operates thirteen primary care physician practices in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., with two more opening by November. Last week, it raised $20 million from Maverick Capital, Benchmark, Oak Investment Partners and DAG Ventures, bringing the total amount of money raised to $46.5 million. ...
Colorado Medicaid not meeting federal standards, audit finds - September 9, 2011
Colorado's Medicaid program has not met federal timeliness standards for determining and redetermining applicants' eligibility, among other lapses, according to a federal audit. But state officials and the audit both note the state already has begun addressing many of these deficiencies....
AHIMA, ACMCS co-host clinical coding assembly - September 9, 2011
In a move to help address the impending U.S. transition to ICD-10, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the American College of Medical Coding Specialists (ACMCS) have joined forces to present a two-day Clinical Coding Meeting, Oct. 1-2 in Salt Lake City, preceding the 2011 AHIMA Convention & Exhibit which runs through Oct. 6, also at the Salt Lake City Convention Center....
Corporate Whistle Blower Center Urges Medical Device-Drug & Heathcare Insiders To Step Up For Huge Rewards If They Can Prove Over Utilization & Medica - September 6, 2011
The group says, "There are huge federal rewards for pharmaceutical, medical device, or healthcare insiders, who possess significant proof of Medicare fraud, or overbilling. One area we are very focused on is big drug companies, or medical device makers essentially paying off physicians to use their products. As opposed to giving them cash under the table, big drug, or big medical device makers turn physicians into quote unquote consultants."...
Use of Health Management Consultants Draws Fire - September 6, 2011
The role consultants play at County Health is the object of strong criticism from doctors, nurses and other staff members who say they fear that consultants driven by the bottom line are at odds with the system's obligation to serve Cook County's neediest patients. Hundreds of front-line staff members have been laid off in the last two years. ...
Hospital Monopolies: The Biggest Driver of Health Costs That Nobody Talks About - August 23, 2011
The debate about health-care reform, on both the Left and the Right, revolves almost entirely around changing the way we pay for health care. Progressives advocate government-run, single-payer monopsonies, whereas conservatives advocate consumer choice among private insurers....
Pain clinics' unscrupulous operators give good doctors a bad rap - August 23, 2011
For years, pain clinics that knowingly overprescribe highly addictive painkillers were allowed to operate in Florida, attracting addicts and drug dealers alike, lawmakers, police and pain management specialists say....
Aetna, Genesis HealthCare Take Aim at Preventing Hospital Readmissions - August 23, 2011
Aetna and Genesis HealthCare, a leading provider of post-acute nursing and rehabilitation services, have launched a series of process and care improvements designed to help patients recover more easily and avoid health issues that often send them back to the hospital....
Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting Introduces Suite of ICD-10 Compliance Services - August 23, 2011
Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting, Inc., a national leader in consulting to hospitals, medical groups, payers and other healthcare entities, today announced a comprehensive suite of services designed to help payers and providers comply with the implementation of ICD-10. ...
Big Changes Ahead: Medicare IPPS 2012 and What It Means for Hospitals - August 12, 2011
Medicare and hospitals go hand in hand. Hospital payments account for the greatest share of the federal program's spending, and Medicare is the largest payor for hospital services, comprising a significant portion of most hospitals' revenue. ...
Hearing highlights staggering cost of improper Medicare payments - August 12, 2011
The federal government wasted almost $48 billion in improper payments in Medicare last year, the most of any government program, federal officials testified Thursday....
Medical Societies Seek Medicare e-Prescribing Changes - August 8, 2011
In its proposed rule making changes to the Medicare electronic prescribing incentive program, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is not giving physicians enough time to understand and comply with "last minute modifications" before a 1 percent reimbursement penalty for non-compliance begins in 2012, according to the American Medical Association and 91 other medical societies....
MGMA: Proposed 'accounting of disclosures' rule too burdensome - August 8, 2011
The Medical Group Management Association is calling on the Department of Health and Human Services to withdraw its proposed HIPAA "accounting of disclosures" rule, due to the burden it would put on practices to provide such a report – and the possibility that it might deter them from implementing new technology. ...
ICD-10 Is Gonna Cost Me How Much? - August 1, 2011
A new Intelligence Report from HealthLeaders Media, ICD-10 Puts Revenue at Risk, backs that thesis: 84% have started their ICD-10 projects. Meanwhile, less than a third (29%) have moved beyond the assessment phase into implementation. ...
The Bottom Line Is That Medicare Must Be Cut - August 1, 2011
Healthcare expenses related to Medicare and Medicaid have to be reduced. If they are, then there will be ample scope to increase spending for defense, education, law enforcement, transportation, infrastructure and energy concludes the 100-year review of USA Inc. by a group of financial experts headed by Paul Volcker, Michael Bloomberg and George Schultz....
Walgreens Settles Civil Suit Over Double-Billing Medicaid, Medicare For Prescription Drugs - July 31, 2011
Walgreens settled a civil lawsuit Wednesday with state and federal officials, agreeing to pay $140,000 to resolve allegations that it fraudulently billed Medicaid and the Connecticut ConnPACE Program for prescription drugs....
HLI Launches Latest Provider Friendly Terminology Solution Upgrade - July 31, 2011
Health Language, Inc. ® (HLI), the global leader in medical terminology management, today announced that it has expanded its provider friendly technology (PFT) solution to over 120,000 terms in addition to the existing terms used by SNOMED-CT and ICD....
Medical Marijuana: Starting a Pot Business - July 31, 2011
In case working at Goldman Sachs or McKinsey doesn't work out, MBAs are welcome to take their management and business skills and head west, to the burgeoning market of… marijuana dispensaries....
CompTIA Introduces Healthcare IT Technician Certificate - July 31, 2011
A new professional credential aimed at information technology (IT) professionals who install, manage and troubleshoot electronic health records systems for the nation's healthcare providers is now available from CompTIA, the non-profit trade association for the IT industry. ...
ICD-10 Jangles Financial Leaders' Nerves - July 30, 2011
Nearly half of all financial leaders who took the recently released HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Report, ICD-10 Puts Revenue at Risk, anticipate a revenue loss of some kind from ICD-10. Even more salient: They anticipate losing margin over the next few years....
CMS Employs New Fraud-Fighting Tool - July 30, 2011
In an effort to combat Medicare fraud that cost at least $49 billion in the last fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on July 1 began using new technology to stop fraudulent payments....
Health Care, Medicare Fraud: Cuba Becomes Haven for White-Collar Criminals - July 30, 2011
Cuba has become the destination of choice for some of the fugitives from South Florida, authorities say. The U.S. Department of Justice believes that dozens have fled to the island nation, according to an agency letter....
Corporate Whistle Blower Center Urges Any Insider Working For A Federal Contractor To Step Forward For Huge Rewards If They Have Proof Of Major Over B - July 30, 2011
The Corporate Whistle Blower Center is one of the premier whistleblower advocates in the United States, and the group is aggressively expanding its initiatives designed to encourage insiders, or employees to cash in on federal whistleblower programs, provided they have substantial proof, and provided the fraud, or over billing is in the millions of dollars....
Edifecs Hosts Webinar on New Medicare Advantage Encounter Reporting Requirements - July 27, 2011
Edifecs, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare software solutions, is hosting a public webinar to help healthcare industry professionals navigate the increasingly complicated Medicare Advantage Encounter Reporting requirements that will take effect January 3, 2012. The webinar is free and scheduled for July 29, 2011, at 9:00AM PDT / Noon EDT....
More Democrats join GOP against Medicare cost-control board - July 27, 2011
An effort to kill a cost-control board for the Medicare program before it gets off the ground appears to be gaining some momentum on Capitol Hill....
MGMA Survey Indicates Crucial Need for HIS Certified Coders - July 27, 2011
A June Survey from the Medical Group Management Association has indicated an alarming need for professional, certified HIS coders in order to meet the 5010 protocol ultimately required for implementation of new ICD-10 codes....
CMS partners to move beyond 'pay and chase' anti-fraud efforts - July 24, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revealed intentions to tap predictive modeling to root out Medicare fraud last month, and now has announced the technology and vendors that will make that happen....
CMS to Host ICD-10 Implementation Strategies Call - July 24, 2011
Is your office preparing for a smooth transition to ICD-10 on Oct. 1, 2013? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a National Provider Call on "ICD-10 Implementation Strategies for Physicians" on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, from 1 - 3 p.m. ET. ...
Substitute justice blasts medical malpractice ruling - July 23, 2011
A circuit court judge filling in on the state Supreme Court justice has blasted the high court's ruling last month to uphold a law that caps jury awards on medical malpractice cases....
HHS Rules New Hampshire Owes Medicaid $35M - July 23, 2011
The Departmental Appeals Board of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has ruled that New Hampshire owes Medicaid $35 million in Medicaid funds that were improperly used in 2004, according to a Union Leader report....
More Than 200 Representatives and 45 Senators Urging CMS to Lower Medicare Inpatient Coding Offset - July 23, 2011
Two hundred and nineteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives and 45 U.S. Senators signed letters this week urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to lessen the "coding offset" put forward in its federal fiscal year (FFY) 2012 Medicare inpatient hospital Prospective Payment System (IPPS) rule....
Planning For ICD-10 - July 23, 2011
While that date seems far away, your practice should be in the process of preparing for this change. ICD-10 includes 69,099 diagnosis codes compared to only 14,315 ICD-9 codes. This 5 fold expansion of codes will require more specific diagnosis, supporting documentation and care targeted to the diagnosis. ...
Verizon Teams With Northrop Grumman to Provide Fraud Management Platform to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - July 23, 2011
As part of a Northrop Grumman-led team, Verizon is providing advanced technology to help the federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program improve its detection and prevention of fraud and waste. ...
CMS Proposes to Ease E-Prescribing Requirements for Physicians - July 23, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced a plan to make it easier for physicians to comply with the agency's e-prescribing imperative, which will penalize physicians starting in 2012 for not electronically transmitting their Medicare patients' prescriptions to pharmacies....
Meeting the Deadline: A Timeline for Hospitals' ICD-10 Transition - July 22, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has set a deadline for implementation of ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2013, which suggests hospitals should create a specific timeline for this transition. Developing a timeline can help hospitals budget and plan for system upgrades, training and testing....
How Investors Profit From Ailing Hospitals - July 22, 2011
At a time when healthcare costs are under attack and many hospitals are struggling to survive, it seems curious such sophisticated investors would be entering or expanding their presence in the hospital market....
Hospital hack exposes more than 2,000 patient records - July 22, 2011
An unguarded Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center computer is hacked by a computer virus that gets away with more than 2,000 patient records before being shut down by hospital staff....
Consumer Watchdog To Obama on - July 21, 2011
A deficit reduction plan floated Tuesday by the "Gang of Six" senators would ask the Judiciary committee to find an "unspecified" amount of savings from medical malpractice reform, presumably by limiting the legal rights of patients injured by medical negligence....
24% of Hospital Executives Extremely Concerned About Costs of Full Transition to EMRs - July 21, 2011
Twenty-four percent of hospital executives are extremely concerned about the costs associated with making a full transition to electronic medical records, according to a survey in U.S. News & World Report. ...
AMA Puts Coding Resources Online, for a Fee - July 21, 2011
The American Medical Association now offers Web-based versions of many of its coding applications and services for an annual subscription fee....
AAPC Physician Services Announces Medical Compliance Toolkit - July 21, 2011
AAPC Physician Services (www.aapcps.com) recently announced its Medical Office Compliance Toolkit to help busy medical practices simplify adherence to increasingly complicated compliance requirements....
Five people from Hudson and Bergen counties imprisoned for roles in prescription drug ring - July 21, 2011
According to state Acting Insurance Fraud Prosector Chillemi, the five sentenced ton Monday were charged as a result of Operation MedScam, an investigation by the Jersey City police Special Investigation Unit and the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit....
North Carolina governor vetoes medical malpractice reform bill - July 20, 2011
In a stunning defeat for Republican legislators, North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue (D- N.C.) vetoed Senate Bill 33, a medical malpractice reform bill that would have capped noneconomic damages at $500,000 regardless of injury. ...
The Reading Hospital Partners with PivotHealth for Physician Practice Management Services - July 20, 2011
Under this three-year management contract, PivotHealth will place a highly experienced, senior-level practice management team on site to lead the day-to-day business operations of these unique physician enterprises. PivotHealth will also provide additional personnel to assist in specific operational initiatives....
New Report Suggests that Lap Band Surgery Covers its Own Costs in Two Years - July 20, 2011
By being safe, minimally invasive, and extremely effective, the Lap Band has become one of the most accessible means for obese individuals with a BMI of 35 or higher to shed their excess weight and lead healthier lives. While some health insurance policies provide full coverage for the Lap Band for qualifying patients, new reports suggest that the up front price of the procedure is much less expensive compared to the ongoing medical costs of treating obesity's co-morbidities for years on end...
WA Oncologist Indicted in $1.7M Medicare Fraud Scheme - July 20, 2011
A Lakewood, WA oncologist and his wife face 20 counts of healthcare fraud and related charges for an alleged scheme to overbill Medicare and other government and private health plans by about $1.7 million for larger amounts of medicine than were delivered to patients....
ICD-10: Revenue Losses Loom - July 20, 2011
With mounting mandates and competing priorities, many leaders have yet to focus on the ICD-10 directive, and just 3% of respondents in the new HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Report, ICD-10 Puts Revenue at Risk, feel they are ready to make the transition. ...
Federal Budget Battle Won't Threaten 'Meaningful Use' Dollars - July 19, 2011
Despite threats from fiscal conservatives to withdraw unspent money from President Obama's stimulus legislation, it is highly unlikely that Congress will cut off future funding of Medicare and Medicaid subsidies for Meaningful Use (MU) of electronic health records, according to a key health IT public policy expert. ...
Make Patient Safety Goals Part Of Meaningful Use - July 19, 2011
A proposal to include the 2011 National Patient Safety Goals in future MU criteria and certification requirements for electronic health records has the support of the EHR Association....
Miami Patient Recruiter Gets 77 Months for $9 Million Medicare Fraud Scam in Detroit - July 19, 2011
Miami resident Reynel Betancourt, 51, was sentenced today to 77 months in prison for his participation in a $9 million Medicare fraud scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS)....
How hospitals can prepare for next phase of ICD-10 transition - July 19, 2011
As Phase 1 of ICD-10 transition comes to a close, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is helping hospitals complete the next stage with its Top 10 list of Phase 2 implementation....
Medical coders bracing for disruption, high demand - July 19, 2011
While ICD-10 implementation is a major change for medical coders, it's not the only one. There are three significant forces converging on medical coding:...
Health care players decry cuts pitched in Washington - July 15, 2011
While members of the hastily assembled coalition said they were still tracking fast-changing budget talks in Washington, D.C., some estimated the cuts being contemplated could drain $1 billion to $3 billion in annual health care funding from the state's $30 billion budget, hurting everyone from the poor and elderly to doctors-in-training at teaching hospitals....
Four indicted in $17 Million Insurance Over-billing - July 14, 2011
A neurologist, radiologist and two co-defendants were indicted in May, 2011 in Orange County, Calif. for their alleged involvement in a $17 million workers' compensation insurance over-billing scheme. According to the Orange County District Attorney's Office, issued May 11, 2001, the charges are part of an effort to wipe out fraudulent medical billing practices....
Systems designed to catch billions of dollars in Medicare, Medicaid fraud inadequate - July 14, 2011
The federal government's systems for analyzing Medicare and Medicaid data for possible fraud are inadequate and underused, making it more difficult to detect the billions of dollars in fraudulent claims paid out each year, according to a report released Tuesday....
CMS to Offer National Provider Call - July 14, 2011
CMS will host a national provider call on "The ABCs of the Initial Preventive Physical Examination and Annual Wellness Visit" on Thursday, July 21, 1:30 to 3 p.m. ET. Subject matter experts will discuss basic information about each benefit, when to perform these services, and coding and billing requirements; a question and answer session will follow the presentations. ...
Amerinet and Atigeo Partner to Provide Breakthrough ICD-10 Coding Solutions - July 14, 2011
Amerinet Inc., a national healthcare solutions organization, and Atigeo™, a compassionate technology company delivering revolutionary semantic software, announce a new contract agreement to provide customized healthcare solutions spanning clinical decision-making, research and development, improved patient care, and a reduction in overall healthcare costs for Amerinet's 54,000-plus provider member network. ...
OptumInsight's LifeCode(R) Natural Language Processing Technology Receives U.S. Patent - July 14, 2011
OptumInsight's LifeCode(R) Natural Language Processing technology, which powers its computer-assisted coding software, has received a 2011 U.S. Patent as the coding industry's first natural language processing (NLP) engine to accurately interpret the meaning and context of medical terminology in electronic health records (EHR). ...
Career Step and YES HIM Consulting, Inc. Launch The ICD-10 Solution - July 13, 2011
Career Step and YES HIM Consulting, Inc. have announced the launch of their joint ICD-10 training program, The ICD-10 Solution, designed to help organizations train their employees on the changes required by the mandated October 2013 transition to ICD-10 codes. ...
Avoid the 1% e-Prescribing Penalty! - July 13, 2011
The Federal Government's commitment to advancing healthcare IT is seen in its "carrot and stick" approach. Now, for the first time, physicians who are not yet e-prescribing are feeling the "stick" end of the equation....
WPC Services Launches Time-Critical "5010 Check-Up" Program to Help Providers Meet Compliance - July 13, 2011
WPC Services, a full-service healthcare technology and business consulting subsidiary of Washington Publishing Company (WPC), today announced the launch of "5010 Check-Up," an affordable program to help hospitals and health systems evaluate immediately their HIPAA 5010 conversion progress, identify business problems and make changes before the end of the year....
Former Hospital CFO Sentenced to Federal Prison - July 12, 2011
A former chief financial officer who pleaded guilty to bilking about $200,000 from hospitals in Ohio and Connecticut was sentenced Monday to a maximum 33 months in a federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution....
15 HCAHPS Buzzwords Every Provider Should Know - July 12, 2011
The value-based purchasing sweepstakes race is on. It's hospital against hospital in a national contest to see which acute care teams can please their patients the most on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey....
Medicare Will Expand Coverage For Telehealth - July 12, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changing how it defines telehealth services that may be eligible for Medicare coverage. But it's unclear how far the agency will go in expanding such coverage. ...
U.S. to clarify how insurance exchanges will work - July 11, 2011
States deciding whether to set up health insurance exchanges will get more information on Monday when the Obama administration reveals more on how these complex marketplaces will work....
Part-time doctors shaking up small practices - July 11, 2011
Increasing numbers of physicians are seeking part-time positions with flexible hours, resulting in higher turnover rates for some small practices that do not adjust to the trend and challenges for those that do....
Why HHS abandoned "mystery shopper" study - July 11, 2011
A proposed initiative using so-called mystery shoppers to determine the level of access to primary care physicians across the country has been put on hold indefinitely following scrutiny of the proposal....
Doctors Must Properly Supervise Physician Assistants, Chicago Medical Malpractice Lawyer Warns - July 11, 2011
The majority of emergency room doctors feel confident that physician assistants do not increase the likelihood of medical malpractice claims, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants....
Surgeon wants probation cut back so he can resume practice - July 11, 2011
Kabins' felony conviction has thrown up roadblocks to his practicing medicine. Hospitals have yanked his privileges. Insurance companies have dropped him as a provider. The federal government has banned him from practice that involves any government programs, including Medicare and Medicaid. He can't work in military or veterans hospitals....
UCLA Health Fined $865,500 for Privacy Violations - July 11, 2011
The UCLA Health System in Los Angeles will pay a $865,500 fine, known as a "resolution agreement," and implement a three-year corrective action plan to improve its privacy and security protections following a settlement with the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights, which enforces the HIPAA privacy and security rules....
Data Mining as an Audit Tool - July 11, 2011
Data mining is both an art and science. Roughly stated, the purpose is to extract useful information from data. Data mining has been used for many years and in a number of different ways, however it is only recently, with the advent of more powerful computers and more powerful software languages, that the practice has made significant gains in popularity - particularly when it comes to mining large databases....
Free HIPAA Compliance Secure Web Email is Available by HealthCollaborate - July 11, 2011
Health Business Intelligence Corp (Health BI) announces the availability of secure web email for health care professionals and patients on HealthCollaborate. HealthCollaborate secure web email enables health care organizations to securely send and receive messages with Patient Information attachments. ...
6 Tactics to Prepare for ICD-10 - July 11, 2011
Rosalind Richmond, CCS, interim coding compliance officer for Genascis, Raemerie Jimenez, director of education for AAPC, and Cyndee Weston, CPC, CMC, CMRS, executive director of the American Medical Billing Association, discuss six ways facilities can start preparing for ICD-10 implementation. ...
Partnership Between CodeitRightOnline and DecisionHealth Adds Valuable Enhancement to Software - July 11, 2011
The robust and user-friendly application, CodeitRightOnline, announces a new valuable add-on through a new relationship with DecisionHealth. The add-on, DecisionHealth's Coding Knowledgebase will allow users to find their codes and get expert advice all in one place. ...
3M Launches Web-based ICD-10 Training - July 11, 2011
The program's 22 web-based training modules leverage nearly 30 years of 3M coding experience and the know-how of more than 100 credentialed 3M coding experts to prepare coders, documentation improvement specialists and other essential hospital staff for the complexities of ICD-10 coding and documentation....
Web-based Tools Give Coding Students a Competitive Edge - July 11, 2011
Using the same user-friendly online medical coding and billing application available in the market today through CodeitRightOnline, the Curriculum version presents all of the essential coding information that students need. ...
Mass. hospitals may lose $322m - July 8, 2011
Massachusetts teaching hospitals would lose $322 million, or about two-thirds of the federal dollars they receive for the training of medical residents, under a bipartisan proposal to tamp down the rising costs of Medicare and reduce the federal deficit....
Will Hospital Employment Protect the Interests of Physicians? - July 8, 2011
Physicians across the nation are increasingly selling their practices or seeking employment directly with healthcare systems. According to a report released by the policy research firm Center for Studying Health System's Change, physician employment in hospitals has grown since 2007 as part of a greater strategy for hospital-physician alignment and increased service-line profits....
Insurer Aetna spent $1.1M on 1Q federal lobbying - July 4, 2011
Managed care company Aetna Inc. spent about $1.1 million in the first quarter lobbying the federal government on the health care overhaul and other topics....
AMA toughens stance on retail health clinics - July 4, 2011
The American Medical Association adopted policy in 2007 opposing the practice of insurers encouraging the use of retail clinics by waiving or reducing co-pays. The Association now will take direct action against the practice by communicating directly with insurance companies on what it sees as the consequences of steering patients to nonphysician-staffed clinics....
Medical center to pay almost $1 million for false billing - July 4, 2011
The Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services and Attorney David J. Hale announced Monday, Jackson Purchase Medical Center has entered into a settlement to pay $998,770.74 to settle allegations that they submitted false claims....
MedeAnalytics Financial Modeling Determines a 300-Bed Hospital Will Need to Reduce Costs by Over $6 Million to Maintain Medicare Margins - July 4, 2011
MedeAnalytics, a leading provider of healthcare performance management solutions, today announced the launch of its Medicare Zero(TM) Resource Center which includes a white paper entitled, "Medicare Zero: An analytical approach to improve Medicare margins to breakeven or better."...
Vendor Notebook: MedeAnalytics launches Value-Based Purchasing Resource Center - June 30, 2011
MedeAnalytics announced the launch of its Value-Based Purchasing Resource Center. As a service to the healthcare industry, the center provides objective educational information on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' value-based purchasing program....
General Cannabis Launches Website SafeAccessMD.com - June 30, 2011
General Cannabis, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: CANA), a technology-based Internet marketing services company, today announced the launch of a new website, www.SafeAccessMD.com and reported on progress at its recently launched portal, www.WeedMaps.com/Doctors....
The Algorithm Will See You Now - June 26, 2011
Predictive Medical Technologies claims that it can use real-time, intensive care unit (ICU) monitoring data to predict clinical events like cardiac arrest up to 24 hours ahead of time. Effectively, the startup's algorithms are new types of medical tests that an ICU doctor can take into consideration when deciding on a course of treatment....
Orlando-area hospitals among worst in state for hospital readmissions, Medicare says - June 25, 2011
TwoOrlando-area hospitals are among the worst in the state when it comes to readmitting patients less than a month after a hospital stay, according to federal records....
Doctor Pleads Guilty to Billing Medicare and Medicaid for Counseling Sessions with Dead Patients - June 10, 2011
ROBERT WILLIAMS, 72, of Atlanta, Georgia, pleaded guilty today in federal district court on two counts of health care fraud as part of a scheme to bill for group psychological therapy that WILLIAMS never provided....
Several Groups Submit Last-Minute Comments on Proposed ACO Rules - June 10, 2011
On Monday, several groups submitted comments on proposed rules governing the creation of accountable care organizations under the federal health reform law, just hours before the public comment period on the regulations closed....
Will Price Competition Lead to Quality Competition? - June 10, 2011
Clearly the DMC is competing on the time price of care. It even has a 72 hour guarantee on MRI scans (yes, they're available on Saturdays and Sundays). But why doesn't it also compete on the money price of care by posting fees patients can expect to pay?...
Medical home: Doctors move toward new health care model - June 8, 2011
That holistic approach and the electronic record-keeping that enables it are key components of what many observers regard as the future of health care, a concept called the "patient-centered medical home."...
Hospital Lawyer Embezzlement Reveals Flaws in Health Care Cost Auditing - June 8, 2011
On Thursday, June 3, Roosevelt Hairston, Jr, a former lawyer for the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, was arrested and charged for embezzling $1.7 million over the course of the 12 years he served as general counsel for the hospital....
Wisconsin weighs apology law for medical providers - June 8, 2011
Many states have tried to reduce malpractice suits by allowing doctors to say they're sorry for medical errors. Wisconsin is considering a proposal that would do that and more: it would also exclude expressions of fault or responsibility from being used in civil suits. ...
NexTech Launches New Appointment Reminder Utilizing Text Messaging - June 8, 2011
Text messaging may be most well known for the communication service it provides to mobile users, but the tool is actually becoming very beneficial for businesses and industries such as healthcare. ...
Medicare's New Plan To Punish Hospitals For Treating Expensive Patients Will Backfire - June 8, 2011
One problem with central planning is that crystal balls don't always work. We're seeing that now as ObamaCare becomes the law of the land. Instead of the butterfly effect call it the band-aid effect. You put a band-aid on a wound only to find out it was dirty and caused an infection elsewhere....
Free ICD-10 Online Training Offer for Certified Medical Coders and Billers - June 8, 2011
This is an excellent opportunity for those aspiring to get trained and certified on ICD-10 without having to spend thousands of dollars. This free training is an initiative by ICD-10 Coders Academy....
HIPAA Violator Sentenced to Prison - June 8, 2011
A federal judge has sentenced a man to six years in prison for his role in a prescription fraud scheme that included crimes of healthcare fraud, aggravated identity theft and violations of HIPAA....
Michigan law trumps HIPAA in patient privacy case - June 6, 2011
A state appellate court said a podiatrist did not have to release the names of his patients to his former practice....
Calif. fines 12 hospitals for endangering patients - June 6, 2011
A dozen California hospitals were fined by state regulators for mistakes that killed three patients or threatened the health of others, state regulators announced Thursday....
Doctor Accused of Falsely Telling Patients They Had HIV - June 6, 2011
A Manhattan doctor has been indicted for falsely telling about a dozen patients that they had HIV so he could put them on treatment and bill Medicaid for $700,000, the New York Post reported Friday....
Hospital safety bills eyed in session - June 4, 2011
Perhaps the most significant sign that opinion has shifted on whether patients can be trusted with information about Nevada hospitals' safety records: The Nevada Hospital Association and Nevada State Medical Association supported bills requiring such disclosure during the 2011 Legislature....
Former Vegas hospital chief indictment dismissed - June 4, 2011
A Nevada judge has thrown out criminal charges accusing the former chief executive of Las Vegas' only public hospital of steering $11 million worth of no-bid and sweetheart contracts to friends in Chicago more than four years ago....
Health-Record Vendors Led by GE May Gain From U.S. Privacy Rules - June 3, 2011
General Electric Co. (GE), Siemens AG (SI) and other providers of electronic health-record technology may benefit from a proposed change to U.S. medical privacy regulations announced today....
Health 2.0, IMPAQ International and the NORC at the University of Chicago Announce a NEW Developer Challenge - June 3, 2011
Health 2.0, IMPAQ International (IMPAQ) and NORC at the University of Chicago (NORC) are proud to announce the launch of the Medicare Claims Data Developer Challenge, which will solicit entries to develop an online dashboard for comparative effectiveness, health services and health policy research....
5010 national testing days announced - June 3, 2011
With six months to go before the HIPAA 5010 electronic claims submissions compliance date, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have announced two 5010 national testing days....
How to Comply with New Medicare Advantage Encounter Reporting Requirements -- An Edifecs Webinar - June 3, 2011
Edifecs webinar and live demonstration on meeting the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services HIPAA 837-based Encounter Data Processing System requirements. ...
CDI: Little Bites Over a Long Period of Time - June 3, 2011
Everyone knows that on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, will start coding in ICD-10, at least for Medicare. The directive to implement I-10 is fueling clinical documentation improvement (CDI). ...
RACTrac Results Show Error-Prone RACs - May 31, 2011
The latest results, for activity through the 1st Quarter of 2011, was released this past Friday, May 20th. It paints a picture of a gang of would-be bandits still out on the range, aiming their weapons at whiskey bottles, and learning how to shoot straight. ...
CMS Paid Medicare Drug Costs for Deceased Patients, Audit Reveals - May 29, 2011
The federal government paid $3.61 million to reimburse private drug plans the cost of prescriptions for Medicare patients who had died a month or more earlier, according to an audit by the U.S. Office of Inspector General....
HIPAA, HITECH Compliance Not Improving Health Care Data Security: Survey - May 29, 2011
Despite spending a lot of time making sure they are compliant with federal and state regulations, health care organizations claim they are still seeing a lot of data breaches....
Three pro-marijuana bills introduced in Congress today - May 29, 2011
Colorado Rep. Jared Polis and two other members of Congress today introduced bills to improve Americans' access to medical marijuana....
Review of Florida's public hospitals begins - May 29, 2011
The day after Gov. Rick Scott drew criticism for cutting some $615 million in state spending, his administration embarked on another contentious venture: taking on Florida's public hospital system....
Squandering Medicare's Money - May 26, 2011
Apart from the politics, though, Medicare's financing challenges are worsening: this month, Medicare's trustees projected that the insurance program would become insolvent by 2024, five years earlier than previously estimated. ...
Jury awards $58M malpractice suit against doctor - May 26, 2011
A Waterbury jury has awarded a Norwalk child and his parents $58 million in a malpractice suit against a Stamford surgeon and his practice....
Geisinger Health System Achieves Positive Results with Precyse's Innovative Workflow Solution - May 26, 2011
Geisinger Health System, widely recognized for its implementation of innovative care models, is among the first healthcare organizations in the nation to deploy advanced technology that combines a Computer-Assisted Coding application with Natural Language Comprehension™ (NLC) in order to improve clinical documentation and coding accuracy....
MEDecision Publishes E-Book: ICD-10: Improving Care Plans, Interoperability and Business Practices - May 26, 2011
MEDecision, Inc. today published an e-book, "ICD-10: Improving Care Plans, Interoperability and Business Practices," offering health plans a strategic perspective on the opportunities and benefits that the transition to ICD-10 medical code sets can have on care management and business strategies....
Survey: Fear of lawsuits behind proliferation of medical tests - May 24, 2011
A new survey of emergency room doctors suggests that physicians are greatly influenced by fears about being sued....
10 Ways ASC Coders Can Keep Up With Coding Rules at Little or No Cost - May 24, 2011
Paul Cadorette, director of education for mdStrategies in Houston, cites 10 ways coders for ambulatory surgery centers can stay up-to-date on changes in CPT codes, even on a small budget....
ShiftWise Introduces Free Healthcare Credential Management System - May 24, 2011
ShiftWise, the country's leading supplier of online healthcare staff management services, today announced ShiftWise VeriStaff™, a free service that allows hospitals and other healthcare providers of all sizes to easily track their staff's credentialing compliance....
Co-pay or no co-pay? That is the confusing question - May 24, 2011
The new rules apply to policies that took effect after Sept. 23, 2010. But some physicians and their patients find that, rather than smoothing out the preventive care process, the new regulations only worsen the confusion about whether a co-pay or coinsurance is due....
TriZetto Survey Shows Progress by Payers Toward ICD-10, Notes Concerns About Provider Readiness - May 21, 2011
Survey results released today by The TriZetto Group, Inc. show that 93 percent of healthcare payers have chosen an approach for their core administration ICD-10 migration efforts, up from 75 percent in the third quarter of 2009, and that 86 percent of health plans are most concerned that providers will be unprepared for ICD-10 compliance and technically unable to submit claims using ICD-10 codes. ...
Would meaningful use Stage 2 delay ignite ICD-10? - May 21, 2011
Keeping its "eye on the prize, but feet on the ground," the advisory panel to the HIT Policy Steering Committee recently took a step closer to pushing back stage 2 of meaningful use....
A Top Five for ICD-10 - May 21, 2011
From 17,000 codes under ICD-9 to 155,000 under the new regulation, ICD-10 takes coding and reimbursement to a whole new level – and will exponentially impact the financial health of every hospital. ...
Quest Diagnostics to pay $241M in Medi-Cal overcharge settlement - May 20, 2011
California has reached a $241 million settlement with Quest Diagnostics, the state's largest provider of medical laboratory testing, to recover overcharges....
Medicare Funds to Run Out in 2024 Without Fix, Faster Than U.S. Estimated - May 18, 2011
Medicare, the U.S. health insurance program for the elderly and disabled, and the Social Security trust for the disabled and retirees are running out of money sooner than the government had projected. ...
HHS says ACA changes to Medicare will save $120B over 5 years - May 18, 2011
An analysis of Medicare by the Department of Health and Human Services shows changes implemented under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will save more than $120 billion over the next five years....
Malpractice Bill Ready for Full House - May 13, 2011
Click here to find out more! A bill which would impose a limit on the medical liability costs paid by healthcare providers, passed through the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee late Wednesday night....
All Draft/ Incomplete List Deleted Publish New Ar - May 13, 2011
A study released last month found that one out of every three hospital patients encounter a medical error. ...
Naperville-based hospital group and other health entities decry Medicaid cuts - May 13, 2011
The Illinois Hospital Association is calling on the Illinois House to reject deep reductions in Medicaid payments to hospitals....
N.C. Medical Board took actions against 13 Western North Carolina doctors in 2010 - May 13, 2011
The North Carolina Medical Board took actions against 226 medical practitioners in 2010, a slight increase from 2009, according to an annual report released this week....
2 more senators introduce bills to publish Medicare claims data - May 12, 2011
Two additional senators have proposed separate bills to open Medicare claims data to the public, a move that doctors organizations have opposed on privacy and anti-fraud grounds....
Conviction in $9.1 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme - May 12, 2011
A federal jury convicted Martin and Joaquin Tasis, owners of a fraudulent Detroit-area medical clinic, and Leoncio Alayon, who helped launder the proceeds of the fraud, for their roles in a $9.1 million Medicare fraud scheme....
States eye public access to more doctor disciplinary records - May 12, 2011
A long-running push for increased transparency in the medical profession has led medical boards nationwide to release more information about physicians' professional and disciplinary history online during the last 15 years....
New York Medical Malpractice Lawyer Questions Doctor Who Operated on the Wrong Eye of a 4-Year Old - May 12, 2011
An error of a surgeon has made a four-year old suffer with worry as he waits to find out if his sight has been damaged permanently....
Report marks decline of private practice physician - May 12, 2011
In July of 2010, Merritt Hawkins assembled a panel of leading health care experts, ranging from heads of major hospital systems to private practice physicians, to project the effects of health reform on medical practice in the United States. The panel's report, released in November, includes a survey in which 2,400 physicians revealed their reactions to health reform and provided insight into their future practice plans....
New Federal Crackdown Confounds States That Allow Medical Marijuana - May 12, 2011
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, but that has not stopped a fuzzy industry of marijuana farms and dispensaries from rising to serve the 15 states that allow the drug to be used for medical purposes. Under President Obama, the federal government had seemed to make a point of paying little attention - until now. ...
IOD Integrates Best-of-Breed Service Companies to Address Top HIM Challenges: ICD-10, EHR and Staffing - May 12, 2011
IOD Incorporated™, a leading provider of integrated HIM solutions to hospitals, health systems, and physician practices, today announced expanded capabilities to address health information management's top three challenges of this decade....
Medical error rate report questioned by Central Ohio hospitals - May 10, 2011
Central Ohio hospital executives are raising eyebrows at federal data posted online purporting to show medical error rates among Medicare patients....
3M introduces mobile physician charge capture with coding advice - May 10, 2011
New mobile technology introduced today by 3M makes it easy for physicians to manage their daily schedule, review patient information, dictate progress notes, and log accurate charges all on a single mobile device in the palm of their hand....
AMA, MGMA Launch Practice Management Software Directory - May 5, 2011
The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and the American Medical Association (AMA) are building an online directory to help physicians evaluate and select practice management software. ...
Guilty Pleas Entered in $200M Medicare Fraud Case - May 5, 2011
Two South Florida companies entered guilty pleas this week in a Miami federal court for what prosecutors called a "staggering in scope" fraud scheme that falsely billed Medicare for more than $200 million and collected $80 million of the bogus claims....
The Billing & Coding Bandwagon - May 4, 2011
A hospitalist's documentation is at the heart of accurate coding, whether it's for the hospital's DRG reimbursement, quality and performance scores, or for assigning current procedural terminology (CPT) and evaluation and management (E/M) codes for billing for their own professional services....
AMA, MGMA offer practice management guidance - April 30, 2011
The American Medical Association (AMA) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) have developed an online directory of software vendors to help physicians gauge whether their practice management system (PMS) software is ICD-10-CM and HIPAA Version 5010-compliant. ...
CMS Reports on RAC Improper Payments - April 30, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a short, but useful Recovery Audit Contractor update that reports on the total amount of improper payments identified since the RAC demonstration period....
Judge rejects plea deal for former fugitive surgeon - April 30, 2011
A few of those patients were on hand at the federal courthouse in Hammond on Wednesday at a hearing where a judge was to approve a plea deal with prosecutors that would send Weinberger, 47, to prison for four years on 22 counts of fraud....
IOD Completes Acquisition of ICD-10 Ready Coding Services Provider, Medical Executive Coding & Auditing (MECA) - April 22, 2011
Through the acquisition, IOD now addresses the day-to-day issues of coding, audits and clinical abstraction; and moves closer to becoming a full-service HIM partner for the healthcare industry. In addition, the company ensures availability of ICD-10 coding expertise and helps customers prepare for the transition from ICD-9 to ICD-10. ...
Warren doctor, wife plead guilty to health care fraud - April 22, 2011
A township doctor and his wife have admitted to their roles in a health care fraud scheme in which more than 20,000 patient visits were conducted by individuals posing as licensed physicians for as little as $10 an hour, authorities said....
Fake Nashville doctor treated more than 1,000 patients - April 22, 2011
A federal grand jury in Atlanta has indicted a Nashville man with health care fraud after he allegedly practiced as a doctor, despite not having a valid medical license....
Analysis Suggests CMS' IPPS Coding Adjustment Flawed - April 22, 2011
An analysis by health economist Joseph Newhouse, who serves on the Congressional Budget Office Board of Health Advisors and co-chairs the 2010 Technical Review Panel on the Medicare Trustee Report, suggests that the methodology CMS uses to calculate the documentation and coding adjustment for its inpatient prospective payment system does not separate coding effects from true case mix change, according to an AHA News Now report. ...
Medical Malpractice: Limiting Damages vs. Addressing Errors - April 22, 2011
President Obama recently acknowledged he is willing to contemplate reforms to the medical malpractice structure and look at options other than the repeal of his health care bill to bring down health care costs....
For doctors, social media a tricky case - April 21, 2011
Dr. Alexandra Thran, 48, was fired from the hospital last year and reprimanded by the state medical board last week. The hospital took away her privileges to work in the emergency room for posting information online about a trauma patient....
Michigan now lets doctors apologize liability-free - April 21, 2011
Gov. Rick Snyder today signed "I'm sorry" legislation that will give Michigan health care providers greater protection to apologize for medical errors, without an "I'm sorry" comment being used against them in a lawsuit....
Huge hospital markups burden patients - April 21, 2011
Markups for hospitals in metro Atlanta ranged from 157 to 702 percent in 2009, according to an analysis by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution of the most recent hospital financial disclosure data collected by the Georgia Department of Community Health....
New Internet Portal to Help Providers Transition to ICD-10 Launches Today - April 19, 2011
The company that introduced the nation's first website to help providers grapple with the federal government's Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program (http://www.racmonitor.com) today launched ICD10monitor.com....
CVS to pay $17.5 million penalty for over billing - April 17, 2011
The settlement resolves civil allegations that CVS, which operates more than 7,000 retail drugstores across the country, billed the wrong amount to Medicaid for Medicaid beneficiaries who also have prescription drug coverage other than Medicare....
CA Joins Whistleblower Suit Against Sutter Health - April 17, 2011
California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has intervened in a whistleblower lawsuit against Sutter Hospitals for alleged false billing of what Jones said could be "hundreds of millions of dollars" for anesthesia services, his office has announced....
Hospital Bars Surgeon From Operating Room - April 17, 2011
A Portland, Ore., neurosurgeon who performed multiple spinal fusions on the same patients lost his operating privileges at the hospital where he did many of his surgeries and is under investigation by the Oregon Medical Board....
MedQuist Launches ICD-10-Ready Coding Technology to Expanded Market as CDIA 2011 Annual Conference Sponsor - April 17, 2011
MedQuist Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: MEDH), a leading provider of medical transcription services and technology-enabled clinical documentation solutions; including computer-assisted coding, will be a featured exhibitor at the Clinical Documentation Industry Association (CDIA) 2011 Annual Conference, being held April 13-15, 2011, in Charlotte, North Carolina....
MedQuist Awarded Computer-Assisted Coding and Services Contract for Cooper - April 16, 2011
Cooper selected MedQuist based on its ability to demonstrate both ICD-10 readiness as well as the streamlined workflow features built in to the CodeRunner™CAC technology platform – including automatic chart assignment and automatic quality assurance – which enable complete, accurate coding in a rapid, efficient manner. ...
New list offers hospital-specific data on patient safety - April 12, 2011
Over strong objections from the hospital industry, the government has published data about things that can go wrong in hospitals - falls, objects left behind during surgeries, bloodstream or urinary infections associated with catheters, incompatible blood infusions, serious bed sores and more....
AMA launches coding app designed for doctors - April 12, 2011
Besides offering an intro CPT app, the Association is hosting a contest for physicians and medical students to create their own medical applications....
Medicare's Drug Coverage Gap to Shrink Away Under Health Care Reform - April 11, 2011
Starting this year, Medicare Part D's widely despised "donut hole" -- the gap in drug cost coverage enrollees encounter when they reach a certain spending threshold -- will start to disappear, one result of the health care reform package enacted last year, experts say. ...
AAFP Backs Legislation to Make Medicare Payment Process More Transparent, Accurate - April 10, 2011
The AAFP has thrown its support behind a House bill that is attempting to bring more accuracy and transparency to the process used to assign relative values to Medicare services....
TeleTracking Technologies Joins the American Hospital Association - April 8, 2011
TeleTracking Technologies (www.teletracking.com) announced today it has joined the American Hospital Association, the world's oldest and largest hospital association, to advance their shared interest in improving the performance of American hospitals and health systems....
6 Elements Affecting Hospital-Based Physician Service Contracts - April 8, 2011
Contracts for hospital-based physician services are common among hospital-based specialties, with groups contracting to provide care and services that guarantee coverage and physician oversight....
House GOP: Cut $4.4 trillion and transform Medicare - April 8, 2011
House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan on Tuesday will release the House GOP's 2012 budget proposal -- the first real indication of how House Republicans want to tackle the country's long-term budget shortfalls....
North Carolina Hospital Pays $1.9 Million to Settle Medicare Fraud Charges Stemming from Whistleblower Lawsuit - April 8, 2011
A whistleblower lawsuit sparked a federal investigation into the billing practices of Rex Hospital that has resulted in the Raleigh, North Carolina, hospital paying the federal government $1.9 million to settle Medicare fraud charges....
How Physicians Can Avoid Yet Another Malpractice Crisis (And Reduce Their Insurance Premiums) - April 8, 2011
Having witnessed the effects of several "malpractice crises", I am anxious to avoid another....
Hayes' MDaudit user group focuses on billing compliance and revenue cycle - April 8, 2011
Hayes Management Consulting announced that its MDaudit™ software user group meeting, April 13 in Orlando, FL, will focus on how accurate coding can support healthcare revenue cycle improvement....
Dead By Mistake - April 8, 2011
More than ever, medication errors, misdiagnosis, and misjudgments have turned safe havens into potentially dangerous ones. As many as 98,000 people die each year in U.S. hospitals from medical errors, according to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. That's more than from car accidents, breast cancer, or AIDS....
Nonprofit health insurers feel the heat - April 8, 2011
Minnesota's nonprofit health insurers are one of the state's most powerful lobbies. Right now, a recently fired St. Paul attorney and his Internet video are key reasons they're playing unprecedented public policy defense....
Cuts Leave Patients With Medicaid Cards, but No Specialist to See - April 3, 2011
The problem is common here and across the country, especially as states, scrambling to balance their budgets, look for cuts in Medicaid, which is one of their biggest expenditures. And it presents the Obama administration with a major challenge, since the new federal health care law relies heavily on Medicaid to cover many people who now lack health insurance. ...
CIGNA See Results In 'Accountable Care,' But Doctors And Hospitals See Problems - April 3, 2011
A controversial new method of paying doctors and hospitals for medical services, based in part on the quality of patients' health improvement, is showing good results in a CIGNA pilot program....
AHA Central Office a 2011 ICD-10 Summit Collaborator - April 3, 2011
The American Hospital Association's (AHA) Central Office announces its support of the ICD-10 Summit: Strategies and Tactics for Industry Success, being held April 11-12, 2011, in Baltimore, Maryland. ...
Thomson Reuters Launches New Service to Combat Healthcare Fraud, Waste, Abuse - April 3, 2011
Today, the business is introducing a new version of the service to aid in the recovery of the $60 billion that the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association estimates is lost each year to fraud....
Health Language Signs Agreement With Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association as National Partner to Facilitate Blue Plans' ICD-10 Transition - April 3, 2011
Health Language's Web-Based Solution Provides Mapping, Content Management and Real-World Simulations to Identify and Mitigate Risk....
AMA Launches Mobile App and Challenge - March 31, 2011
The American Medical Association is making its first foray into the software development world with a free CPT (current procedural terminology) code glossary application....
Why Doctors Don't Want Free-Market Medicine - March 31, 2011
It's true of many academic university physicians, but anecdotally it is obviously untrue of most doctors in private practice. Many of those docs desire to "get government out of medicine."...
Why Any Deal to Cut Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid Would be a Moral, Economic and Political Disaster - March 31, 2011
Friday, the Democratic group Third Way published a memo arguing that Democrats should support "entitlement reform" -- by which they mean cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid....
8 Points on Dealing with Medicare Value-Based Purchasing - March 29, 2011
Hospitals have already been reporting 17 process-of-care measures and eight patient satisfaction measures that will be measured in the new payment program. Now, however, a hospital will be rewarded or penalized based on how its measures compare to those of other hospitals....
The health courts prescription: To truly attack defensive medicine, go beyond malpractice caps - March 28, 2011
Gov. Cuomo recently accepted the report of his Medicaid Redesign Team, which includes recommendations to help control skyrocketing health care cost. The recommendations - estimated to save the state $208 million a year - would place a cap of $250,000 on the pain and suffering portion of awards and establish a no-fault fund for babies born with brain damage....
Retired Broward surgeon convicted of Medicare fraud - March 27, 2011
Dr. Fred Dweck, a retired chief of surgery at two Broward County hospitals, was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for Medicare fraud....
Universal coverage may not eliminate health disparities - March 23, 2011
Even with everyone insured, poorer and less-educated patients experience worse outcomes, says a 10-year study of the Canadian health system....
Some states advance IT for health insurance exchanges - March 23, 2011
HHS has made more than $296 million in grants to states to plan their exchanges, including for innovative models for the exchanges' IT systems and to research and design exchange governance and operations....
MediConnect Global Unveils Enhanced Risk Adjustment Services with Cloud-Based Automation Tools for Health Insurance Plans - March 22, 2011
The new tools create more accurate and efficient systems of coding medical records, streamline risk adjustment processes and assist in managing the increasing volumes of medical records retrieved. ...
Corporate Whistle Blower Center Says Healthcare & Medical Industry Whistle Blowers Seeking Huge Rewards For Massive Fraud Should Call Us First - March 22, 2011
The Corporate Whistle Blower Center says, "There probably has never been a better environment in the US for a hospital executive, a healthcare professional, or pharmaceutical, or medical device insider to step forward; but if you want to cash-there are rules, and violating the rules could mean you do not get a reward." ...
AAPC Physician Services Announces Webinar Series - March 21, 2011
Each month, expert presenters focus on the timeliest challenges facing modern practices, with topics spanning practice management, revenue cycle management, ICD-10 implementation, billing and documentation audits, compliance and electronic medical record (EMR)....
CMS Seeing Fewer Medicare Claims Errors - March 21, 2011
CMS is seeing progress toward its goal of cutting the Medicare fee-for-service error rate in half by 2012, according to a CMS official's testimony before Congress. ...
Michigan Medical Malpractice Lawyer Says 'I'm Sorry' Bill Should Not Harm Patients' Rights - March 20, 2011
Bloomfield Hills personal injury attorney Thomas L. Stroble says he supports open dialogue between health care providers and injured patients, but he warns against giving medical malpractice insurance companies an unfair advantage at the negotiating table. ...
Urgent care centers fill critical gap in health care - March 20, 2011
Urgent care centers are "the concept of customer service finally arriving to medicine," Saggar said. "Most patients are used to sitting in a waiting room forever - for a five-minute consultation."...
Please Don't 'Friend' Your Patients - March 20, 2011
The convenient forum of social interaction available through social networking sites, such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter, presents unique challenges for physicians....
Approaches to Medicaid Reform - March 20, 2011
The confluence of New York's serious financial crisis and the enactment of federal health reform have created a "perfect storm" environment for meaningful changes to the state's Medicaid program....
Health care reform turns one, though future is uncertain - March 20, 2011
Cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates to hospitals will make it more difficult for some local hospitals to stay profitable, forcing them to find new ways to improve quality while lowering the cost of health care....
ChartWise Medical Systems Incorporates Additional Functionality - March 18, 2011
ChartWise Medical Systems, Inc. (www.chartwisemed.com) is pleased to announce that it will advance its reference functionality by incorporating content from the American Hospital Association's (AHA) Central Office publications, AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-9-CM and AHA Coding Clinic for HCPCS, Ingenix's DRG Desk Reference, coding guidelines from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and RAC audit alerts to its industry-leading clinical documentation improvement software....
Should SustiNet Offer Doctors Protection From Malpractice Suits? - March 18, 2011
Doctors' disappointment over removal of the malpractice protection provisions in the SustiNet health bill should be understandable to everyone concerned about how malpractice suits raise the cost of health care....
HHS plans to pay for state data mining to spot Medicaid fraud - March 17, 2011
The Health and Human Services Department has proposed that state Medicaid agencies be able to use federal funds to help pay for uncovering fraud through the screening and analysis of Medicaid claims data. ...
The Deal Dems And GOP Could Strike On Medicare And Health Reform - March 17, 2011
Could Congress replace the current Medicare system with a voucher program, as former Clinton budget director Alice Rivlin and House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) among others have suggested?...
Career Step & YES HIM Consulting, Inc. Announce Partnership to Develop Comprehensive ICD-10 Solution - March 17, 2011
Career Step, a leading online healthcare school, and YES HIM Consulting, Inc., a firm specializing in health information management and coding, have partnered to develop a comprehensive ICD-10 education solution for hospitals and physician groups; payers, such as insurance companies; and professional coders....
Modifier 33 "Most Noteworthy" Change in CMS' Outpatient Code Editor - March 17, 2011
The new outpatient CPT modifier 33 is the "most noteworthy" change in CMS' Outpatient Code Editor Version 12.1, effective April 4, according to an AAPC report. ...
Government Agencies Ill-Equipped to Process Entitlement Claims Efficiently, According to New Study - March 16, 2011
Pegasystems Survey Shows Eligibility and Entitlement Benefit Programs Need to Become More Efficient in Order to Meet New Laws, Eliminate Waste and Decrease Improper Payments...
New 2012 ICD-9-CM Handbook Helps Improve Coder Understanding and Accuracy - March 16, 2011
A new AHA Press title, ICD-9ÂCM Coding Handbook With Answers, 2012 Revised Edition, available in late August, is designed to help train coders to improve their coding accuracy and performance. ...
2 sisters wanted in $9.1-million Medicare fraud case arrested in South America - March 16, 2011
Two sisters wanted in a $9.1-million Medicare fraud investigation into their Dearborn clinic have been arrested in South America and will be returned to Detroit to face charges, the nation's highest health official announced Tuesday at a Medicare fraud conference in Detroit....
Medicare gears up for strict anti-fraud campaign - March 15, 2011
Federal officials visited Capitol Hill this month to promote plans for tough new anti-fraud measures for Medicare, targeting the estimated tens of billions of dollars in improper payments the program makes each year....
GAO echoes physician concerns on EMR, e-prescribing bonuses - March 14, 2011
Physician organizations say the misaligned Medicare incentive programs force practices to waste resources on interim electronic prescribing systems to beat a June 30 deadline....
More Texas doctors dipping into personal reserves to keep practices alive - March 14, 2011
A higher percentage of physicians used money from their personal reserves or secured bank loans to keep their practices afloat in 2010, according to preliminary results of a survey released Feb. 28 by the Texas Medical Assn....
Medicare Illegally Paid for Seniors' Viagra, U.S. Audit Says - March 14, 2011
The U.S. Medicare program improperly spent more than $3 million in 2007 and 2008 to buy Pfizer Inc. (PFE)'s Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs for senior citizens, government investigators said. ...
'Apology legislation' meant to protect medical providers from lawsuits - March 14, 2011
Two words have a way of coming back to haunt medical professionals: "I'm sorry." It might seem like a natural thing to say to someone who's just lost a loved one. But in these days of rampant lawsuits, somebody filing a malpractice claim can use them as part of an allegation that a medical provider has admitted fault....
AMA webinar available for 5010 and ICD-10 transitions - March 14, 2011
The American Medical Association has posted a webinar online to help practices prepare for updated standardized electronic transactions and the rollout of ICD-10. The intention is to reduce the risk that practices will experience cash flow problems while the changes are implemented....
Houston-Area Resident Sentenced to 41 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Claims of Hurricane Damage to Power Wheelchairs - March 12, 2011
Helen Etinfoh, the former owner and operator of a Houston durable medical equipment (DME) company was sentenced today to 41 months in prison in connection with a $3 million power wheelchair fraud scheme....
Medline says no allegations government overpaid - March 12, 2011
An Illinois medical products company will pay $85 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit accusing it of paying fraudulent kickbacks to hospitals and companies such as HCA Inc and HealthSouth Corp (HLS.N) that buy supplies paid for by Medicare and Medicaid....
MGH sued after medical mix-up claims life of woman - March 11, 2011
A medical mix-up at Massachusetts General Hospital claimed the life of a 76-year-old woman. Now, her family is taking the hospital to court. ...
Leader of Florida-Based Medicare Fraud Ring Sentenced to Prison - March 11, 2011
Alberto Noriega, of Miami, Fla ., has been sentenced to federal prison for leading a Medicare fraud ring that submitted more than $9 million in false and fraudulent Medicare claims for alleged infusion therapy services....
CMS Puts 2012 Medicare Fee Cut at Nearly 30 Percent - March 10, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has estimated that in 2012 Medicare physician reimbursement will be cut by 29.5%....
Budget Solution? Modernizing Medicaid Pharmacy Could Save Florida $473 Million - March 10, 2011
As Florida legislators seek ways to reduce Medicaid spending, they should start by transitioning the entire pharmacy benefits program from the archaic fee-for-service model to the more efficient model used in some parts of the state. ...
AAPC Physician Services Appoints Regional Directors - March 7, 2011
Directors developing client business, serving as subject matter experts and serving as local resources to area physicians...
Top complaint about patients: failure to follow medical advice - March 7, 2011
A survey in the February issue of Consumer Reports found that noncompliance with medical advice and treatment recommendations was doctors' top complaint about patients....
ObamaCare's Long Term Care Drug Delivery Rule Criticized - March 7, 2011
A regulation in President Obama's health care law will change the frequency of deliveries from pharmacies that dispense brand-name drugs to long-term-care facilities, such as nursing homes....
Rule Change Prompts Need for Medical Coders - March 6, 2011
Health care organizations are gearing up for a revolution in the way medical procedures are classified. The federal government will require them to begin using a new and much more precise medical coding system in October 2013, and preparations are already underway....
Kings County Hospital loses 'Patient 25,' two weeks after signing deal with feds to improve care - March 6, 2011
Patient 25's death at Kings County Hospital came only two weeks after hospital signed a deal with the feds to implement changes to keep its patients safe....
Probe: Hospital readmissions take toll in Pennsylvania - March 6, 2011
Pennsylvania hospitals charged more than $1.25 billion in 2009 to treat patients who were readmitted for complications or infections that might have been avoided, a Tribune-Review investigation has found....
AHA Coding Clinic Audio Conference Series Announces Live Broadcast on the Transition to ICD-10 - March 3, 2011
The American Hospital Association's (AHA) Coding Clinic Audio Conference Series next live broadcast, Wait at Your Own Risk: Why ICD-10 Needs to Be Your Organization's Top Priority will be presented on March 14, 2011 from 1:00-2:45 CST. ...
Medical Association of Atlanta (MAA) and BlueWave Computing Sponsor EMR Panel Presentation for Area Physicians - March 2, 2011
The Medical Association of Atlanta (MAA), working with Atlanta's BlueWave Computing, will host a panel presentation on Electronic Medical Record (EMR) software at the MAA's March dinner meeting, 7 p.m., March 24, 2011 at Maggiano's Buckhead in Atlanta. ...
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Charges 111 Individuals For More Than $225 Million In False Billing And Expands Operations To Two Additional Cities - February 27, 2011
The Medicare Fraud Strike Force charged 111 defendants in nine cities, including doctors, nurses, health care company owners and executives, and others, for their alleged participation in Medicare fraud schemes involving more than $225 million in false billing....
Models for Hospital Medicine - February 27, 2011
As hospitalists continue to see steady increases in their compensation, hospital CFOs need to consider whether employing or outsourcing for such services is the best option for their facility, both in terms of financial viability as well as improved quality of care....
Miami-Dade clinic owner gets five years for Medicare racket - December 21, 2010
The former owner of a Miami-Dade clinic at the center of a sprawling home healthcare racket that cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars will be heading to prison for five years....
Governor Rendell: Efforts to Reduce Medicaid Errors Pay Off for Taxpayers - December 21, 2010
A new federal report finds Pennsylvania's Medicaid program has an error rate that is less than half the national average and well below estimates claimed in state-level audits....
Nation's Anti-Fraud Efforts Paying Off, Holder Says - December 21, 2010
At a summit held yesterday in Boston, Attorney General Eric Holder said the nation's crackdown on health care fraud and abuse is paying off, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius talked about new approaches that are contributing to such successes....
Coder Compensation Increases; Credentials, Education Boost Salary - December 21, 2010
Average salaries for coders increased slightly in 2010 over 2009 compensation, and coders have a lower rate of employment compared to the rest of the nation, according to the AAPC's 2010 Medical Coding Salary Survey. ...
Pricewaterhouse Coopers Forecasts Top Health IT Trends - December 21, 2010
Analyst firm predicts that the industry will undergo an extreme strategy makeover in 2011, due to federal mandates, continuing cost pressures, and consumer demands. ...
Negligence, abuse or fraud in medical coding - December 20, 2010
Often times, the discussion of negligent, abusive and/or fraudulent reimbursement practices focuses on what the payer has been charged. Of equal importance, and requiring the same level of professional due diligence, is the medical coding....
Relatives at Plant City company convicted of defrauding Medicare - December 20, 2010
A federal jury has convicted three relatives of conspiracy and health care fraud after prosecutors said they used their family medical equipment company to defraud Medicare of more than $5 million....
Medical Benefits Administration Needs Better Controls to Protect Against Fraud, Audit Finds - December 15, 2010
Widespread lack of accountability may have led to millions of dollars wasted by the Medical Care Programs Administration of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, an audit released Monday found....
Medical Coding Leader Aviacode Joins SageCreek Portfolio - December 9, 2010
SageCreek Partners has signed Aviacode, a leading provider of medical coding solutions, to assist the company in taking its specialized software to the broad healthcare marketplace as a leading solution for hospitals, medical practices and billing services....
Series explores drug-maker payments to doctors - December 6, 2010
Medications save lives and bring comfort to the sick. But they're also a big business. The nonprofit investigative newsroom ProPublica has been pulling back the curtain on pharmaceutical giants that lavish money on physicians who promote their products....
Lawyer says client did not abuse patient - December 3, 2010
A lawyer for one of nine nurses caught by a hidden camera allegedly neglecting a nursing home patient says his client can't be seen doing anything on the tape....
Regional, state hospitals settle Medicare overbilling - December 3, 2010
State hospitals including Regional Health announced a $389,370 settlement Monday over mistakenly billed procedures....
8 Common Coding Errors for 7 ASC Specialties - December 2, 2010
Lolita M. Jones, RHIA, CCS, a consultant specializing in ASC and hospital outpatient coding, billing, reimbursement and operations, discusses eight common ASC coding errors in seven different specialties....
Many surgery centers operate without oversight - December 2, 2010
The body count is mounting. California journalists have been documenting harrowing tales of patient harm and chaos in surgery centers that have been operating in a regulatory vacuum since mid-2007....
TIGRCon10 Focuses on Trends Impacting and Influencing Effectiveness of Interactive Patient Education Workflows - December 2, 2010
TeleHealth Services' TIGR User Conference documented dozens of best practices and creative approaches to improving patient and staff education and engagement through the use of interactive media including the patient television....
AAPC Announces 2011 Webinar Schedule - December 2, 2010
The 2011 schedule includes more than 40 webinars covering medical coding, auditing, compliance, practice management and specialty specific information....
Should States Opt Out of Medicaid? - November 30, 2010
Some states are complaining that the massive expansion of Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka, ObamaCare) will impose so many new costs and regulations that they are considering opting out of the 45-year-old program....
DOJ's Whistle-Blower Recruitment Pays Off - November 27, 2010
The Justice Department says it has recovered a record $2.5 billion in health care fraud over the past year - mostly with the help of drug company employees who blow the whistle to the federal government....
Government trumpets recovery of $3 billion in health settlements - November 27, 2010
Government lawyers have recovered a near-record $3 billion this year from health care fraud and other settlements, the Justice Department announced Monday....
State Medical Board accuses well-known cardiologist of unnecessary heart procedures and patient's death - November 25, 2010
The Texas Medical Board has accused a well-known Austin cardiologist of doing unnecessary heart procedures that it said risked the health of eight patients and caused one man to die after repeated shocks from a defibrillator that should not have been implanted....
Reed Group to Provide NY Treatment Guidelines Navigation Software for Use by New York State Workers’ Compensation Board Personnel - November 25, 2010
Although the Board is not mandating or formally endorsing the use of Reed Group’s software by other stakeholders, Reed Group is making the software commercially available for use as a common platform to increase efficiencies and expedite communications between stakeholders while decreasing transactional processes and associated costs. ...
RACs Plan to Target Physicians' Charges - November 25, 2010
Recovery audit contractors are expected to expand beyond hospitals and spend more time on physicians' billing, shifting from automated to complex reviews of these claims, according to Paul Spencer, a consultant at Fi-Med Management in Wauwautosa, Wis. ...
AAPC Reaches 100,000 Members - November 25, 2010
AAPC today announced the registration of its 100,000th member, Mrs. Carla Peacock, from Wylie, Texas....
ICD-10-CM â€" Significant Changes to Coding Are On the Way - November 25, 2010
The United States officially will begin use of ICD-10-CM on October 1, 2013. All HIPAA ‘covered entities’ must make the change. Implementation will not be delayed....
4 Ways Medicaid RACs Could Differ From Medicare RACs - November 23, 2010
Medicaid recovery audit contractors are coming. Each state will choose Medicaid RAC contractors by the end of the year, and contractors will begin operations as early as April 1....
PEPID® Now Supports ICD-10 Coding - November 23, 2010
PEPID, the leading developer of clinical decision-support information and technology, announced today its support of ICD-10 coding within the PEPID Knowledge Base....
Affordable Care Act Bolsters the Primary Care Workforce in Medically Underserved Communities - November 22, 2010
$290 Million in new funding for the National Health Service Corps will help primary care clinicians repay student loans while serving communities....
How to Prepare for ICD-10 Coding, Software Revisions - November 21, 2010
This transformation from the current code to the new one is no small undertaking, but it is necessary if you want to bill and receive payments. To be prepared, all diagnosis and procedural code systems need to be analyzed and updated, and employees trained. ...
HCPro Relaunches Coder Education Site with New Features for Medical Coders - November 20, 2010
HCPro Inc., a leader in healthcare education and training, announces the re-launch of its popular JustCoding Website with more opportunities to earn continuing education credits as well as new features and updates for medical coders. ...
Data Breaches Cost the Healthcare Industry Up to US$6 Billion Annually - November 20, 2010
According to estimates, the healthcare industry in the United States is vulnerable to US$ 6 billion annually from data breaches in various forms....
Study: Patients suffering harm in hospitals a national problem - November 18, 2010
An ongoing Las Vegas Sun investigation paints a bleak portrait of hospital care in Southern Nevada. But according to a federal government study released Tuesday, the situation may be much worse....
Conifer Health Solutions to Conduct AHIMA Seminar on Nov. 16, 2010 - November 17, 2010
The audio seminar will focus on operational considerations, such as ethical coding principles and techniques for successful implementation, for serious reportable events....
Court Finds Bradford Regional Medical Center Violated Federal Law - November 17, 2010
As a result, the damages owed by the hospital could be well in excess of $20 million plus millions of dollars more in False Claims Act mandatory penalties. ...
8 Trends in Hospital Design and Development - November 16, 2010
Proficient healthcare design gives hospitals the buildings and framework to help them gain efficiency and avoid risks associated with healthcare reform....
SourceMedical Partners with mTuitive to Improve Post-Operative Reporting for ASCs and Surgeons - November 16, 2010
Integrated Post-Operative Reporting Solution Accelerates Revenue Cycle, Simplifies Surgeon Documentation, and Provides Greater Accuracy and Efficiency to the Medical Coding Process ...
Illinois malpractice policies drive physicians out of state - November 16, 2010
Half of the graduating medical students or fellows trained in Illinois are leaving the state to practice medicine elsewhere, frequently in bordering states, according to a study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. ...
OIG tells Medicare to focus on 'error-prone' doctors - November 14, 2010
Medicare officials could potentially help cut billions in wasteful spending by focusing their efforts on "error-prone providers," according to a report released last month by Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ...
Lee Memorial, United reach Medicare deal - November 13, 2010
Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with United Healthcare plans will continue to receive in-network benefits at Lee Memorial Health System hospitals after Jan. 1, the system and the insurer announced Thursday....
Medicare's Soviet Label - November 13, 2010
"Medicare, Where Soviet Economic Thinking Lives On," was the headline on a recent blog offering commentary on an article about Medicare pricing in The Wall Street Journal, accompanied by a videotaped, highly critical interview on The Journal's "Online Opinion."...
Perceptive Software Helps Ensure Timely Electronic Chart Completion for Indiana Hospital System - November 12, 2010
Integration of ImageNow with Epic leads to seamless HIM workflow for 400-plus physicians at Methodist Hospitals....
Providers Prep for Medicaid RAC Proposed Rule - November 10, 2010
According to the rule, states must establish Medicaid RAC programs by submitting state plan amendments to CMS by December 31, 2010 and fully implement their programs by April 1, 2011....
Doctor disciplined for missing condition - October 25, 2010
Lubbock physician Hugh Wilson was disciplined last week by the Texas Medical Board after an investigation confirmed he failed to recognize acute renal failure and refer a patient to a nephrologist or admit the patient to an intensive care unit....
Convicted sex offender will work as a chiropractor - October 25, 2010
By law, there are a plethora of conditions that convicted sex offenders have to follow, but requiring a chiropractor from Savage to tell his patients in his Minneapolis practice that he sexually assaulting two of his former patients isn't one of them. ...
B. Braun Renal Therapies Division Announces Availability of Adimea - October 17, 2010
The Renal Therapies Division of B. Braun Medical Inc. (B. Braun) has announced the U.S. introduction of Adimea™, an innovative process for real-time monitoring of dialysis effectiveness during treatment....
6 Steps to Minimize the Incidence of Billing Errors - October 11, 2010
As a measure to crack down on the high rate of healthcare fraud occurring in the country, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services created recovery audit contractors, who are responsible for auditing hospitals for billing errors and possible healthcare fraud. Hospitals face the possibility of incurring tremendous monetary penalties if found guilty of overbilling Medicare. ...
Hospital chiefs share concerns with health care reform - September 25, 2010
Chief executive officers of area hospitals are concerned critical federal funding sources for their facilities will be siphoned away to finance a universal health care plan being debated in Congress....
Online Marketing Academy Designed Specifically for Physical Therapists - September 8, 2010
PT Marketing Academy, Atlanta, is a new Internet academy developed specifically for physical therapists who want to market their business online....
Reducing Health Care Fraud through Analytic Insight - September 8, 2010
Personnel at a hospital in Miami called an Illinois woman repeatedly, demanding she pay a $2,000 bill for giving birth. She told the callers she'd never been to that hospital - and was 72 years old....
Houston-area doctor, drivers convicted in health care scam - September 8, 2010
A federal jury convicted a Houston-area doctor and two others late Wednesday in a multi-million dollar Medicare fraud scheme....
Salinas Chiropractor Arrested for Workers' Comp Fraud - September 8, 2010
A Salinas, Calif., chiropractor. Robert Ray Schreiner, 57, has been charged with 16 felony counts, including conspiring to deny injured workers their workers' compensation benefits, filing fraudulent insurance claims and making false statements to an insurer, the California Department of Insurance reported. Schreiner surrendered to authorities on May 28....
The Scoring of Audits Gets Docs' Attention and Takes Advantage of Their Competitiveness - September 8, 2010
It looked bad for one physician after her first audit as a member of MedicalEdge Healthcare Group, a Dallas-based physician management organization. The audit turned up serious flaws with her evaluation and management (E/M) documentation. For new patients, Medicare requires documentation of three key components - history, physical and medical decision making....
HHS and DOJ Team Up on Fraud Prevention - September 3, 2010
Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder said on May 13 that provisions in the recently passed Affordable Care Act law will bolster current fraud-fighting efforts being carried out jointly by HHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ)....
U of L dialysis patient confidentiality compromised - September 3, 2010
A University of Louisville database with the names, social security numbers and other personal information of 708 dialysis patients was accessible via the Internet for more than a year, university officials announced Wednesday morning....
Keep Feet Healthy this Summer with Tips from AthletiCo Physical Therapy - September 3, 2010
Summer is right around the corner, and the weather forecast will soon be calling for some fun in the sun. Sunscreen will be lathered on, hats will be worn, and of course, the summer clothes will be pulled out of storage. With the shorts, tank tops, and swim suits, also come the summer shoes, which include flip flops....
Physical Therapists Meet With Members Of Congress To Discuss Access To Care - September 3, 2010
Physical therapy advocates of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) met with their members of Congress on Tuesday to discuss the importance of direct access to physical therapy services provided under Medicare, the negative effect of arbitrary financial limits (also known as therapy caps) on Medicare Part B outpatient rehabilitative services, and policies that would increase access to care for patients in rural areas and the nation's veterans. ...
Patient files found dumped in Monticello - September 3, 2010
Officials have seized hundreds, perhaps thousands, of files containing Social Security numbers and other private patient information found dumped outside the shuttered office of DRC Physical Therapy Plus....
Physiotherapy Associates Announces New Clinic in Las Vegas, NV - September 3, 2010
The clinic is currently seeing patients and offers a comprehensive range of physical therapy services, including specialized treatment for back pain associated with pregnancy, urinary and fecal incontinence, and chronic pelvic pain...
DavisPTnetwork Joins Forces with the Foundation for Physical Therapy to Help Raise Funds for Research - September 3, 2010
DavisPTnetwork, the online continuing education and networking website from F.A. Davis Company, together with the Foundation for Physical Therapy, is raising funds for physical therapy research....
Complimentary Injury Screenings Available at All AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy Centers - September 3, 2010
Orthopedic injury screenings offer Illinois and Milwaukee communities opportunity for injury education and options. ...
Medicare anti-fraud efforts net $2.5 billion - September 3, 2010
Funding from the economic stimulus package was used to recoup losses for Medicare, boost criminal probes and provide new tools to law enforcement, HHS says....
Former area psychiatrist gets 15 years - September 3, 2010
A former Ormond Beach psychiatrist was sentenced Thursday to serve more than 15 years in prison for swindling seriously ill people out of $400,000 with false promises of organ transplants in the Philippines, officials said. ...
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies' Anti-Fraud Efforts Collect More Than Half a Billion Dollars in 2009 - September 3, 2010
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies' anti-fraud investigations resulted in overall savings and recoveries of more than $510 million in 2009, according to data released today by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA)....
Overbilled? State pays anyway - September 3, 2010
The bill sent to the state by a Minneapolis home care business was incredible: A personal care assistant helping the sick or disabled had worked 32 hours a day, for three days in a row....
Alabama Strengthens Medicaid Payment Accuracy with Innovative Contingency Contract - September 3, 2010
With the hurting economy and a flood of new Medicaid recipients on the horizon, state governments can't afford to squander public dollars. But across the country, budget constraints have hampered aggressive efforts to improve payment accuracy, leaving more room for costly mistakes and abuse in Medicaid programs....
Regence uncovers sophisticated fraud effort - September 3, 2010
The Regence Group has detected a new medical billing fraud that has put insurers across the country on high alert....
Enrollment Watchdogs Target all Medicare Providers With Expanded Screening Powers - September 3, 2010
CMS's intense focus on enrollment compliance will turn increasingly to hospitals, physicians and other Part A and B providers and suppliers now that the agency has put controls in place to keep undeserving durable medical equipment (DME) companies out of Medicare, the director of Medicare program integrity said April 18....
Parkland hospital system fined for employees' drug thefts - September 3, 2010
Parkland Health & Hospital System has agreed to pay $20,000 in state penalties for failing to prevent massive narcotics theft by employees at outpatient clinic pharmacies. ...
Changing the World: Our Leadership Opportunity - September 3, 2010
Like many of my contemporaries, I chose chiropractic as a career because I wanted to make the world a better place. Helping people to achieve their potential as human beings was the vision. ...
Can You See the Big Picture? - September 3, 2010
Having been on both sides of the journey into a profession - as a student and a teacher - I credit myself with the ability to comment on what must be one of the most difficult challenges: being able to finally and fully comprehend the "Big Picture" and remain focused on it through decades of professional practice. ...
No coverage is a chronic condition - September 2, 2010
IF YOU wrestle your way through the Harvard-Pilgrim website, you can find the clause for concern. It's listed under "Other Health Services,'' and reads: "Physical and occupational therapies up to 60 consecutive days per condition.'' If your therapist calls and asks, the insurer's service rep will assuredly say that restriction is interpreted as "for life.''...
Clinic owner, employee investigated in patient-file case - September 2, 2010
Deputies are investigating the roles of a New Jersey chiropractor and a Sullivan County physical therapist in the case of patient files found dumped outside the closed DRC Physical Therapy Plus in Monticello. Officials on Saturday seized hundreds of records after they were found in the parking lot of the Thompson Square Mall....
Dancing against time: Parkinson's disease movement therapy only has money through May - September 2, 2010
A handful of dancers spin across the wood floor of a multi-purpose room at Fleishmann Park. Instructor Isabel Castro teaches them movements from ballet, jazz, waltz, contemporary and other classic dances as Doug Carman plays music and sings in the corner of the room. The dancers are new to some of the movements, and carefully watch their instructor....
Baltimore Area Physical Therapy Innovator Opens Gordon Institute - September 2, 2010
One-of-a-kind facility combines physical therapy and sports performance; offers breakthrough oncology rehabilitation....
Who Pays for Medical Complications? - September 2, 2010
The group's decision was based in part on work previously done by a national coalition of health care safety and quality experts. These experts had assembled a list of complications so egregious that they called them "never events," as in they should never occur....
CMS has proposed rule for hospital telemedicine privileging - September 2, 2010
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has just issued a proposed rule to revise the conditions of participation for hospitals, to allow for a new privileging process for telemedicine services....
Medicare Advantage Plans Must Report Adverse Events and Data to CMS by May 31 - September 2, 2010
By the end of this month, Medicare Advantage plans must begin reporting large amounts of additional procedure frequency, adverse events and care management (for Special Needs Plans only) data to CMS. And by the end of August, the plans must report 138 measures of benefit utilization. In many cases, consultants warn, MA plans will need to rely on providers to help generate these 2009 data....
CMS issues notice of sanctions to Medicare Advantage insurer - September 2, 2010
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week informed Medicare Advantage insurer Quality Health Plans of its intent to impose intermediate sanctions and a civil monetary penalty (CMP) on the company due to its failure to comply with certain requirements. ...
CMS awards $73.2M contract for Medicare Web sites - September 2, 2010
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services awarded CGI Federal Inc. a $73.2 million contract to enhance and manage applications on three agency Web sites that enable Medicare beneficiaries to find information about their healthcare programs....
Treating Pelvic Pain and Pelvic Floor Disorders With Physical Therapy - September 2, 2010
Women who experience pelvic floor problems -- such as pain, bulging, leaking or difficulty with urination or bowel movements -- are embarrassed to acknowledge they have a problem (even to themselves) and reluctant to discuss it with anyone. ...
High Co-pays Lead to Increased Health Care Costs - September 2, 2010
Empirical evidence has demonstrated that high co-pays ultimately lead to increased health care costs. And physical therapists have seen first-hand the impact high co-pays have on patient's access to medically necessary care....
NYC Chiropractor Expands Practice with Therapy for Muscle and Overuse Injuries - September 2, 2010
Dr. Steven Shoshany has recently expanded his downtown NYC practice to include a potent soft tissue and muscle pain therapy called the Active Release Technique. Active Release Technique is different because it both diagnoses and treats at the same time. ...
VHA Inc. Signs Agreement with Executive Health Resources for its Medical Necessity Compliance and Appeals Management Services - September 2, 2010
Executive Health Resources, Inc. (EHR), The Physician Advisor Company™, a leading provider of healthcare medical necessity regulatory compliance services, announced today it has recently signed an agreement with VHA Inc., the national health care network....
Lawyers turn chiropractors - September 1, 2010
Tanya's motivation to venture into chiropractic came from seeing her sister and cousins helping patients through chiropractic without invasive procedures....
Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines available for chiropractors - September 1, 2010
The Best Practices and Practice Guidelines (BPPG), one of the most valuable resources a practicing chiropractor can have is now available in a 640-page, soft-cover book. ...
The Use of Medical Imaging as Part of Chiropractic Care - September 1, 2010
Ask any three or four guys lined up at the bar of the favorite watering hole on a Saturday night what they know about chiropractics, and you will undoubtedly get a lot of jokes about rib cracking, bone mashing, and easy fees. ...
Broomfield Chiropractor Uses DRX9000 Spinal Decompression to End Chronic Back Pain - September 1, 2010
He has seen the faces twisted in pain from debilitating back pain, and thanks to his expertise in treatment with DRX9000 Spinal Decompression Therapy, he has been able to remove that pain from many of his patients' faces and give them back their quality of life and their smiles....
ICD-10 & HIPAA 5010 Compliance In The Cloud - September 1, 2010
While much of the national news coverage has focused on EHR (electronic health record) adoption/meaningful use and healthcare reform, perhaps the most significant IT challenge for healthcare providers over the next few years will be HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) 5010 and ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition) compliance....
Lawrence chiropractor offers new body therapy - September 1, 2010
Do you suffer from allergies, headaches, depression, insomnia, backache or other physical and emotional ailments that keep you from functioning at full capacity? Do you feel generally stressed out and find your body, mind and spirit disconnected? If so, you might be interested in a therapy that's created waves across five continents....
Chiropractor in fraud case gets probation - September 1, 2010
A Mountain Top chiropractor who defrauded patients and insurance companies out of more than $24,000 over a five-year span was sentenced Thursday to 23 months of probation....
The Impact of the ARRA, Health Care Implementation and Reform, The State of Metropolitan America and Much More - September 1, 2010
Estimated Impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on Employment and Economic Output from January 2010 Through March 2010 - This Congressional Budget Office report finds that Recovery Act spending raised the level of real (inflation-adjusted) gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 4.2 percent, lowered the unemployment rate by between 0.7 percentage points and 1.5 percentage points, increased the number of people employed by between 1.2 million and 2.8 million, and increased the number of full-time-equivalent jobs by 1.8 million to 4.1 million compared with what those amounts would have been otherwise....
Chiropractor accused of assault still suspended - September 1, 2010
A judge Monday extended the suspension of the Amarillo chiropractor accused of sexual assault of a child, said Scott Parker, the director of enforcement for the Texas Board of Chiropractic Examiners....
Risks of At Home Spinal Decompression Therapy Tables Revealed - September 1, 2010
Renowned NJ chiropractor Dr Peter Ferraro is one of the leading practitioners of Spinal Decompression Therapy in New Jersey. Dr. Ferraro explains the risks and benefits of at-home decompression tables....
Phoenix's Banner Alzheimer's receives $6.5M federal grant - September 1, 2010
Banner Alzheimer's Institute, a partner of Banner Health Foundation, received a $6.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health courtesy the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)....
Rehabilitation service for elderly cuts risk of falls - September 1, 2010
Elderly people suffer half as many further falls if they are immediately referred to a falls prevention service, researchers say....
County mental health facility audit to focus on patient safety - August 31, 2010
An audit launched this week of Milwaukee County's Mental Health Complex will focus on patient safety and include a review of policies on patient sexual contact and whether they are being followed, County Auditor Jerome Heer said Tuesday....
Patient Recruiters and Employee at Houston Medical Equipment Company Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud Scheme and Illegal Health Care Kickbacks - August 31, 2010
Houston-area residents Basil Kalu and Ju-Ying Qian, and Louisiana resident Darnell Willis pleaded guilty today in connection with their roles in a durable medical equipment Medicare fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced....
Toledo businessman accused in billing scheme involving Toledo Hospital - August 31, 2010
The scheme Toledo businessman John Briggle allegedly used to bilk Cleveland Public Schools out of thousands of dollars - and possibly Toledo Public Schools as well - also may have been used locally to steal money from Toledo Hospital....
Medicare HIV-therapy fraudster may get 10 years - August 31, 2010
South Miami-Dade medical clinic operator David Marrero recruited his 76-year-old aunt as a patient in order to trick Medicare into paying him for costly HIV therapy that was never provided, federal prosecutors say....
ICD-9 to ICD-10 crosswalks: There's got to be a better way - August 31, 2010
At a time when industry bodies and consultancies are trying to figure out how providers and payers can best transform existing ICD-9 data into the imminent ICD-10 code schemes, and the word "crosswalk" keeps being batted around, Dennis Winkler at Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan is the curious case of an ICD-10 crosswalk contrarian, believing he's found a better path....
Grand jury indicts 5 doctors, 6 others for allegedly running Medicare fraud ring - August 31, 2010
The Department of Justice announced Monday that 11 people have been charged for allegedly running an operation that involved filing false claims to Medicare for treating patients who were not sick, or in some cases, dead....
House Also Considers COBRA Extension, Healthcare Fraud - August 31, 2010
While news about the proposed so-called "doc fix"-a proposed delay for three more years for any physician payment cuts using the Sustainable Growth Rate formula-has dominated discussions in the $190 billion jobs and tax bill (HR 4213) the House plans to vote on this week, numerous other healthcare-related provisions have been attached to the bill as well....
Clinic operator pleads guilty to drug charge, Medicare fraud - August 31, 2010
The operator of a chain of pain clinics has pleaded guilty to a federal drug crime and Medicare fraud....
Chiropractors specialize, so find the right one - August 31, 2010
Most healthcare professions are defined by the types of conditions they manage. For example, cardiologists manage heart problems, dermatologists, the skin and so forth. Most people associate doctors of chiropractic with managing conditions related to the spine as well as the procedural technique that chiropractors use most often: spinal adjustments, also known as chiropractic manipulative therapy....
Feds probing whether UT Southwestern, Parkland committed Medicare, Medicaid billing fraud - August 31, 2010
On Sunday, my colleague Miles Moffeit and I reported that federal authorities are investigating whether UT Southwestern and Parkland Memorial, its main teaching hospital, committed fraud by falsely billing Medicare and Medicaid for patient care....
Medicaid Struggles to Follow the Money, Auditors Find - August 31, 2010
A new state audit criticizing Florida's Medicaid program for shoddy oversight is raising heightened concerns about the role state officials play in fueling the runaway costs that have prompted calls to overhaul the health plan covering 2.7 million Floridians....
Owner of New Jersey counseling center charged with Medicaid fraud - August 31, 2010
The owner of a now closed Newark, N.J., mental health and substance abuse counseling center is facing three counts of fraud, accused of collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars through improper Medicaid claims....
Fraud investigator looking at Brooklyn Park home health care agency - August 31, 2010
A Brooklyn Park home health care agency has fallen under the scrutiny of state fraud investigators after they determined that its owner overbilled Medicaid by $8,000 for services, according to a Hennepin County search warrant affidavit....
HHS Awards ARRA Funds to Establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration - August 31, 2010
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Disability today announced the award of over $6 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to establish a Center of Excellence in Research on Disability Services, Care Coordination and Integration....
Iron Mountain Calls On CMS To Expand Its Rules for e-Health Records - August 31, 2010
Iron Mountain Incorporated , an information management services company, recently called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand its proposed rules for the "meaningful use" of electronic health records (EHR) so healthcare providers would be eligible to receive federal subsidies for digitizing paper records and scrubbing patient databases. ...
CMS Holds First Nationwide RAC Call - August 31, 2010
In the first of four scheduled nationwide RAC calls, CMS began the first portion with a basic summary of the RAC operational process. CMS representatives began this portion describing how the success of the demonstration led to the implementation of the permanent program, and eventually led into up-to-date concerns such as additional documentation limits, the N432 code, and RAC impacts on critical access hospitals....
Mental Health Complex racks up $204,000 in lawyer fees - August 31, 2010
A private attorney hired by Milwaukee County has cost taxpayers nearly $204,000 over the past three years to defend the county against possible lawsuits or criminal charges over shoddy care at the Mental Health Complex....
Medicare Advantage Plans Fear CMS May Reject Bids Based on New Regulatory Powers, Past Performance - August 30, 2010
Medicare Advantage plans and their attorneys increasingly worry that CMS will use new powers under the health reform law to reject entire 2011 bids - perhaps without the option of appeal - something that hasn't happened before. They also fear that CMS increasingly may not approve applications for new service areas or products based on past performance issues in one perhaps small part of the organization, even if those problems have been remedied....
CMS Proposes Rule to Expand Medicare Preventive Services - August 30, 2010
On June 25, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would implement key provisions in the Affordable Care Act of 2010 that expand preventive services for Medicare beneficiaries, improve payments for primary care services and promote access to health care services in rural areas....
Dallas is among 9 cities where Medicare is testing a medical supply bidding process - August 30, 2010
Dallas-area residents who use Medicare to pay for their medical supplies may soon get a break on the prices, but they may have fewer suppliers to choose from....
Medicare to test more medical home models - August 30, 2010
The federal government is inviting states to apply for participation in a project that will assess the effectiveness of collaborating with Medicare on a patient-centered medical home model. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will provide enhanced payments to participating practices....
Medicare Advantage Changes for 2011 - August 30, 2010
The deadline for Medicare Advantage plans to submit their 2011 plan details was yesterday, June 7th. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) will review all 2,000+ plans and may ask plans to revise certain cost sharing and/or premium increases. CMS can reject plan proposals entirely....
Authority says Dimensions should purchase Prince George's hospitals - August 29, 2010
Prince George's County should sell its hospital system to the current operator, Dimensions Healthcare System, and help build a new hospital in Cheverly, a state board said today....
St. Mary's of Michigan hospital responds to government charges of over-billing that led to six-figure settlement - August 29, 2010
St. Mary's of Michigan hospital in Saginaw agreed to pay more than $260,000 to settle charges by the federal government that it unnecessarily extended the stay of some back-surgery patients....
Whistleblowers Say Money Is Not Their Motivation - August 29, 2010
A spate of very large whistleblower settlements in the healthcare sector amounting to billions of dollars in fines have been reported over the last few years. For the most part, the big ticket fines are directed at pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer, which paid $2.3 billion last fall to settle whistleblower claims that it illegally marketed its drugs to physicians....
Another guilty plea in $14.5 million Medicare home health care fraud scheme - August 29, 2010
An additional Metro Detroit resident pleaded guilty Thursday for his involvement in a fraudulent Medicare home health care scheme, the Medicare Fraud Strike Force announced....
Mississippi chiropractor accused of false patient claims - August 29, 2010
A Mississippi chiropractor was recently arrested and charged with insurance fraud after he allegedly made false claims on four patients' policies....
Auditor's Mistake Gives Practice $4 Million Headache - August 29, 2010
Government expansion of an auditing program for Medicare and Medicaid that rewards contractors for finding overpayments to physician practices is likely to cause more disputes like the one VRF Eye Specialty Group recently settled....
CMS Will Attempt Recovery of $1.7 Million Overpaid in Psychiatric Patient Miscoding - August 29, 2010
Hundreds of acute care hospitals with psychiatric inpatient units may face federal review to recover an estimated $1.7 million the facilities were overpaid because of incorrect coding....
Compuware Survey Reveals Doctors and Nurses Struggle With Performance of Clinical Information Systems - August 29, 2010
Survey Shows Nearly 50 Percent of Health Care Professionals Are Unsatisfied With Response Times of Clinical Information Systems; Response Times as High as One Minute or More ...
RehabCare Estimates Impact of Proposed Medicare Part B Therapy Rate Reduction - August 29, 2010
RehabCare Group, Inc. has responded to changes to the Medicare Part B therapy services included in the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule, which was released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on June 25 and could go into effect Jan. 1, 2011....
Columbus chiropractor charged with insurance fraud - August 29, 2010
Columbus chiropractor Dr. James Donovan is free on $10,000 bond after being charged with insurance fraud....
T.E.N.S. billing and coding - August 29, 2010
Q: I just started supplying my patients with T.E.N.S. machines. What is the best way to bill and code for this therapy?...
Research Roundup: Whistleblowers, Spreading Best Practices, Medicare's Growth-Limiting Strategy - August 29, 2010
The Impact Of Removing Financial Incentives From Clinical Quality Indicators: Longitudinal Analysis Of Four Kaiser Permanente Indicators – The researchers found the removal of pay-for-performance incentives "was associated with a decrease in performance of about 3% per year on average for screening for diabetic retinopathy and about 1.6% per year for cervical cancer screening"...
Investigation: Taxpayers Billed for Unwanted Wheelchair - August 29, 2010
Imagine coming home to find a brand new, $6,000 wheelchair sitting in your living room. That's what happened to Henry Harden of south Dallas. The problem: he didn't order it, doesn't need it and had no idea where it came from. Why should you care?...
Miami Clinic "Consultant" Convicted in $6 M Medicare Fraud Plot - August 29, 2010
As part of the government's ongoing crackdown on Medicare fraud, a self-styled "consultant" for a medical clinic in Miami was convicted on Tuesday for his role in helping to fraudulently bill Medicare nearly $6 million, in part by pretending his elderly aunt was HIV positive....
Doctor sentenced to 1 year in prison for $1 million fraud - August 29, 2010
Before a packed federal courtroom today, a Penn Hills doctor who admitted to submitting more than $1 million in false insurance claims to Medicare and private insurers over a five-year period was sentenced to a year behind bars....
Pa. chiropractor charged with insurance fraud gets probation - August 29, 2010
A chiropractor operating out of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was sentenced to 23 months of probation on charges of insurance fraud and theft by deception....
N.J. health clinic, officials reach settlement on fraud lawsuit - August 29, 2010
The owner of an Essex County pain management center will pay more than $88,000 in penalties and restitution through a deal with New Jersey officials to settle allegations including fraudulently billing insurance companies....
Fresno woman sentenced in wheelchair scheme - August 29, 2010
A Fresno woman convicted in a scam to sell unnecessary power wheelchairs to unwitting victims was sentenced to 12 months in prison for her participation in the nearly $1-million scheme....
Couple arrested for operating assisted living facility without a license - August 29, 2010
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a Bradenton couple has been taken into custody on charges they were operating an assisted living facility without a license....
Illinois doctor admits to health fraud, surrenders medical license - August 29, 2010
An Illinois pediatrician pleaded guilty to charges of health care fraud after improperly billing insurance companies for vaccines that were offered primarily for free....
Hospitals to Pay More than $9.4M to Resolve Kyphoplasty Allegations - August 29, 2010
Nine hospitals located in Alabama, Indiana, Florida, Michigan, South Carolina, New York, and Minnesota have agreed to pay the United States more than $9.4 million to settle allegations that the health care facilities submitted false claims to Medicare....
Law Firm Hires Physician to Help Resolve Health Care Disputes - August 29, 2010
A leading Atlanta law firm has taken the unusual step of hiring a physician with extensive knowledge of the government side of health care....
California Patient Recruiter Sentenced to 12 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud in Power Wheelchair Scam - August 29, 2010
A Fresno, Calif.-area patient recruiter was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison for her participation in a nearly $1 million power wheelchair fraud scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS)....
Medicare Policies Ignore Aging-at-Home Concept - August 29, 2010
At a town hall meeting a year ago, President Obama said that home-based care could play a major role in controlling Medicare costs by keeping older people out of more expensive institutional care....
O.C. hospital chain to pay $1.2 million settlement - August 29, 2010
The owner of four Orange County hospitals will pay $1.2 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the state after patients were billed for charges owed by their HMOs....
AthletiCo Physical Therapy Enhances Work Rehabilitation Program by Offering Ergonomics and Job Analysis - August 29, 2010
AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy , an Illinois and Milwaukee-based provider of rehabilitation services, recently hired Keri Harris, MS, OTR/L, to manage its Ergonomics and Job Analysis Program....
Research Roundup: Managing Nursing Home Patients, Streamlining Medical Billing, Financial Disclosures - August 29, 2010
Saving Billions Of Dollars--And Physicians' Time--By Streamlining Billing Practices – "The U.S. system of billing third parties for health care services is complex, expensive, and inefficient," write the authors, who analyzed Massachusetts General Physicians Organization staffing and cost data in fiscal year 2006....
Mistakes, little oversight cited for Phila. VA prostate cancer treatment - August 29, 2010
When doctors from the University of Pennsylvania performed prostate cancer procedures at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, they made dozens of mistakes over six years, and investigators could find no evidence that anyone was providing oversight, concluded a report issued Monday by the Department of Veterans Affairs Inspector General's Office....
DiNapoli: New York overpaid millions in Medicaid - August 29, 2010
More than $150 million was wasted in out-of-state Medicaid payments because of the state's billing system and policies, according to audits released today by New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli....
Audit finds drug theft went unreported - August 28, 2010
The Western Maryland Hospital Center, a state rehabilitation facility in Hagerstown, did not disclose the theft of prescription drugs, breaking rules set up by Gov. Martin O'Malley, according to a legislative audit released Friday....
$85,000 in overpayments to county hospital and health workers, audit finds - August 28, 2010
Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center and the Department of Health Services overpaid workers tens of thousands of dollars in bonuses, sick pay, disability pay and overtime and need to do more to monitor both over- and underpayments, according to an audit released this week....
UIHC Audit Finds $11 Million in Missed Billings - August 28, 2010
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics officials said an oversight that led to about $11 million in missed billings has been discovered and will be fixed....
How States Are Turning the Tables on Medicaid Abusers - August 28, 2010
The government has a "pay first and ask questions" later policy when it comes to making Medicare and Medicaid payments. This helps ensure that health care providers are paid in a timely manner, but it has also opened the door to rampant errors and criminal activity....
Bay Ridge Chiropractor, Dr Jason Peloquin Is Now Specializing In Kinesiotaping And Gua Sha Therapy For Soft Tissue Injuries - August 27, 2010
Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, Chiropractor and Clinical Nutritionist Dr. Peloquin's office Hands of Gold Chiropractic has been helping suffering people in Bay Ridge Brooklyn since 2004. He has now added two new physical modalities to help aid and assist in the treatment of soft tissue injuries....
10 Steps to Comply With ICD-10 - August 27, 2010
On Oct. 1, 2013, the U.S. will join many countries in the international community by mandating the switchover in code sets for healthcare diagnoses and procedures from ICD-9 to ICD-10....
New ICD-10 Training Tools Released with 3M Coding and Reimbursement System - August 27, 2010
3M has released new ICD-10 training tools, available at no cost to current customers of the 3M Coding and Reimbursement System. The software upgrade helps hospitals achieve a successful ICD-10 transition....
Compass Clinical Consulting Presents "Surviving the Joint Commission and CMS Survey Process" at Rockefeller University Hospital - August 27, 2010
Compass Clinical Consulting Practice Leader for Accreditation and Regulatory Compliance Ruth Elzer RN, MS, will present an educational seminar on current regulatory compliance issues in collaboration with Rockefeller University Hospital....
CMS changes provider enrollment, ordering and referral documentation requirements - August 27, 2010
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last week released provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requiring all providers of medical or other items or services and suppliers that qualify for a National Provider Identifier (NPI) to include their NPI number on all enrollment applications and on all claims submitted under the Medicare and Medicaid programs....
Federal Jury Convicts Local Ambulance Company Owner Defendant Fraudulently Billed Government More Than $3.5 Million for Transferring Patients to Sched - August 27, 2010
The owner/operator of Royal Ambulance Service, Inc. and First Choice EMS, Inc., Muhammed Nasiru Usman, was convicted yesterday afternoon by a federal jury on all 14 counts of a superseding indictment charging various offenses, including health care fraud and money laundering, related to a health care fraud scheme he ran....
Waste, Fraud and the Truth - August 27, 2010
About two-thirds of federal spending is automatic and mandatory - mostly Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest on the national debt. The other one-third, handled annually in 12 bills, is for everything else, with the biggest chunk by far going to the military. ...
CMS Clarifies Signature Requirements for Medicare Participating Docs - August 27, 2010
Most physicians would prefer to avoid being targeted in the cross hairs of a Medicare auditor. The key to doing so, according to Cynthia Hughes, C.P.C., an AAFP coding specialist, is to understand and follow CMS' recently updated signature guidelines, which are outlined in the March 16 MLN Matters (6-page PDF; About PDFs)....
State hospitals facing Medicare cut - August 27, 2010
The federal government plans to slice about $66 million from the annual Medicare payments it sends to Connecticut hospitals in the coming fiscal year, which would deal a significant budget blow to many of the state's health care facilities....
No Clinical Deficiencies for Elant at Brandywine Nursing Home & Rehabilitation; 2nd Year in a Row - August 27, 2010
For the second year in a row, the Elant at Brandywine Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center was found to have no clinical deficiencies during its recent annual health inspection conducted by New York State Department of Health surveyors....
Las Vegas Tops Fresenius Travel List for Dialysis Patients - August 27, 2010
Las Vegas topped Fresenius Medical Care's top 10 list of places for dialysis patients to travel, according to an Aug. 18 news release....
Gout Drug Slows Kidney Disease - August 27, 2010
Allopurinol, a drug approved for hyperuricemia, significantly slowed the progression of renal disease in patients with moderate chronic disease, a small randomized trial showed....
GAO report validates physician complaints on Medicare claims contractors - August 27, 2010
While CMS has made progress in overhauling the old carrier system, new contractors have not been fully up to speed, according to the GAO....
Employer Healthcare Costs Expected to Rise 9 percent in 2011, According to PricewaterhouseCoopers - August 27, 2010
The nation's employers can expect medical costs to increase by 9 percent in 2011, a decrease of 0.5 percent from the 2010 growth rate, according to the annual Behind the Numbers report published today by the PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) Health Research Institute....
Hospital settles referral lawsuit - August 27, 2010
A Cincinnati hospital has agreed to pay the federal government $108 million to settle claims that it illegally gave cardiologists financial incentives to refer heart patients to the hospital, the U.S. Department of Justice said....
Nine US Hospitals Pay $9.4 Million for False Claims - August 27, 2010
Hospitals in New York, Minnesota, Alabama, Indiana, Florida, Michigan, and South Carolina are accused of falsely placing patients under inpatient care when their procedures were minimally invasive outpatient operations....
Report: Efforts To Fight Medicare Fraud Brought in Billions Last Year - August 27, 2010
Efforts by the federal government to eliminate Medicare fraud have produced $2.5 billion for the program's trust fund in fiscal year 2009, a 29% increase from the previous year, according to a report released on Thursday by HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Attorney General Eric Holder, CQ HealthBeat reports....
Physical Therapy clinic accused of Medicare fraud - August 27, 2010
A Federal raid went down in Queens Wednesday morning on a physical therapy clinic in Queens. Four people are now charged with paying kickbacks to Medicare patients for therapy they never received, and didn't need in the first place. ...
Sandata Chosen to Implement Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Telephonic Home Health Project - August 27, 2010
Sandata, LLC, a leading nationwide provider of information technology solutions to the home healthcare industry, is pleased to announce the launch of the Telephonic Home Health Service Delivery Monitoring and Verification (DMV) pilot project in Miami-Dade County....
Miami's Medical Equipment Solutions Now Offers Electric Power Wheelchair - August 27, 2010
Located in the heart of downtown Coral Gables (Miami) Florida, Medical Equipment Solutions has been providing services for disabled, elderly, and recovery patients for over a decade. Their experts have a passion for helping customers improve their quality of life. From electric wheelchairs to hospital beds and oxygen concentrators, the specialists at MES have the experience to help individuals and families find the perfect products for leading better lives....
AthletiCo Employees Travel to Honduras to Provide Medical Care to Impoverished Communities - August 26, 2010
During the week of April 11, twenty employees of AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy traveled to Honduras with Global Medical Brigades to provide medical care to remote rural communities....
UCF Celebrates First Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduates - August 26, 2010
The first group of students in the University of Central Florida's new Doctor of Physical Therapy program will graduate this week....
Brooklyn Physical Therapy Clinic Executive and Three Employees Charged in Health Care Fraud Scheme - August 26, 2010
Four Brooklyn, N.Y.-area residents have been charged in connection with a health care fraud scheme operated out of the Solstice Wellness Center, a Brooklyn-area clinic that purported to specialize in providing physical therapy and various diagnostic tests, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS). ...
Medicare fraud penalties tougher under proposed bill - August 26, 2010
Saying that criminal penalties for Medicare fraud must be updated, two Florida lawmakers introduced a bill April 13 that would double fines, increase background checks and even study how biometric technology could help ensure the appropriate use of program services....
AstraZeneca settlement nets Oregon $5.6M - August 26, 2010
A major pharmaceutical settlement will put more nearly $5.7 million into Oregon's health care coffers....
State collecting $9 million for illegal marketing of Seroquel - August 26, 2010
New Jersey will receive more than $9 million in a national Medicaid fraud settlement with pharmaceutical company Astra Zeneca Pharmaceuticals LP regarding an illegal off-label marketing campaign that improperly promoted the antipsychotic drug Seroquel, Attorney General Paula T. Dow announced Tuesday....
Kansas to receive $807K from Medicaid fraud suit - August 26, 2010
Kansas will receive $807,000 from a multi-state lawsuit against prescription drug companies Omnicare Inc. and IVAX Pharmaceuticals Inc....
Doctors plead guilty to health care fraud - August 26, 2010
A husband and wife doctor team pleaded guilty Monday, after their indictment alleging they defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and health insurance companies of $31 million, authorities said....
Former Schneider clinic workers say they were told to falsify records - August 26, 2010
Two former employees at the Schneider Medical Clinic told a jury this morning that they were asked to falsify patient records....
Fugitive arrested in multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud scheme - August 25, 2010
A Miami man wanted since 1988 in connection with a $10.9 million Medicare fraud scheme was taken into custody at Miami International Airport on Monday, according to the U.S. attorney's office....
New Website Launches to Help Providers Cope with CMS/Medicaid Audit Contractors - August 25, 2010
Following on the success of its RACmonitor news and information Internet portal, its founders, RACmonitor, LLC, are launching this week a comparable Website focused on the activities of The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Medicaid Integrity Contractors (MICs) called www.micmonitor.com....
Waste in health care? For some, it's profit - August 25, 2010
As Congress turns to the must-do task of cutting Medicare costs - and considers Cambridge-based health care innovator Donald Berwick to lead the effort - it's worth reminding ourselves what Berwick surely knows. It's not just that many of Medicare's problems are well-known. So are many of the solutions....
Rick Scott, who ran a company involved in the nation's largest Medicare fraud case, wants to be Florida's governor - August 25, 2010
It was and still is the biggest Medicare fraud case in U.S. history and ended with the hospital giant Columbia/HCA paying a record $1.7 billion in fines, penalties and damages. Now the man who ran the company at the time wants to be Florida's governor....
Houston-Area Durable Medical Equipment Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme Involving Nutrition Supplies - August 25, 2010
The owner and operator of a Houston-area durable medical equipment (DME) company today pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS). ...
Dealing with health care fraud head-on - August 25, 2010
Massive health care fraud exists due to the ease of accomplishing it, combined with poor oversight....
GAO Confirms Payment Delays to Medical Equipment Providers; Questions Arise as to Whether Medicare Can Implement Reforms - August 25, 2010
A recent study by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirms that the processing of Medicare reimbursement claims for medical equipment providers continues to be a problem despite the government's efforts to implement reforms....
HealthEdge Eliminates Need for ICD-10 Conversion for Healthcare Payors - August 25, 2010
HealthEdge, provider of the only modern, enterprise-class software platform for healthcare payors, today announced that its HealthRules product suite is being used by leading payors across the country to enable the immediate adoption of ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes, well in advance of the cutover deadline and without any significant expenditure of time or effort. ...
DoJ report uncovers healthcare fraud settlements, actions in 2009 - August 25, 2010
According to the 13th annual Department of Justice (DoJ) Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program report for fiscal year 2009, the federal government won or negotiated approximately $1.63 billion in judgments and settlements and U.S. attorneys' offices opened 1,014 new criminal healthcare fraud investigations involving 1,786 potential defendants....
Judge backs Medicare's revocation of billing rights - August 25, 2010
A federal judge has ruled Medicare acted properly in 2007 when it revoked the billing rights of a Boston dermatologist who has helped hundreds of patients with rare skin diseases, but also pleaded guilty to backdating letters and falsifying medical tests in what he said was an effort to get insurance coverage for patients....
Chiropractor gets probation for fraud - August 25, 2010
A local chiropractor with an office in Wilkes-Barre who was charged with insurance fraud and other related charges stemming from the theft of more than $24,000 from patients' insurance was sentenced Thursday to 23 months probation....
Cops raid Minneapolis firm that allegedly doctored kids' lead tests - August 25, 2010
Thousands of blood tests on Hennepin County children to determine whether they had lead poisoning were lost or never actually analyzed in an insurance scheme that used fraudulent billing to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from a county-run health plan, authorities said....
Southwest Healthcare reaches agreement to keep Medicare funding - August 25, 2010
Last month, state officials found the hospital system's two facilities had put patients at risk of death or serious injury. Under the deal, the system must hire experts to evaluate it and report back....
NC Senate follows governor with personal care cuts - August 25, 2010
North Carolina Senate budget writers agreed Tuesday to implode the programs that give at-home Medicaid patients help with their cooking and bathing, arguing providers aren't serious about eliminating fraud in an industry that employs tens of thousands of people....
Bethesda Memorial settles Medicare fraud case - August 25, 2010
Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach is among nine hospitals that have agreed to pay a total of $9.4 million to settle allegations that they submitted false claims to Medicare....
CMS: Medical Necessity Reviews Are Coming, and Soon - August 23, 2010
There has been much speculation as to when providers would see the first wave of medical necessity reviews by Medicare Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC); but the May 5 nationwide RAC 101 call helped to dispel a bit of that uncertainty....
Chiropractor settles with the Department of Justice - August 23, 2010
A Lake Oswego chiropractor has agreed to pay more than $30,000 in a settlement stemming from complaints about business advertisements....
Medical supply company files lawsuit over Medicare audit - August 23, 2010
A Texarkana medical supply alleges that figures used in a Medicare audit were extrapolated from a sampling, rather than by review of individual claims. ...
[HRM]-Health reform will bring more risks and compliance concerns - August 23, 2010
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPAC), recently signed into law by President Obama, will affect many areas of concern for risk managers. Sorting through the lengthy and complex law will take some time, but it already is apparent that there are provisions that received little or no attention during the health care reform debate but which could create new compliance obligations and exposures for health care providers....
Turning to the cloud for HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 compliance - August 23, 2010
Distant thunder rumbles across the HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 horizon. That's the sound of cloud computing services gliding toward healthcare organizations. Cloud computing has already caught on in other facets of healthcare IT – and as providers and payers prepare to meet the pending mandates, hosted services could prove a viable option....
Connecticut Pediatric Practice Settles Overbilling Claims - August 23, 2010
A pediatric medical practice with offices statewide has agreed to pay the U.S. government nearly $75,000 to settle allegations it had improperly billed patient visits....
GS3 Medical Billing LLC (GS3) to Host a Complimentary HIPPA-HITECH Webinar - August 23, 2010
Since the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) last year with its HITECH overlay on HIPAA, medical practices may never be the same....
Chiropractic Stroke Website Launched To Aid Victims of Chiropractor Malpractice - August 23, 2010
A new website from the Abelson Law Firm provides chiropractic patients with valuable information regarding the signs and symptoms of chiropractic stroke and the causes of chiropractic malpractice....
Local Chiropractor Accused Of Sexual Assault - August 23, 2010
Yarbrough Chiropractic Clinic is closed today, one day after Yarbrough was indicted in Randall County on charges of sexual assault of a child and attempted sexual assault....
State of the Art Chiropractor Comes to Angelton Texas - August 22, 2010
Bringing advanced Chiropractor technologies to rural America is Dr. Melissa Vrazel-Ramirez, a chiropractor, acupuncturist and wellness advocate with over 20 years of experience. Practicing in a small, town of 18,000 in Angleton, Texas, Vrazel-Ramirez is a certified ProAdjustor doctor who utilizes computerized piezoelectric instrumentation in the treatment of back and neck pain....
Former Chiropractor, Drug Trafficker, Denied Medical License - August 22, 2010
After completing a 40-month incarceration for felony drug charges, successful probationary period and substance abuse , a former Marion doctor will not be permitted to practice chiropractic medicine, at least, not for a while....
Schedulicity Widget a First to Make Facebook a Place for Scheduling Appointments - August 22, 2010
The first-of-its-kind appointment widget benefits both small businesses and clients by making everyday appointments easy and now more accessible than ever on the world's most popular social networking site....
Dead doctors still making millions from Medicare billings - August 22, 2010
Medicare issued as much as $92 million in payments between 2000 and 2007 for medical procedures or devices ordered under the names of doctors who had already died, according to a 2008 Senate committee report....
eMedischedule.com Releases Automated Call Center That Provides Real-Time Synchronization with Online Clinic Scheduling and Medical Appointment Schedul - August 22, 2010
eMedischedule.com, a provider of online clinic scheduling and medical scheduling technology, announced today a new automated call center that enables patients to make and alter the status of online clinic and medical appointments over the phone. ...
Florida Tests Voice Recognition Software to Crack Down on Medicaid Fraud - August 22, 2010
Nurses and health aides around Miami checking up on Medicaid patients at home will have to put in a call to an automated voice recognition system to confirm they're actually carrying out their duties, a Florida health agency said on Wednesday. ...
Why the AMA Wants to Muzzle Your Doctor - August 22, 2010
The American Medical Association (AMA) is putting the doctors of America on notice. A major cheerleader for ObamaCare, the organization is now trying to silence doctors who oppose it. It is time the American people understood what the AMA is really all about....
AstraZeneca Case Rewards Two Whistleblowers With $45 Million - August 22, 2010
Blowing the whistle on drugmakers is becoming a habit for a salesman and a psychiatrist splitting a $45 million award after AstraZeneca Plc settled claims of illegally marketing a schizophrenia drug....
CMS Needs to Monitor Access, Quality of New ESRD Bundled Payment Program - August 22, 2010
The use of bundled payments for treatment of Medicare beneficiaries with end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-using a single payment to pay for dialysis and related services, including inject able drugs-will officially begin Jan. 1, 2011, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). However, moving into this new payment territory will create questions of quality and access that CMS should answer, suggests the Government Accountability Office (GAO)....
DaVita shares fall on reimbursement rate concerns - August 22, 2010
Shares of DaVita Inc., a provider of kidney dialysis services, fell Wednesday after its stock was downgraded on concerns of lower reimbursement rates, a Justice Department inquiry and earnings growth that wouldn't resume until later in the year....
Glens Falls Hospital to close rehab facility - August 22, 2010
Glens Falls Hospital is closing its outpatient rehabilitation facility off Bay Road in Queensbury, effective Friday, "due to persistent health problems" of employees who work in the building....
Detroit-Area Doctor Sentenced to 72 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud Scheme - August 22, 2010
Dr. Toe Myint was sentenced today in Detroit to 72 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS). A patient recruiter was also sentenced today in Detroit to 40 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy....
Albany NY Medicare fraud: NY Senate majority leader accused of taking over $14M - August 22, 2010
Legal News for New York lawyers handing Medicare fraud cases. Senate majority leader, Pedro Espada Jr., accused of taking millions from clinics. ...
Home healthcare shares down on U.S. Senate probe - August 11, 2010
Shares of four for-profit home healthcare agencies fell on Thursday amid a U.S. Senate Finance Committee investigation over billing practices it says raise questions about reimbursement from the Medicare insurance program....
Patient Recruiter Pleads Guilty for Role in Fraudulent Medicare Testing Scheme - August 11, 2010
Detroit-area resident Melvin Young pleaded guilty today to engaging in a fraudulent medical testing scheme, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS)....
Scammers prey on healthcare reform confusion - August 11, 2010
Often using 'ObamaCare' as a catchword, scam artists are exploiting confusion over the new healthcare law to hawk bogus insurance policies....
Long Beach man pleads guilty in $26 million Medicare - August 11, 2010
A Long Beach man pleaded guilty Monday morning to being a key player in a crime scheme that bilked the Medicare system of more than $26 million. ...
Advanced Medical - Leading the way in PT, OT and SLP Travel Therapy - August 11, 2010
Advanced Medical Personnel Services opened its doors in 1989 and has been a leader in the healthcare Industry since its inception....
Ohio lawmaker wants changes in Medicaid payments to nursing homes - July 28, 2010
A local state lawmaker is trying to change a new Medicaid payment system that has caused companies to close, others to lay off employees and, more alarmingly, is hurting nursing home patients who need services such as ventilators, dialysis or custom wheelchairs. ...
IASIS Healthcare Receives Thomson Reuters' Top Award - July 28, 2010
IASIS Healthcare(R) LLC ("IASIS") has been awarded two Thomson Reuters 2010 Healthcare Advantage Awards for demonstrating success with improving quality and managing the cost of healthcare across the Company's 15 acute care hospitals. ...
AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy Supports Partners in Health Stand with Haiti - July 25, 2010
In response to the recovery efforts in Haiti, AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy held a special jean day fundraiser in February to help those affected by the January earthquake. The money raised from the event is being donated to Partners in Health Stand with Haiti....
While Use of Home Dialysis Modalities Remains Low, Increased Use is Expected in Light of the Upcoming Dialysis Bundled Payment System - July 21, 2010
BioTrends is pleased to announce the publication of a new syndicated report, Special Report: Dialysis Modalities in the US. This report covers the use of various dialysis modalities including peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis, as well as attitudes and perceptions toward these modalities, advantages and disadvantages, ideal patient types, barriers to growth, and expected future use....
State revokes license of Wilmington chiropractor - July 21, 2010
The Delaware Board of Chiropractic has revoked the license of a Wilmington chiropractor after the board determined he went beyond his chiropractic duties in examining a female patient's breasts, pubic bone and buttocks during a 2009 exam....
How Spinal Decompression Therapy Helps NJ Physicians Recover Faster - July 21, 2010
NJ Chiropractor, Dr Peter Ferraro, is known as the doctor to the doctors when it comes to Spinal Decompression Therapy. Dr Ferraro has over 10 years of Spinal Decompression Therapy experience....
Caps blow off steroid speculation - July 21, 2010
The Washington Capitals say more revelations about an investigation into connections between the club and a chiropractor linked to steroids won't be a distraction in their playoff run....
Morris County chiropractor Michael P. Gold charged with insurance fraud - July 20, 2010
A North Jersey chiropractor has been indicted for allegedly billing an insurance company for chiropractic treatments that were never rendered, state Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Riza Dagli said Wednesday....
UnitedHealth to stop dropping policies of sick - July 20, 2010
UnitedHealth Group Inc said on Wednesday it would immediately stop terminating healthcare coverage for policyholders after they become ill, to comply with a new healthcare law months ahead of schedule....
Houston Medical Equipment Company Owner, Operator and Patient Recruiter Plead Guilty to Health Care - July 20, 2010
Houston-area residents Doris Vinitski and John Lachman pleaded guilty today in connection with their roles in a durable medical equipment Medicare fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced....
3 charged in Medicare fraud scheme - July 20, 2010
Federal agents charged three men Friday with billing Medicare for at least $2.9 million of phony physical therapy, in what officials say is a new version of health care fraud in South Florida....
Brooklyn Park home care provider admits to scamming Medicaid - July 20, 2010
A Brooklyn Park home health-care provider for low-income clients pleaded guilty to paying kickbacks to lure referrals to his company as part of a scheme to obtain hundreds of thousands of dollars in fraudulent Medicaid reimbursements....
Pennsylvania Medicaid Waste Estimated at $1/4 Billion a Year - July 20, 2010
A new state government report shows fraud in Pennsylvania's Medicaid program may have cost taxpayers more than $1 billion over the past four years-more than three times what the state had previously reported....
Coding and documenting instrument adjusting modalities - July 20, 2010
There is still a lot of confusion as to how to bill an Impulse treatment and the answer is that it is "Manual Manipulation" billed as any other manipulation (CMT) 98940, 98941. 98942 or 98943. The use of the Impulse adjusting instrument does not qualify for any additional payment or use of any other CPT code for billing....
Hospitals Probed Over Bid-Rigging - July 20, 2010
Federal prosecutors are investigating allegations that bid rigging and fraud at Mount Sinai Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospital resulted in the hospitals awarding contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to outside contractors....
Two Plead Guilty in Texas to Health Care Fraud, Illegal Health Care Kickbacks - July 20, 2010
Houston-area residents Doris Vinitski and John Lachman pleaded guilty today in connection with their roles in a durable medical equipment Medicare fraud scheme, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced....
Florida House set to vote on Medicaid overhaul - July 19, 2010
A massive overhaul that would put most of Florida's 2.7 million Medicaid participants in private managed care plans cleared the state House on Monday....
Data aids Medicaid detectives - July 19, 2010
State investigators are collecting millions more dollars each year as they catch more Medicaid fraud and mistakes, but it's not always in the way you might think....
What to do if your vendors are late with HIPAA 5010, ICD-10 updates - July 19, 2010
Some software vendors have not yet issued HIPAA 5010 enhancements, let alone those for ICD-10. What's more, providers and payers should already be gearing up for internal testing of HIPAA 5010 and at least beginning the ICD-10 implementation phase. So without the upgrades, what are providers and payers to do?...
VA audit turns up concerns - July 18, 2010
Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital is taking steps to improve several deficiencies cited in a recent report by the Office of the Inspector General....
Investigation Finds Gap Between Hospital Expenditures, Billing - July 18, 2010
Between September 2008 and October 2009, California hospitals charged health insurers an average of 53% more than the amount they reported that it cost them to provide services to insured patients, according to a Sacramento Bee investigation....
Which Way Will ObamaCare Bend The Medical Cost Curve? - July 18, 2010
We know that more than half of all medical cost is wasted, adding no value to the patient. We also know that the total costs of medical provider billing, collection, and payment consume as much as 30% of every health care dollar-about ten times the transaction costs in every other industry....
Lawmakers launch bipartisan effort against Medicare Fraud - July 18, 2010
Two South Florida lawmakers on opposite sides of the political fence have introduced a bill designed to fight the $1 billion Medicare fraud problem....
US House bill to double Medicare fraud penalties - July 18, 2010
Medicare fraud suspects would face longer prison sentences under a U.S. House bill proposed Tuesday that also advocates biotechnology such as fingerprint scanning to ensure patients are getting the goods the government is billed for....
South Florida lawmakers unite to fight Medicare fraud - July 18, 2010
Facing a room packed with Miami senior citizens, two South Florida congressional members from opposing parties took the remarkable step of jointly backing new legislation aimed at ridding the region -- and nation -- of a multibillion-dollar scourge: Medicare fraud....
OIG: No More Identical Claims NPIs - July 18, 2010
Along with the list of items the HHS Office of Inspector General has said it will examine this year in the DME sector, its latest report turns attention back to what the OIG calls a "claims processing vulnerability."...
Two Houston-area Residents Convicted in Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Fraudulent Claims of Hurricane Damage to Power Wheelchairs - July 18, 2010
A federal jury in Houston today convicted Helen Etinfoh, 50, and Paula Whitfield, 43, for their roles in a Medicare fraud conspiracy involving, among other things, fraudulent claims of hurricane damage to power wheelchairs, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS)....
New electronic device uses sensors, impulses to help patients regain function - July 18, 2010
Physical therapists are using the NESS L300 foot drop system to treat patients like Michael Jackson, who has struggled to regain a normal walking gait since suffering a series of strokes over four days in April 2008....
Report Examines ICD-10 Crosswalks - July 18, 2010
A new, free report from consulting firm Computer Sciences Corp. examines the data crosswalks, particularly a bi-directional crosswalk, that will be required to transition from the ICD-9 code sets to ICD-10....
Doctor pleads guilty to Medicare fraud - July 18, 2010
A prominent Orange County cancer doctor has agreed to plead guilty to charges of defrauding Medicare and other insurers of up to $1 million for injectable cancer medications that never were provided, federal prosecutors said Thursday....
Los Angeles Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Submitting Nearly Half a Million Dollars in False and Fraudulent Claims to Medicare - July 18, 2010
The owner and operator of a Los Angeles durable medical equipment (DME) company pleaded guilty today to submitting nearly one half of a million dollars in false claims to Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services....
VVA Welcomes VA's Response to Rehabilitation Act - July 18, 2010
On February 24, 2010, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the United Spinal Association, and the Veterans Law Section of the Federal Bar Association sent a letter to Secretary Shinseki regarding the Department's plans for complying with the requirements of the Rehabilitation Act in Department notices to claimants....
Detecting and preventing Medicare fraud - July 18, 2010
Medicare fraud is purposely billing Medicare for services that were never provided or received. Why should we care? The answer is very simple: Medicare fraud is costing the government billions of dollars per year....
ICD-10 putting Americans back to work, part 3: Job security - July 18, 2010
Want to advance your career and make your job more secure? Then think ICD-10 skills, and now. "As soon as you emerge as expert in ICD-10, your stock in the company goes up," explains Jim Gibson, principal at Gibson Consultants....
Rome couple accused of $30 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud - July 17, 2010
While residents in their nursing homes suffered, a Rome couple is accused of using more than $30 million worth of federal funds to buy real estate and fancy cars, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office....
Exeter chiropractor to plead guilty to tax evasion - July 17, 2010
An Exeter chiropractor charged with federal tax evasion, bank fraud and knowingly filing false tax returns has reached a plea agreement with the federal government....
Delayed Compliance with New Regulations Has Increased Data Breaches and Medical Identity Theft in U.S. Hospitals - July 17, 2010
National survey shows 85 percent of hospitals are not compliant with the HITECH Act; 41.5 percent have 10 or more breaches annually; and possible ID fraud going uninvestigated....
Billing for Unattended Ultrasound - July 17, 2010
I have a new ultrasound machine that applies the ultrasound without anyone present but the patient. It works by a "pulse" that allows me to set the sound head with a mechanical arm and leave the patient unattended during the time of the service. Can I bill the regular ultrasound code of 97035 or do I need to bill with an alternate CPT code?...
Code 97112: friend or fow? - July 17, 2010
The proper reporting of neuromuscular re-education (NMR) is one of the more significant coding dilemmas faced by chiropractors. This is partly because many definitions of NMR exist, and there are many different interpretations of these definitions. ...
Med suppliers feel threat - July 17, 2010
A booming senior population and a desire to integrate inpatient care with home health services are spurring growth at hospital-based medical product subsidiaries of Henry Ford Health System and the University of Michigan Health System....
"Meaningful use" takes time (HIMSS 2010 conference) - July 17, 2010
For more than a year, there's been a "hurry up and wait" attitude toward adoption of health information technology, as many doctors delayed buying electronic medical record systems until they got details on how their practices could earn incentive pay for use....
Investigators Tout Fraud Convictions In California, Florida And New York - July 17, 2010
Authorities are crediting their Medicare and Medicaid fraud initiatives for convictions and guilty pleas in California, Florida and New York. ...
Beltline Medical Supplies owner sentenced for Medicare fraud - July 17, 2010
The owner of a Dallas medical supplies company has been sentenced to 24 months in jail by a federal court for making false claims to Medicare, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Northern District of Texas....
Get Your Compliance Program in Shape to Avoid, Defend Against Auditors - July 17, 2010
Whistleblower lawsuits and multimillion dollar Medicare fraud settlements involving otherwise reputable hospitals and health systems are becoming standard media fodder on the Department of Justice Web site....
Medical supplier sentenced to prison for motorized wheelchair scam - July 17, 2010
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced that the owner of a medical supply business has been sentenced to federal prison for federal health care fraud violations in the Eastern District of Texas....
Clinic Owners Who Moved Medicare Fraud Scheme from Miami to Detroit Sentenced to Three Years in Prison - July 17, 2010
Miami residents Jose and Denisse Martinez were each sentenced today to three years in prison for their role in running a Canton, Mich.,-based drug infusion clinic designed to defraud Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services (HHS)....
Braintree man convicted of $1.5M Medicare fraud - July 17, 2010
A federal jury convicted a Braintree man on April 9 of defrauding Medicare of $1.5 million during a one-year period....
Scottsdale doctor pleads guilty to Medicare fraud - July 17, 2010
An Indian American has been sentenced to 81 months in prison and asked to pay $9.7 million in restitution along with his accomplices for his role in a wide-ranging $18 million conspiracy to defraud the Medicare programme. ...
Health law will be costly for Floridians - July 17, 2010
The nation's new health care law represents a monumental series of missed opportunities. Instead of lowering the cost of health care for Americans, this law will increase costs. ...
Physical Therapy Practice Earns Best Practices Honor for Healthy Workplace - July 17, 2010
The American Psychological Association (APA) recently held its Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards (PHWA) ceremony and recognized five organizations for their comprehensive efforts to promote employee health and well-being while enhancing organizational performance. In addition to the PHWA winners, 10 organizations received Best Practices Honors for a program or policy that meets the unique needs of the organization and its workforce. ...
Los Angeles Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Submitting Nearly Half-a-Million Dollars in False and Fraudulent Claims to Medicare - July 15, 2010
The owner and operator of a Los Angeles durable medical equipment (DME) company pleaded guilty today to submitting nearly one-half of a million dollars in false claims to Medicare, announced the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services....
Hospital, M.D. Are Accused of Harming Patients in Quality-Driven False Claims Act Case - July 15, 2010
In a case that underscores the close link between compliance and quality of care, the Department of Justice alleges in a false claims lawsuit that Satilla Regional Medical Center in Waycross, Ga., and surgeon Najam Azmat, M.D., billed Medicare and Medicaid for medically substandard and unnecessary services. As a result, the feds allege, one patient died and others were injured....
Medicare's fraud hot line begins to root out billing scams - July 15, 2010
Medicare has stepped up its anti-fraud efforts with a Florida consumer hot line that helps the federal program root out scams and refer tips to law enforcement....
AthletiCo Physical and Occupational Therapy and Chicago White Sox Partner for 7th Inning Stretch Fan Cam - July 15, 2010
AthletiCo Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy has signed a three-year commitment with the Chicago White Sox to be the team's sponsor of the 7th Inning Stretch Fan Cam for the 2010 through 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) seasons....
Insurers Allege 'Hot Girl' Bikini Fraud - July 15, 2010
An ad agency conspired with chiropractors to use misleading ads, police scanners and "hot girl" bikini contests to persuade Latinos who were in car accidents to seek unneeded medical treatments, four insurance companies say in a federal RICO complaint. ...
ICD-10 Prep: 'Like We're on Reality TV' - July 15, 2010
When it comes to preparing for the conversion to the ICD-10 coding system, Partners HealthCare System in Boston is ahead of many providers....
NxStage expands hemodialysis supply deal - July 14, 2010
NxStage Medical Inc. expands its deal with Renal Advantage Inc. to provide hemodialysis supplies to another 43 dialysis centers....
Families allege poor care at facility - July 14, 2010
The families said they were moved to speak after Wednesday's arrests of 14 staff members at the nursing home. The workers were charged with endangering the welfare of residents and falsifying records as a result of a hidden-camera investigation by state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo....
NCAMES advocates for legislative plan to stop Medicare fraud and abuse - July 14, 2010
North Carolina's leader in home medical equipment advocacy and education, NCAMES, is continuing in its efforts to preserve patient access and quality service by supporting a plan to stop Medicare fraud and abuse....
Group to petition over bill's cuts in Medicare payments - July 14, 2010
The recently signed health care bill will reduce reimbursement to physicians by 21 percent. Physicians are saying they cannot handle any more reduction in their return. Among other problems, King said reimbursements from many managed care contracts are tied to Medicare reimbursements, meaning they also will go down....
To help pay for reforms, Medicare fraud ripe for plucking, top South Florida prosecutors say - July 13, 2010
Democratic party leaders have pledged to pay for the new $940 billion health care reform law, in large part, by eliminating $500 billion in waste and fraud in Medicare over the next decade. Miami will almost certainly be their first stop....
McCollum Sues Federal Government Over Health Care - July 13, 2010
Minutes after President Barack Obama signed into law the health care reform act, Florida attorney general Bill McCollum joined 11 other Republican attorneys general and 1 Democratic attorney general in a lawsuit to overturn the health care reform act....
Here we go again: Candidates pledge to search for 'waste, fraud and abuse' - July 13, 2010
Meg Whitman will "root out fraud" and "cut wasteful spending." Carly Fiorina wants to eliminate "the billions of dollars of waste and bloat that sits in our federal budget."...
Burtonsville-based business owner guilty of fraud - July 13, 2010
A Burtonsville-based business owner pleaded guilty last week to fraudulently billing Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance companies for wheelchairs he never provided, according to Raquel Guillory, spokesperson with the state's Attorney General office....
HealthLinkRx Announces Classes in Spanish for Occupational and Physical Therapists - July 13, 2010
The HealthLinkRx Institute has announced news dates for its occupational and physical therapy continuing education courses. New sessions of the Institute's "Therapy in Spanish" class will be offered in Austin, TX on April 5-6 and Houston, TX on April 19-20....
The reality of Obamacare - July 12, 2010
That's always what Obama had in mind. During the now-legendary healthcare summit, Obama, who loves to talk about "risk pools," "competition," "consumer choice" and the like, let it slip that he actually doesn't believe in insurance as commonly understood. The notion that Americans should buy the healthcare "equivalent of Acme Insurance that I had for my car" seemed preposterous to him....
Cures for Medicaid - July 12, 2010
It took many years to convince state officials to invest in a serious data-mining effort to expose fraud in North Carolina's Medicaid program. Two Republican state lawmakers, Rep. John Blust of Guilford County and former Sen. Robert Pittenger of Mecklenburg, championed the idea against indifference from past Medicaid officials and resistance from current Medicaid vendors, some of which may have reason to be concerned if the state improves its enforcement efforts....
Government of the government, by the government, for the government - July 12, 2010
While Congress receives their own generous retirement plans and top-notch health care as they decide how much money they make, we are told how much money we get to keep. We are told how much water we are allowed. We are told we cannot use as much energy as we wish. We are told where we can live and in some cases, have our lands confiscated in the name of bugs and twigs....
Q+A: How does healthcare overhaul affect Medicare? - July 12, 2010
The sweeping healthcare overhaul the U.S. House of Representatives approved on Sunday includes about $455 billion in spending cuts for Medicare and other federal health programs over the next 10 years....
Make Medicaid better - July 12, 2010
Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum contends it's unconstitutional for the federal government to require Americans to buy health insurance, one of the key elements of the new national health-care plan. The courts will have to make that call....
N.C. and IBM team up to ferret out Medicaid fraud - July 12, 2010
Gov. Bev Perdue announced an effort Wednesday to track down Medicaid fraud by creating a partnership with IBM to discover abuses by patients and their health care providers. ...
Who's Cashing In on Health-Care Reform? - July 11, 2010
It buoys last year's economic stimulus act, which slotted almost $20 billion to expanding health information technology (HIT). The new bill puts an even greater emphasis on electronic medical records and payment systems, for example, as the keys to successful health care reform....
QuadraMed Launches Industry's First ICD-10 Simulator - July 11, 2010
The Quantim ICD-10 Coding Simulator, which is available today as a component of the ICD-10 Countdown Program, is a unique solution that duplicates the ICD-10 coding environment for accelerated training and practice purposes. The Countdown Program includes an avatar-based e-Learning tutorial that provides real-world scenarios to help coders quickly get up to speed on the application, as well as additional educational tools....
Top 5 HIPAA 5010, ICD-10 hurdles - July 11, 2010
It's no secret that the government mandated dynamic duo - that being HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 - requires changes enormous in both number and scope. What's not as well understood is all the challenges they present. HIPAA 5010 carries at least 1331 modifications spanning all 9 standard electronic transactions, while ICD-10 adds five times as many codes....
South Florida is 'open territory' for organized crime - July 11, 2010
Ever since Al Capone bought a mansion on Miami's Palm Island in 1928, South Florida has been a destination for organized-crime figures who want to relax and do a little business....
Medicare fraud found in solicitations for wheelchairs - July 11, 2010
The Department of Justice announced in its press release today the federal court issurance of an order on March 25 which sentenced Leonard Nwafor, 44, to serve nine years in prison for Medicare fraud. ...
Health Care Reform: A Human Issue -- Not A Political Issue - July 11, 2010
"The anticipation is unbearable...! I hope it lasts." Those were the words spoken by Gene Wilder as the chocolatier Willie Wonka, from the words written by the children's book author and former M-5 agent, Raold Dahl. There are some who feel that way about health care reform. Properly crafted messages made it quite divisive....
Fresenius appeals $19.4M verdict, says Renal Care Group did nothing wrong - July 11, 2010
Renal Care Group, which was acquired by Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc. of Germany in 2005, faced allegations from federal authorities and an employee who served as a "whistleblower" that it improperly sought certain types of Medicare reimbursement by organizing another company, Renal Care Group Supply Co., to take advantage of billing disparities....
Medicare audits to be expanded - July 11, 2010
Obama directs all federal agencies to intensify claims review in a fraud-fighting effort. A separate proposal for physicians to pose as patients prompts AMA concerns....
Murphy backs health reform - July 11, 2010
Rep. Scott Murphy declared Friday that he would vote for the $940 billion health care overhaul, saying it would shift the balance of power from insurance companies to patients and would rein in medical costs....
Texas Ambulance Company Supervisor Pleads Guilty in Health Care Fraud Case - July 11, 2010
A former high-level employee of Royal and First Choice ambulance services, Shaun Outen, 32, of Aubrey, Texas, pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas....
Health Care's Hidden Agenda - July 11, 2010
America knows by now that the costs of the American health care system are staggeringly high. But there is a certain paradox in these high costs. For an industry in which so much money is spent, it is worth asking who benefits most....
Hamilton hospital agrees to pay $6M for Medicare fraud charges - July 11, 2010
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Hamilton has agreed to pay $6.35 million to settle allegations that the facility defrauded Medicare, Justice Department officials said today. The Mercer County hospital was accused of inflating charges to Medicare patients to obtain bigger reimbursements from the federal government....
Government's RAC audits may be a goldmine for Murfreesboro's ClaimTrust - July 11, 2010
The federal government is taking a sharper look at Medicare spending, and a Murfreesboro company is trying to make sure that health care providers are ready....
House approves measure to combat Medicaid fraud - July 11, 2010
Maryland's attorney general moved a step closer to collecting more civil damages in Medicaid fraud cases as the House of Delegates approved a measure Friday that cracks down on false medical claims. ...
CPT code 29220 deleted - July 11, 2010
As of Jan. 1, 2010, CPT Code 29220 (strapping of low back) has been deleted. According to the American Medical Association's CPT 2010 Professional Edition, CPT Code 29799 (unlisted procedure, casting or strapping) should be used to report low-back strapping....
Cape Cod Hospital cited in death by restraint - July 11, 2010
State investigators have cited Cape Cod Hospital for a federal violation of patient rights in the case of a Mashpee man who died after being restrained by hospital staff last year....
HIMSS: More hospital security breaches in 2010, but greater awareness - July 11, 2010
The number of healthcare facilities that reported a breach in security that requires notification increased 6 percent from 13 percent in 2008 to 19 percent in 2010, according to the 2010 HIMSS Analytics report on the security of patient data, commissioned by Kroll Fraud Solutions....
ClaimTrust Announces Its New RAC Resource Center - July 11, 2010
ClaimTrust®, a leading provider of revenue cycle tools and services for hospitals, today announced its new Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Resource Center, which will provide hospitals with useful resources, information and tips that will help them prepare staff and infrastructure for RAC record requests, demand letters and appeals....
What's in the Health Care Bill for Medicare: Part 2 - July 11, 2010
A tax increase and lower payments to Medicare Advantage plans are expected to cut the Medicare budget by $400 billion over ten years. I found a summary of provisions on the Kaiser Family Foundation website. ...
Cost-Cutting Tactics Could Lead to More Heated Contract Disputes Between Plans and Providers - July 10, 2010
Shrinking enrollment among health insurers - combined with staffing shortages and rising medical costs among hospitals - could lead to increasingly contentious contract negotiations in some parts of the country....
2 clinics closed in prescription drug investigation - July 10, 2010
Two Houston-area pain clinics were shut down this week after investigators said some owners, as well as a longtime Houston doctor who worked there, were illegally distributing prescription drugs....
Discussion of Medicare's 'Competitive' Bidding Program for Home Medical Equipment is Plagued by Myths and Misinformation - July 10, 2010
Medicare has been touting the merits of the "competitive" bidding program for durable, or home medical equipment and services (HME) to convince Congress that the program is good for seniors. Unfortunately, proponents have conveyed misleading information and cherry-picked facts that exaggerate the benefits and ignore the severe shortcomings of the program. ...
North Carolina Home Medical Equipment Providers Travel to Washington to Advocate for Better Home Medical Care for Seniors and People with Disabilities - July 10, 2010
Home medical equipment service providers from seventeen North Carolina-based companies travelled to Washington, D.C. last week to urge members of Congress to support new legislation that will strengthen homecare availability for millions of older Americans and people with disabilities who require home-based medical equipment and services....
Houston man convicted in $1 million adult diaper scam - July 10, 2010
The former co-owner of a Houston a durable medical equipment company has been convicted of bilking Medicaid of nearly $1 million in a scheme involving adult diapers, federal authorities said....
Big question: Will we really pay less for health care? - July 10, 2010
President Obama's restructuring of the nation's health care system will make it easier for poor and sick Americans to get and keep insurance. What's less clear is whether it will reduce health care costs for most Americans, as the White House says it will....
Jackson Health System's long-term plan in the works - July 10, 2010
While Jackson Health System renegotiates a contract with its second major union, its executives and governing board members are starting a new analysis of the public hospital system and working out a long-term plan for a "Sustainable Jackson.''...
Health Care Bill Cracks Down on Abuses by Charitable Hospitals - July 10, 2010
Non-profit hospitals receive a special tax exemption in return for providing community service and charitable care. However, critics say some charitable hospitals rake in millions of dollars a year while providing very low levels of assistance to the poor and uninsured. Because the uninsured don't have the government or large insurance companies to negotiate payment rates on their behalf, patients often have to pay the full "sticker price" for medical services. ...
Analysis: How safe are Washington hospitals? - July 10, 2010
Seattle's Virginia Mason Medical Center is the safest hospital in Washington. That conclusion -- based on a computer analysis of patient treatment records at all hospitals in the state -- didn't surprise anyone in the healthcare business. ...
Maryland Hospital Association, lawmakers reach Medicaid fraud agreement - July 10, 2010
The Maryland Hospital Association struck a deal with state lawmakers and health care officials late last week that could help clear the way for a bill giving the state greater authority to find and penalize those who commit Medicaid fraud in Maryland....
Obama to target Medicare and Medicaid fraud - July 10, 2010
Today President Obama will embrace tougher new efforts to fight fraud in Medicare and Medicaid as part of his drive to pass comprehensive changes to the nation's health care system....
County Commission Frustrated With Jackson Plan - July 10, 2010
Miami-Dade Commissioners were not only unhappy with the restructuring plan for Jackson Health Systems, but they decided to not vote on the matter Tuesday. The plan would reduce the number of layoffs and keep the doors open at Jackson North and Jackson South open....
Warnings of crisis at Jackson Health System went unheeded - July 10, 2010
A Miami-Dade Public Health Trust member warned the system's top financial officer of an impending 'perfect storm' of failed finances....
Federal query prompts St. Joseph to alter physician contract reviews - July 10, 2010
St. Joseph Medical Center has changed the way it negotiates and reviews contracts with its physicians following a federal investigation into how the Towson hospital structured deals with a group of cardiologists....
Jackson's mission must not be forgotten - July 10, 2010
First came the war between hospital executives and union employees. Each blamed the other. Then came the allegations -- very on point -- of bad financial practices by Jackson's management. An audit found highly overstated revenue estimates. Wasted funds also came to light; workers were hidden on the payroll....
Rai$ing the dead in Medicaid 'rip-offs' - July 10, 2010
A massive state audit claims that health-care providers billed Medicaid for services provided to 287 dead patients....
AAPC Membership Reaches a Record High of 90,000 - July 8, 2010
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, www.aapc.com) announced today its membership reached a record high 90,000....
Nursing home staff face patient abuse counts - July 8, 2010
Fourteen nurses and aides at the Northwoods Rehabilitation and Extended Care Facility outside of Troy were charged Wednesday with endangering the welfare of an elderly resident, plus felony falsification of business records and multiple misdemeanor violations of the public health law....
Review heightens concerns over Medicare billing at nursing homes - July 8, 2010
More than a decade ago, Congress set out to squeeze the fraud out of Medicare billing at nursing homes, requiring more precise justifications for costs. It created new "ultra-high" billing categories intended to be used for only 5 percent of the patients needing highly specialized care and rehabilitation. ...
East Meets West at a Chicago Area Health Clinic - July 8, 2010
Global Health Clinic of Niles, IL uses both Eastern and Western medicine to treat virtually every type of musculoskeletal disorder. The clinic has around a 95% success rate of curing patients using physical therapy, chiropractic care, manual therapy, acupuncture, pain management, and other techniques tailored to fit the needs of individual patients....
Detroit-Area Physical Therapist Sentenced to 62 Months in Prison for Role in Medicare Fraud Scheme - July 8, 2010
Sterling Heights, Mich., resident Solomon Nathaniel was sentenced today to 62 months in prison for his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer of the Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan Barbara L. McQuade; Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena of the FBI's Detroit Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General's (HHS-OIG) Chicago Regional Office....
McGraw-Hill Professional Launches AccessPhysiotherapy - July 8, 2010
AccessPhysiotherapy™ (http://www.accessphysiotherapy.com), an essential online resource for physical therapy (PT) students and educators integrating renowned medical resources with rich multimedia and customizable curriculum functionality, is the latest product to be launched in McGraw-Hill Professional's acclaimed suite of digital learning platforms for medical students and physicians. ...
A New Option for Fitness in Tough Economic Times: Physiquality Offers Personalized, Affordable Programs from the Nation's Top Physical Therapists - July 8, 2010
Physiquality, a new national health and wellness network, now offers personalized health and fitness programs and products supervised by qualified physical and occupational therapists, across the United States....
Former Owner Of Rahway Chiropractic Clinic Pleads Guilty To Fraud Scheme - July 8, 2010
The former president and owner of Spinal Care & Rehabilitation Center, a chiropractic clinic in Rahway, pleaded guilty today in connection with his scheme to stage automobile accidents in order to send the participants in the accidents to his clinic for purported treatment, United States Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced....
Chiropractic Care Enhances Children's Overall Health - July 8, 2010
Irritation to a young person's nervous system can begin in utero. The baby's position during delivery (natural or cesarean) can create stress on their nervous system. Even a "normal, healthy" birth can induce 40-50 pounds of pressure on a newborn's neck and spine. ...
Florida sheriff says no evidence Washington Capitals involved in steroids use - July 8, 2010
Two Polk County detectives flew home from Virginia on Wednesday with no evidence that any member of the Washington Capitals had been involved in performance-enhancing drug use, but the steroid investigation that led to Tuesday's arrest of a Reston chiropractor with ties to the team is far from over, the sheriff heading the investigation said. ...
Opinion: Practicing chiropractic outside the U.S. - July 6, 2010
Perhaps you are a recent graduate from a chiropractic college. Perhaps you are a highly experienced chiropractor. Either way, you may be thinking about the possibility of practicing abroad. ...
Second DC Files Lawsuit Against Pro-Solutions - July 6, 2010
A second lawsuit has been filed by a ProAdjuster owner against Pro-Solutions, this time by a chiropractor in Iowa. The first known action by a DC against Pro-Solutions, which sells the ProAdjuster equipment and related services, was filed by a Texas chiropractor in May of last year as a cross-complaint in an action with her leasing company....
Coding Questions: Proper new patient billing and coding - July 6, 2010
Q: I purchased an existing practice from a retiring chiropractor, and he said he has been billing CPT code 99203 on new patients for the past 15 years and never got in trouble. He recommended I bill the same for my new patient examinations, and I am considering it. What is the best way to justify billing my examinations with CPT code 99203?...
Coding Questions: How to bill and code for spinal decompression therapy - July 6, 2010
Q: I own a spinal decompression therapy table. Most of my patients have insurance and want me to submit the claim to their carrier, but I am hesitant to do this. What is the most appropriate way to submit the claim?...
Connecticut Chiropractor Board Ignores Stroke Risk of Neck Procedure, Says Washington DC Injury Lawyer - July 6, 2010
Attorney Michael A. Abelson decries the board's refusal to provide a warning to patients about neck manipulations, which are of no proven medical benefit, and are known to permanently disable or kill patients by causing a stroke....
Doctor, attorney among 19 charged in 'Operation Big Fish' auto fraud - July 6, 2010
Numerous defendants, including a chiropractor and an attorney, are accused of defrauding more than 19 insurers out of $549,000 through a staged auto accident ring in California dubbed "Operation Big Fish" by prosecutors....
Helping Hands in Haiti: Chiropractic Relief One Adjustment at a Time - July 6, 2010
To the best of my knowledge, we were the first team of chiropractors to provide organized on-the-ground aid after the devastating earthquake hit Haiti. It all began on Jan. 20 after I checked my e-mail at lunchtime, which I rarely do. ...
Surgery May Not Be The Answer To An Aching Back - July 5, 2010
Too many complex back surgeries are being done and people are suffering as a result, according to a study in the current issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The general tendency noted in the study - that many patients and doctors think more medical care is always better - has implications for the new health overhaul law....
Fugitive Miami-Dade brothers face Medicare fraud charges - July 5, 2010
Federal authorities arrested several medical clinic employees accused of participating in a $14 million Medicare racket, but the ringleaders are still at large....
Associated Billing Services Renews Extensive Agreement with A-Life Medical, Inc. - July 5, 2010
A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of computer-assisted coding (CAC) products and services to the healthcare industry, announced today the renewal of an extensive contract with Associated Billing Services, Inc. Associated Billing Services provides medical billing and accounts receivable management services throughout Arizona. ...
Physical Therapy Software Company Introduces New Version of Exercise Software - July 5, 2010
Mavenlive 3.0 is physical therapy exercise software that speeds up documentation and exercise prescription by automating a number of processes and providing more uniform assessments....
Medicare payments for physical therapy have poor prognosis - July 5, 2010
With healthcare legislation stalled in Washington, a cap on coverage may leave a half-million patients to shoulder the financial burden or give up on treatment....
Physical Therapists Unite To Support The Uninsured - July 5, 2010
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging residents across the country to contact their local elected officials and members of the media to draw attention to the problem of the nation's uninsured during "Cover the Uninsured Week," March 14-20. ...
Therapist's hands-on method has gone worldwide - July 5, 2010
The Rosen Method, a style of body-centered therapy she developed over the decades, is taught and practiced around the world. It relies on gentle and direct touch to access the unconscious, where emotionally unmanageable experiences are buried - resulting in muscle tension and restricted breath. As people become more aware of the roots of their problems, they open up, and the barriers they've created begin to dissolve....
New Pocket Therapy 1.0 App Puts a Physical Therapist in Your iPhone - July 5, 2010
Announcing that ScavoMed, the developers of Pocket Therapy 1.0, is proud to launch a unique product. It is the only application available that gives very specific therapeutic routines for the fifteen most common injuries....
Capital Region hospitals make 'watch list' - July 4, 2010
Safety problems at Albany Medical Center Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital landed the two Capital Region facilities on the Hearst Newspapers investigation's "watch list."...
Lake Worth clinic owner accused of stealing $1.5 million - July 4, 2010
The owner of a Lake Worth chiropractic center was arrested on charges that he operated the clinic using a doctor's stolen identity and cashed in on $1.5 million in unlawful insurance bills, the state Department of Financial Services said Wednesday....
Common chiropractic coding errors - July 4, 2010
Inaccurate coding and billing is a huge financial drain on the Medicare system, but it is also responsible for revenue leaking out of practices nationwide. A conservative estimate of between 10 percent to 30 percent revenue losses occur in chiropractic offices due to incorrect coding. ...
MedQuist and Artificial Medical Intelligence to Partner on Computer-Assisted Coding - July 4, 2010
MedQuist Inc. (Nasdaq: MEDQ), a leading provider of technology-enabled clinical documentation services, has announced an agreement with healthcare informatics software developer Artificial Medical Intelligence Inc. (AMI) to provide computer-assisted coding (CAC) within MedQuist's CodeRunner™ coding workflow platform....
The largest Medicare fraud ever in the nursing home industry? - July 4, 2010
Yesterday's Washington Post cites SEIU's role in discovering a possible case of Medicare fraud by California-based nursing home company North American Health Care (NAHC), which operates 35 nursing homes in four states. According to SEIU's research, confirmed by the Washington Post, NAHC may be falsifying patient records and overcharging Medicare by tens of millions of dollars each year. ...
Clinical Study Published Regarding Plasma Disc Decompression for the Treatment of Low Back Pain Associated with Contained Herniated Discs - July 4, 2010
ArthroCare Corp. (NASDAQ: ARTC), a leader in developing state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical products, announced today the publication of an important clinical trial demonstrating that patients treated with ArthroCare's Plasma Disc Decompression (PDD) products experienced reduced pain and better quality of life scores compared to patients treated with the current standard care, epidural steroid injections. ...
Top 5 ICD-10 myths, debunked - July 4, 2010
Any time a transition is widely likened to Y2K, misconceptions are bound to crop up – and a number of myths typically sprout. ICD-10 is by no means exempt from such chaos. And so it's time to kill the most prominent of those myths at the root....
Athletic club remains open after charges - July 4, 2010
Between 2004 and 2006, it is alleged that Rehab One, a chiropractic and rehabilitation facility inside the club, and Rehab Two, a gym located in the basement of Levin's home, fraudulently billed Independence Blue Cross approximately $1.9 million for procedures that were either not medically necessary....
Houston Defendants Plead Guilty to "Arthritis Kit" Medicare Fraud Scheme - July 4, 2010
Mitchell-Straughter, 43, and Quinteros, 28, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Gray Miller in the Southern District of Texas to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Mitchell-Straughter was an administrative assistant at two Houston-area durable medical equipment (DME) companies....
American Association for Homecare Alarmed by Provisions in Health Reform Law that Will Harm Homecare Patients and Providers - July 4, 2010
The American Association for Homecare expressed alarm about provisions in the new health reform law that will harm homecare patients and providers. The cumulative impact of the provisions aimed at the home medical equipment sector will reduce the ability to provide the level of services that homecare patients and physicians expect in Medicare....
Rehab center may lose options - July 4, 2010
The skilled nursing facility at Bingham Memorial Hospital may lose payment options through Medicare and Medicaid if he facility fails to come into compliance with federal guidelines....
Practical Documentation: Documenting your diagnosis - July 4, 2010
Wikipedia defines a differential diagnosis as a systematic method used to identify unknowns. This method, essentially a process of elimination, is used by physicians and other qualified healthcare professionals to diagnose a specific disease in a patient. Not all medical diagnoses are differential ones....
Health club operators and local chiropractor charged with health care fraud - July 3, 2010
Mark Levin, Michael Karp and Raymond Brozek, a chiropractor, were charged today in connection with a $1.9 million scheme to defraud Independence Blue Cross, announced United States Attorney Michael L. Levy....
Woman chosen as Patient Champion for National Kidney month - July 3, 2010
Nancy Weirich has been on kidney dialysis for nearly 10 years, but that hasn't stopped her from visiting her grandchildren a few hours away and taking annual family vacations to Tennessee and Alabama....
Home dialysis patients anxiously watching health care reform unfold - July 3, 2010
About 4,000 people using home dialysis machines are watching to see how health care reform plays out for them. Most in the group, which is now almost like a club, believe the portable treatments make them feel better and live longer....
South Carolina's Kidney Community Thanks State Senator Luke Rankin for Valuable Support of Medigap Legislation - July 3, 2010
Members of South Carolina's kidney community – including the National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas, South Carolina Region (NKF) and Dialysis Patient Citizens; patients; caregivers and other supporters – thank state Senator Luke Rankin (R-Myrtle Beach), Chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Subcommittee, for signing on as a bill co-sponsor in support of proposed legislation designed to help hundreds of kidney patients and thousands of the disabled in South Carolina access needed health insurance coverage for life-saving medical care....
Nashville Medicare Supply Company Ordered to Pay More Than $19.3 Million in Damages for Violation of the False Claims Act and for Unjust Enrichment - July 3, 2010
In a "whistleblower" case originally filed in St. Louis in 2005, a federal court in Nashville today awarded the United States $19,366,705, plus interest, after finding that Renal Care Group, Renal Care Group Supply Company, (RCGSC) and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc., recklessly disregarded federal law when billing the Medicare program for home dialysis supplies and equipment from 1999 to 2005....
Renal Care ordered to pay $19M for Medicare billing scheme Read more: Renal Care ordered to pay $19M for Medicare billing scheme - July 3, 2010
Renal Care Group, Renal Care Group Supply Co. and Fresenius Medical Care Holdings Inc. must pay $19.4 million for a Medicare billing scheme for home dialysis supplies and equipment from 1999 until 2005, the U.S. Attorney's Office said Tuesday....
The Joint Commission Awards First Chronic Kidney Disease Certification, UCSD Medical Center Earns Distinction - July 3, 2010
The Chronic Kidney Disease Clinic at University of California San Diego Medical Center is the first organization in the country to be certified under The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Advanced Certification Program in Chronic Kidney Disease. ...
U.S. Minorities Especially Vulnerable to Kidney Failure - July 3, 2010
Poor, minority adults with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease are far more likely to progress to kidney failure than are whites with the disease, a new U.S. study has found....
Kidney Patients from South Carolina Ask for Insurance Coverage in Meeting with State Officials - July 3, 2010
Kidney patients from across South Carolina joined the National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas, South Carolina Region and Dialysis Patient Citizens in holding a briefing at the State Capitol Rotunda, followed by a series of meetings with lawmakers and staff. ...
State Medicaid cuts could close dialysis centers - July 3, 2010
Some dialysis centers in Oklahoma are likely to close and patients will need to travel much further to get the life-sustaining treatments due to Medicaid payment cuts that are set to take effect April 1....
Dialysis Corporation of America Reports Fourth Quarter and Year Ended December 31, 2009 Results - July 3, 2010
Dialysis Corporation of America (Nasdaq: DCAI) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009....
QuickMedical Launches Medical Equipment Lease Program With Providence Capital - June 28, 2010
The demand for new medical equipment continues to increase among heath care facilities. QuickMedical has recognized the need to offer hospitals, medical clinics, and other health care facilities the option of leasing new medical equipment versus paying cash or long-term high interest rate financing. ...
Home Medical Equipment Providers and Lawmakers Discuss Cost-Effective Role of Homecare During Washington Meeting - June 28, 2010
More than 250 providers of home medical equipment and services from across the U.S. met with members of Congress this week during the American Association for Homecare's Washington Legislative Conference....
A-Life Medical, Inc. Named Finalist in Adaptive Business Leaders' 12th Annual Innovations in HealthcareSM ABBY Awards - June 21, 2010
The ABBY awards honor companies that have demonstrated ways to lower the cost of providing quality healthcare through their innovative approaches to its delivery, or by using medical or information/telecommunications technology. ...
Fix health care - First ferret out the crooks who make present system so expensive - June 21, 2010
The continuing increase in the cost of health care is damaging to all of us. In our current economy many of us worry whether we will be able to afford the health care our families need in the event of everyday sickness or catastrophic illness. While there may be valid reasons for many of these increases purposed by our insurance carriers, much of the increased cost of health care can be attributed to simply greed....
State candidate suggests adding (another) waste hotline - June 21, 2010
Rebecca Kleefisch, the former TV newswoman-turned-political candidate, says Wisconsin should follow the lead of other states by creating a hotline so public employees and concerned citizens can report abuse and fraud in state government....
Organizing your managed care contracts - June 20, 2010
You know you need to safeguard these contracts for reference and liability and keep them in a safe and convenient place, but what can you do to make accessing these contracts smoother? Organize! ...
Kidney paired donations may expand under pilot program - June 20, 2010
Paired donations and extended transplant chains can save lives, UNOS says, and a national pool to facilitate the exchanges could ease the kidney shortage....
Coding Questions: How to prevent insurance audits and refunds - June 20, 2010
Your desire to be proactive and learn how to prevent potential problems is commendable. It's difficult to provide specific recommendations because the type of practice you manage is not known. ...
3M ICD-10 Code Translation Tool Expands TriZetto Advantage 10 Services to Simplify and Accelerate Payers' ICD-10 Migration - June 20, 2010
The TriZetto Group, Inc., today announced that it has signed an agreement with 3M Health Information Systems giving TriZetto certain exclusivity to include the 3M™ ICD-10 Code Translation Tool with several new services for payers under its TriZetto Advantage 10™ Services family. ...
Insurer targeted HIV patients to drop coverage - June 20, 2010
In May, 2002, Jerome Mitchell, a 17-year old college freshman from rural South Carolina, learned he had contracted HIV. The news, of course, was devastating, but Mitchell believed that he had one thing going for him: On his own initiative, in anticipation of his first year in college, he had purchased his own health insurance....
Are you winging it? - June 20, 2010
More and more chiropractors are undertaking the conversion of their chiropractic practice into a multidisciplinary practice without the legal and managerial assistance of professionals experienced in this highly regulated area. ...
Start with service - June 20, 2010
When starting or building a practice, one thing to keep in the forefront of your mind is customer service. Discover what to do, how to do it, and what to avoid by learning from the Customer Service Best Practices Survey. ...
Whistleblower Kickback Case Against Alpharma Results In $42.5 Million Recovery for U.S. and States - June 20, 2010
Alpharma Inc. has agreed to pay $42.5 million to the federal government and certain states to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that exposed an alleged kickback scheme by the pharmaceutical company to boost its sales of Kadian, a prescription painkiller....
Adjustments are a way of life for Dr. Smith in Iraq - June 14, 2010
A career in the armed services and one in chiropractic are similar in that both involve adjustments. A chiropractor gives adjustments to patients, while soldiers make adjustments in battle....
Legislature acts to ban sex offender chiropractors - June 14, 2010
After the Star Tribune reported that a convict got a license to practice despite past abuse, a bill on the issue moved in the Senate....
Hand-held unit helps determine if vertebrae are properly aligned - June 14, 2010
Burk is the only chiropractor in Jackson County to use the device, which links to a computer. He said the ProAdjuster uses the same type of technology that allows engineers to determine points of weakness and stress on spacecraft....
Dr. Cynthia Seaman Expert Chicago Chiropractor Completes Advanced Acupuncture Protocols Course - June 14, 2010
Chicago's leading chiropractor, and chiropractic authority, Dr. Cynthia Seaman has this year completed studies of advanced chiropractic acupuncture protocols for specific conditions....
Obama announces attack on Medicaid, Medicare abuses - June 14, 2010
President Barack Obama announced Wednesday a new federal initiative aimed at recouping some of the billions of dollars estimated to be lost each year to Medicare and Medicaid fraud....
Proposed law targets Medicaid fraud - June 14, 2010
A bill introduced in the Florida Legislature would give the state's attorney general more powers to fight Medicaid fraud. ...
Bill Would Reward Medicaid Fraud Whistle-Blowers - June 10, 2010
The governor's effort to curb medical fraud is meeting resistance in Annapolis from medical providers....
Obama stumps for his cost-cutting health care overhaul - June 10, 2010
Barack Obama is conducting a last-ditch effort to see his health care overhaul passed by Congress before lawmakers recess for the Easter break. It is still unclear whether he has the votes of Democrats in both the House and Senate to approve the legislation with a simple majority, with the numbers shifting on a daily basis....
White House Announces Plan to Crack Down on Medicare Fraud - June 10, 2010
President Obama announced a new effort to crackdown on waste and fraud in Medicare and Medicaid and other programs through expanded use of payment recapture audits....
ACCA: Better in-hospital coding strategies can eliminate revenue drains - June 10, 2010
In order for providers to eliminate top revenue drains, they must adopt better coding techniques and integrate the coding team into the hospital setting, said Karna Morrow, from Coding Strategies in Atlanta, during her presentation at the American College of Cardiovascular Administrators (ACCA) conference on March 12....
Transition to self-care: a provider perspective - June 10, 2010
At some point in the course of rehabilitating an injury, one has to begin the transition to self-care, the daily activities by which an individual takes care of his or her own health needs....
CIGNA's Intracorp Earns Full Accreditation from URAC for Case Management and Utilization Management - June 10, 2010
Intracorp has earned full accreditation from URAC for the company's case management and utilization management programs. The accreditations, which are effective for three years, recognize the quality of these programs....
Kicking Off National Kidney Month, South Carolina Kidney Patients Prepare to Descend on the State Capitol in Support of Improved Access to Care - June 8, 2010
In recognition of March as National Kidney Month, the National Kidney Foundation Serving the Carolinas, South Carolina Region (NKF) and Dialysis Patient Citizens (DPC) are preparing to hold "Kidney Day at the State House" on Wednesday, in which more than 50 kidney patients, family members and kidney care advocates from across South Carolina will gather at the state Capitol to meet with their legislators and ask them to support policies that will enhance patients' access to health insurance for essential medical care. ...
Taking Empire Medical Training's Physical Therapy Course Can Help Physicians Attract New Patients - June 8, 2010
Empire Medical Training courses specifically for the primary care physicians that wish to perform office based Physical Therapy, Pain Management & Ultrasound procedures. These courses will enable the physician to add income generating procedures....
3 Face Federal Charges in Chicago Workers' Comp Fraud Case - June 8, 2010
Federal law enforcement officials in Chicago report that a chiropractor, a medical doctor and a billing employee at a clinic in Maywood, Ill., have been indicted on federal charges related to workers' compensation insurance fraud....
Inhealthcare Creates Unrivaled Health Care Education Resource - June 8, 2010
Combination of Companies Delivers Unique Value to Medical Coding Professionals...
Chiropractor fights to keep three class actions in line - June 5, 2010
Belleville area chiropractor Kathleen Roche is attempting to adjust three class action suits filed in two counties to her favor, despite settlement of one, the potential dismissal of a second and a motion to dismiss a third....
Sex abuse case against chiropractor dropped - June 5, 2010
Today's scheduled trial of an Elizabethtown chiropractor on a sexual abuse charge was canceled after the case against him was dismissed....
A Yarn Marketer and Chiropractor Present Alongside Executives from Bing, the New York Times, Google and Intel at SearchFest 2010 - June 5, 2010
A staggering number of businesses - no matter their size, industry, or mission statement - want to be part of the social media phenomenon. According to current Facebook statistics, more than 1.5 million local businesses have active pages on Facebook, more than 20 million people become fans of these pages each day, resulting in more than 5.3 billion page fans. ...
Alternative method for scoliosis offers options - June 5, 2010
Dr. Diana Doty, a chiropractor who recently joined Hiler Chiropractic Clinic in Naples, offers the alternative treatment, a combination of machine-based ligament stretching, chiropractic adjustments and exercises aimed to correct the curve over time. The treatment is promoted by the nonprofit Clear Institute, based in St. Cloud, Minn....
How Much Fraud and Abuse Is There in U.S. Health Care? - May 16, 2010
One of the more remarkable proposals put on the table at last week's bipartisan summit on health care reform was an idea from Senator Tom Coburn, an Oklahoma Republican, to deploy undercover agents posing as patients in an effort to ferret out fraud and abuse by doctors and hospitals....
The SCOOTER Store Announces Coast-to-Coast Expansion of Local Stores - May 16, 2010
The SCOOTER Store announced today it is expanding the successful test of its retail stores across the nation. This expansion combined with recent strategies to greatly increase local market direct sales resources will continue the company's transition to a full-service Durable Medical Equipment (DME) provider. ...
Power wheelchair supplier convicted of fraud - May 16, 2010
The owner of a durable medical equipment (DME) supplier was properly convicted and sentenced for health care fraud because she submitted false prescriptions for power wheelchairs on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries, provided those beneficiaries with power scooters which were less expensive than power wheelchairs, and pocketed the substantial cost difference between the two....
Leave those lemmings behind! - May 16, 2010
Would it surprise you to know that practices that offer "free" screenings may be seriously breaking the rules of compliance? But everyone does it, so it must be okay, right? Don't be so sure!...
CERT Report Uncovers CMS Problems; OIG Studies RAC Results - May 16, 2010
New medical record review methodologies, not fraud, helped pump up the DME MAC error rate to 51.9 percent in 2009, CMS said in a recent Comprehensive Error Rate Testing report....
Logicworks Compliance Cloud Offers Effective Solution for Hosting Healthcare Applications and Data - May 16, 2010
Today, Logicworks announced hosted and private cloud solutions that address the compliance concerns of companies doing business in highly regulated industries, including new private cloud customer nextEMR. The offering is a breakthrough for the growing number electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR) companies with its shared nothing architecture with built-in advanced security....
Federal EMR money starts flowing to states - May 16, 2010
A new office under the national health IT chief will work with small group practices in adopting and implementing paperless systems....
Tampa police say staged crashes on the rise - April 29, 2010
Baez was one of the hundreds of people arrested statewide last year in staged crashes; most incidents were in South Florida, but police say staged crashes are increasing in Tampa....
Five Ways Health IT Leaders Can Fight Medicare Fraud - April 29, 2010
Fair warning to health IT professionals: Harry Markopolos, the man who infamously warned the government that Bernie Madoff was up to something fishy, is setting his sights on Medicare fraud. And the first place he'll look for evidence is in your system's e-mails, documentation, and databases....
Justice Officials Push for Expansion of Health Care Strike Forces - April 29, 2010
With Congress shifting its attention to the fiscal 2011 budget, Justice Department officials on Thursday made a case for more resources to tamp down on health care fraud....
Medicaid fraud plan under fire from Maryland businesses - April 29, 2010
Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to recoup millions of dollars lost each year in Medicaid fraud - one of his top legislative priorities in an election year - faces stiff opposition from health care professionals and business lobbyists who hold clout in Annapolis and sway with large chunks of voters....
Should Hospitalists Who Fail to Provide a Standard of Care Be Paid for Subsequent Care? - April 29, 2010
Under new regulations, the hospital will not be reimbursed for the extra cost associated with subsequent patient care. Should the hospitalist be paid for the subsequent care?...
Miami Medicare fraud scheme and threats lead to prison - April 29, 2010
A Hialeah medical equipment supplier who owned two pharmacies is headed for prison for not only bilking Medicare, but also for threatening a fraud investigator and government official....
Three plead guilty in Houston Medicare fraud case - April 29, 2010
The owner and two employees of a Houston medical supply company pleaded guilty in federal court today for bilking the government out of almost $1 million in fraudulent claims....
10 convicted in chiropractor sting - April 26, 2010
One year later, a sting operation aimed at chiropractors accused of participating in illegal kickback or overbilling schemes has led to 10 convictions and one acquittal, according to prosecutors....
U.S. Physical Therapy Makes Acquisition - April 26, 2010
U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc., a leading national operator of outpatient physical and occupational therapy clinics, has acquired a 70% interest in a five clinic outpatient physical therapy group....
Physcial Therapists Approved To Use Low Level Laser Therapy - April 26, 2010
According to the Public Act, physical therapists practicing in Connecticut are now permitted to use low-level laser therapy "for the purpose of accelerating tissue repair, decreasing edema or minimizing or eliminating pain."...
Grady critics need lesson in finance - April 25, 2010
Grady's dialysis patients and their advocates are directing their ire at the wrong target in their fight to reinstate dialysis care. Instead of taking aim at the hospital and its administrators, they should be lobbying local governments and the Legislature for more money....
Fresenius Medical Care Recognizes 31 Patient Champions in 31 Days for National Kidney Month - April 22, 2010
Company Honors Dialysis Patients Who are Committed to Treatments, Maintain Positive Outlook on Condition....
Sex offender is allowed to be a chiropractor - April 10, 2010
For the next four years, Dr. Scott Fredin can't buy pornography or use the Internet without a probation officer's approval. The police can drop by at any time to see if he has been drinking. As a registered sex offender, he must tell authorities every time he moves or gets a new job....
Be The Chiropractor PI Attorneys And PI Patients Flock To… New Patient PI Chiropractic Marketing Seminar For D.C.s This June and July! - April 10, 2010
Get P.I. Patients From P.I. Attorneys and On Your Own…Featuring Legendary P.I. Practice Expert, Dan Murphy, D.C.; Marketing Pro Ben Altadonna, D.C. ; and Past State Farm & Allstate Secret Weapon & Claims Denial Expert, Mr. James Mathis!...
Chiropractic care can improve recovery from surgery at home - April 10, 2010
The biggest challenge is working with folks who feel their bodies have rebelled against them. People who have to deal with a surgical repair due to disease or injury are appropriately anxious because they are making a serious decision about how they want to proceed with their care....
Patient Says Chiropractor Ruined His Back - April 10, 2010
A patient says his chiropractor snapped off a piece of a spinal disc that ended up lodging into his nerve roots. He claims the botched spinal manipulation caused excruciating pain, numbness in his legs, and left him shuffling with a walker....
Spectra Laboratories Improves Efficiency with McKesson - March 29, 2010
Spectra Laboratories East (Rockleigh, N.J.), a lab division of Fresenius Medical Care North America, recently replaced its legacy system with McKesson's Horizon Lab™ laboratory information system (LIS) to improve workflow associated with more than 30 million tests it performs annually....
Obama health reform proposal builds on previous legislation - March 29, 2010
The plan further develops provisions from Senate and House bills, but Republicans found much to criticize in advance of a White House summit....
Birmingham Chiropractor Provides Non-Surgical Relief From Scoliosis - March 17, 2010
A Birmingham chiropractor, Dr. Mark Berry, offers all natural methods to help people with scoliosis deal with the pain associated with the said condition. With the practice of chiropractor, there is no need to take in medicines or undergo surgical procedures to live a healthier life....
Prominent New York City Real Estate Investor, Attorney and Atlanta Nursing Home Chains Pay $14 Million to Settle Whistleblower Kickback Case - March 17, 2010
Two prominent figures in the New York City real estate market, a Long Island associate and two Atlanta-based nursing home chains have paid the federal government and certain state Medicaid programs a total of $14 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit alleging Medicare and Medicaid fraud involving a kickback and a cover-up....
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital to pay $2.92M to resolve fraud allegations - March 17, 2010
Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center, a Long Island, N.Y.-based hospital, has agreed to pay $2.92 million, plus interest, to settle allegations of Medicare fraud....
Discount health plan firm accused of fraud - March 17, 2010
State regulators on Monday cracked down on an Arizona company that issued discount health plan cards to California consumers, accusing the firm of fraudulently claiming the products being sold were insurance and offering services that didn't exist....
Insurers' losses put at $634,000 in alleged insurance fraud scheme - March 17, 2010
Seventeen people from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including a chiropractor and lawyer, face charges of mail fraud in connection with a scheme to cheat insurers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by staging phony auto accidents....
Two San Diego Men Plead No Contest to Workers' Comp Fraud - March 17, 2010
David Wayne Fish of San Diego and Birger Greg Bacino of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., have plead no contest to felony charges of compensation or inducement for referring clients for profit in a workers' compensation scheme and agreed to release $60 million in medical liens and bills prior to entering their plea....
Stimulus bill includes important changes to HIPAA requirements - March 17, 2010
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the "Stimulus Bill"), which President Obama signed Feb. 17, 2009, changes several requirements related to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). ...
Does HIPAA really protect your privacy? - March 17, 2010
From social security numbers to details about personal medical procedures, the risk of your private information going public could be on the rise. While the federal law HIPAA is meant to protect your privacy, we've uncovered why the law may be falling short and what you can do if you feel your privacy has been violated....
New Lumension Webcast Highlights Key Steps to Prepare Healthcare Firms and Business Associates to Comply with New HITECH Act - March 17, 2010
Expert Outlines how Healthcare Entities Secure Electronic Protected Health Information and Ensure Data Privacy and Security Regulations under HITECH Compliance....
New HIPAA Regulations Drive Demand for Accellion Managed File Transfer - March 17, 2010
With stricter HIPAA privacy regulations introduced this week, it is more important than ever for healthcare organizations to demonstrate they conform to the law....
Physical Therapy: A Career That Fits Your Future - March 15, 2010
For Americans looking for a rewarding career in a struggling job market and down economy, a career in physical therapy could be the perfect answer....
Seattle physical therapist restricted from treating females - March 15, 2010
The license of a Seattle physical therapist has been immediately restricted by the Board of Physical Therapy and the state Department of Health. Michael J. Shannon (PT60014317) is accused of inappropriately touching two patients during treatment sessions....
Proposed budget cuts to senior care would hit families - March 15, 2010
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed cutting $104 million from the 2010-2011 budget by eliminating adult day health care services beginning March 1. If the cuts to the $76 daily Medi-Cal reimbursements, which provide the majority of the program's funding, are approved, roughly 37,000 people would lose services by June....
Massage Therapists, Chiropractors, Physical Therapists and Acupuncturists Convene in Palm Springs for Annual California Massage & Bodywork Conventi - March 15, 2010
This popular four-day convention will feature a variety of topics ranging from hands-on relaxation and rehabilitation therapy techniques to ethics, and will even feature instruction in Equine (horse) massage. The mission of AMTA is to support its members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy. All therapists and healing-arts practitioners are invited to attend....
Medicare settlement costs Mercy nearly $3 million - March 15, 2010
Three years after the hospital brought the violations to the federal government's attention, Mercy Medical Center has agreed to pay nearly $3 million to settle claims it violated the False Claims Act in connection with a number of Medicare cases. ...
Jackson Health System union wants probe into 'mismanagement' - March 15, 2010
Facing the possibility of widespread layoffs, the Jackson nurses union came out swinging Thursday -- demanding a grand jury investigation into "gross mismanagement that has caused the public hospital to teeter on financial ruin and that is putting patients at risk.''...
Jackson Health System eliminates 47 positions - March 15, 2010
The layoffs were announced during a news conference by President and CEO Eneida Roldan. The move is expected to save the Miami-Dade County-funded system $7.5 million this year as it faces a projected budget deficit in excess of $240 million....
A-Life Medical, Inc. Expands Through Promotions and New Appointments - March 15, 2010
A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of computer-assisted coding (CAC) products and services to the healthcare industry, announced today that it has promoted several professionals while also appointing new employees to its team, expanding overall operations. ...
Eisenhower Medical Center, medical offices form alliance for better care - March 15, 2010
Eisenhower Medical Center has announced a newly licensed relationship this month with Desert Orthopedic Center, an Eisenhower spokesperson said Wednesday....
Nursing home owners have had prior trouble - March 15, 2010
The Villa Campana Health Care Center - a Tucson nursing home featured in today's Arizona Daily Star - is owned by a corporation that has been the subject of scrutiny by government officials before....
Jackson Health System running out of time, cash - March 13, 2010
The Jackson Health System is confronting three enormous challenges as it seeks to reduce a $230 million deficit that could bring the whole operation down by May....
Ex-Hospital Execs Pay Big Fine In Skid Row Scam - March 13, 2010
They were accused of recruiting the homeless on Skid Row for unnecessary medical treatments and then fraudulently billing the Medicare and Medi-Cal systems. Now the two former hospital executives must pay a $10 million fine to the federal government....
Georgia Dialysis Patients, Legislators Rally Around Bill to Improve Patient Access to Dialysis and Transplants; Lauded as "Good for Patients, Good for - March 13, 2010
Dialysis Patient Citizens today praised the Senate Insurance and Labor Committee for unanimously passing legislation – S.B. 316 – which will increase patient access to life-saving dialysis care or transplant medications....
State board sets hearing for FM chiropractor - March 10, 2010
The factual circumstances listed in the board's documents say on Dec. 20, 2008, Booten was accepting new patients and patient records show she had performed chiropractic care on patients while her license was inactive....
Medical Alarm Concepts Establishes National Dealer Network - March 4, 2010
Medical Alarm Concepts Holding, Inc., the manufacturer of the MediPendant™, the only fully-monitored medical alarm system that allows you to speak and listen directly through the pendant, announces the formation of a national dealer program consisting of many of the nation's elite security and durable medical equipment dealers....
DOTmed Reports Explosive Growth in Online Medical Equipment Auctions - March 4, 2010
DOTmed, the world's leading public medical equipment marketplace, and the leader in online medical equipment auctions, is reporting strong and consistent growth in the use of its online auctions of used medical equipment across all categories including hospitals....
HME Sector Snubbed by Health Care Summit Organizers - March 4, 2010
Home medical equipment stakeholders were outraged last week after their offers to be part of the solution to Medicare fraud were rebuffed and a national summit on health care fraud went on without industry input....
17 indicted in scheme to bilk insurers via phony car accidents - March 3, 2010
Federal authorities yesterday announced the indictment of 17 people - including a chiropractor and an attorney - on mail-fraud charges in connection with a scheme to bilk insurance companies by staging fake auto accidents....
"Bending the Curve": What Really Drives Health Care Spending - March 3, 2010
The main problem is a pricing system that insulates both patients and producers from normal market incentives....
Local agency teams with state to warn of Medicare fraud - March 3, 2010
The local Area Agency on Aging District 7 is teaming with the Ohio Department of Aging to educate the public about Medicare fraud and how to prevent it....
Helping patients takes more than just adjusting - March 3, 2010
As a profession, we can do amazing things when we use our hands to relieve nerve interference and allow the body to function at its fullest potential....
Chiropractic Stroke Victims Optimistic that Board Will Issue Declaratory Ruling on Behalf of Patient Safety - March 3, 2010
After testifying at the recent chiropractic stroke hearings in Connecticut, the Chiropractic Stroke Awareness Organization (CSAO), along with the Campaign for Science Based Healthcare (CSBH) and Victims of Irresponsible Chiropractic Education and Standards (V.O.I.C.E.S), believes the event was successful in bringing the debate on chiropractic stroke back to science and evidence based-medicine....
New Fraud Efforts By New York Office of Medicaid Inspector General May Hinder Its Ability to Meet Recovery Goals - March 2, 2010
In fiscal year 2009, New York state exceeded the amount of recovered improper third-party liability payments federally mandated under the Federal-State Health Reform Partnership (F-SHRP)....
Medicare anti-fraud rule disrupts South Florida senior care - March 2, 2010
The new rule caps how much home-care companies can make from Medicare patients who need more than one visit a day. The change prompted the family of Jacbobson's patient to move him, out of fear that his home-care company would drop him....
Chiropractor, lawyer charged in accident fraud - March 2, 2010
An additional 17 people - for a total of 83 - were charged yesterday in the latest stage of a long-running federal and city investigation into a scheme to fake automobile accidents and then file false insurance claims....
Preferred Homecare Implements Authentidate's Inscrybe Healthcare Service to Improve Health Information Exchange with Referring Physicians - March 2, 2010
Preferred Homecare, a leading provider of comprehensive home healthcare products and services, selected Authentidate's Inscrybe(R) Healthcare web-based service to further enhance the management of critical business workflows....
Offshore HIPAA Business Associates Pose Extra PHI Risks, but Have Incentives to Self-Regulate - March 2, 2010
As providers move to cut operational costs, many are taking their business associate (BA) dealings offshore. And while sending protected health information overseas can be a risky endeavor for patients and health care organizations, one expert says the process has built-in safeguards....
athenahealth Named to Fast Company Magazine's "Fast 50" List of World's Most Innovative Companies - March 2, 2010
athenahealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHN), a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, today announced it has been named to Fast Company Magazine's "Fast 50" list of the world's most innovative companies....
Minnesota Chiropractic Association Supports Lawsuit Against BCBSA - March 2, 2010
The Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) today announced that it is supporting a class action law suit against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ("BCBSA") and a number of state BCBS entities....
Va. Senate passes mandated autism coverage - March 2, 2010
Legislation that would compel insurers to pay for expensive but effective treatments for children with autism won overwhelming passage Tuesday in the state Senate despite opposition from mighty insurance and business lobbies....
Home Health Agency Owner Pleads Guilty in Connection with Detroit Fraud Scheme - March 2, 2010
Detroit-area resident Muhammad Shahab pleaded guilty today for his role in organizing a Detroit-area home health care fraud scheme....
Another "Fired Up" Chiropractor Joins the ACOM Health Team - March 2, 2010
Dr. Stephen P. Nohava, D.C., a clinician with years of experience with the ACOM Health RAPID Chiropractic Software, has joined the ACOM Health Professional Services Group....
American health care: Resetting priorities - March 2, 2010
Once the American people learned how much, they started becoming more interested in small steps in improvement rather than a massive change that hasn't been adequately examined....
Medi-Cal Fraud Hurts All Californians - March 2, 2010
Medi-Cal fraud costs everyone -- legitimate businesses, and patients who need services and taxpayers all pay. The Department of Health Care Services estimates in 2007, $400 million in claims may have been fraudulent....
Physical therapy a growing demand - February 28, 2010
Physical therapy is in demand these days, according to Kremmer, and it's a field that's growing exponentially. Technicians can command good salaries, starting in some areas at $90,000 a year....
Ex-Darnall therapist suspected in assault - February 28, 2010
A former physical therapist assistant at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood is suspected of following a patient home and sexually assaulting her....
DavisPTnetwork Partners with the New York Physical Therapy Association to Provide Online Continuing Education - February 28, 2010
PTs and PTAs can now fulfill their continuing-education requirements with convenient and affordable online courses that are peer reviewed and New York State approved....
Children With Cerebral Palsy Benefitting From New Physical Therapy Regimen - February 28, 2010
New York lawyer Steven J. Schwartzapfel, a personal injury attorney with Schwartzapfel Truhowsky Marcus P.C., is pleased to help spread the word about a promising new therapy for cerebral palsy sufferers....
Rehab service providers brace for TennCare cuts - February 28, 2010
Hospitals aren't the only health care providers bracing for effects to their bottom lines from changes planned to TennCare....
Longview Therapy Center, PLLC, Unveils Its Definition Of Hope - February 28, 2010
Longview Therapy Center, PLLC, puts forth an emphasis on the integration of sensory motor processing through the vestibular/cochlear, proprioceptive, oral motor, auditory, tactile, and visual systems. Each of the three disciplines of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology coordinate their treatments for the benefit of the whole person. ...
Connecticut Board Considers Warning About Risk Of Stroke Following Chiropractic Neck Manipulation - February 28, 2010
Attorney Michael Abelson applauded recent hearings by the Connecticut Board of Chiropractic Examiners to consider whether to require chiropractors to warn patients about the possible risk of stroke from neck manipulation. ...
Group Practice Buy-Outs: What's Fair? What's Affordable? - February 27, 2010
Many physicians in private group practices are alarmed by news of health care reform and other developments affecting their practice finances. Some physicians have responded by abandoning private practice in favor of hospital employment. Other physicians still want their autonomy, and are committed to private practice....
UTMB says former patients' data possibly stolen - February 27, 2010
Confidential information about 1,200 University of Texas Medical Branch patients may have been stolen last year....
Avenues to correct medical billing problems - February 26, 2010
There are several state and nonprofit organizations that can help patients who feel they are victims of mistakes....
Technology can slash fraud in health care - February 26, 2010
Emdeon Inc. processes nearly half of all commercial medical claims nationwide, giving the Nashville-based company a bird's-eye view of billing and other health-care trends....
New HIPAA Regulations Could Result in Fines for Chiropractors Says Certified Auditor, Dr. Tom Necela of The Strategic Chiropractor - February 26, 2010
This means chiropractors will have to have a new Business Associate agreement in place to be compliant with the recently changed provisions under the privacy and security rules that impact named covered entities and business associates....
Have a strategy for the ICD-10 transition - February 26, 2010
It's not too early to start worrying about 2013: here's what you and your staff need to do now to get ready for the big switch....
Feds to investigate allegations state hindered Medicaid fraud investigations - February 26, 2010
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)'s Medicaid Integrity Group intends to investigate allegations the Human Services Department (HSD) hindered Medicaid fraud and elder abuse investigations by the New Mexico Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud & Elder Abuse Division, CMS spokeswoman Mary Kahn told The Independent....
Senior Focus: Help with Medicare - February 26, 2010
Health care issues in the United States intensified in the early part of the last century. It took decades of national debate and the consideration of various approaches -- sound familiar? -- before one of the most important acts of the post-World War II era came to fruition....
Health Care Reform: Reducing Waste and Improving Efficiency in Today's Medicaid - February 26, 2010
As the nation's largest health insurance program, Medicaid plays a huge role in the current health care reform debate. The program serves over 50 million people and has total outlays equaling over $280 billion. Medicaid is much more than simply a program for the poor....
My Turn: Here's how to pay for national health care - February 26, 2010
There's been a lot of talk about the 15 percent of Americans and undocumented immigrants who don't have health insurance. The truth is, they get health care, but at a high cost, paid for by those with health insurance!...
Bucks chiropractor charged with burning offices - February 26, 2010
A Bucks County chiropractor was charged with arson yesterday for a 2008 fire that destroyed his office and neighboring businesses - a fire he blamed on Spanish-speaking gang members....
The New ERISA Overpayment Appeals And Anti-Fraud Services Announced For Healthcare Providers Through ERISA Appeals And Anti-Fraud Compliance - February 26, 2010
In Light of Increasing Frivolous And Debilitating Overpayment Refund Demand From Payers, ERISAclaim.com Announced The Nation's First ERISA Overpayment Appeals and Anti-Fraud Services to Help Healthcare Providers to Effectively Appeal All Alleged Overpayment Denials in Essence of Retrospective Benefits Denials and Increase Fraud and Abuse Prevention Compliance, As Federal Law ERISA Governs All Denials of Benefits From ERISA Plans and Prohibits Fraudulent Interference with ERISA Rights....
How dialysis patients manage in a blizzard - February 26, 2010
For patients who need life-sustaining treatment such as dialysis, the snow storm threatens to get between them and their care....
Grady dialysis patients band together to face new deadline on care - February 26, 2010
Several Grady Memorial Hospital dialysis patients gathered Tuesday and discussed the hospital's new deadline that could end their care. They shared their anxiety. Some said they couldn't sleep....
Eco-Friendly Chiropractor In Omaha, NE - February 25, 2010
Dr. Jason Weise is the primary founder of Life Source Chiropractic. His commitment to health can be found on many levels. Providing chiropractic care in the Omaha, NE community is his obvious passion as seen in his mission statement....
Many Small Practice Physicians Putting off Meaningful Use Guidelines - February 25, 2010
For many physicians in small office practices, the thought of adopting electronic medical records to meet federal "meaningful use" guidelines and timelines is a daunting one at best....
Does Anybody Care About HIPAA Anymore? - February 25, 2010
HIPAA got a big boost from the 2009 HITECH act, which extended privacy rules to business partners, threatened steeper penalties for violations, and promised periodic audits. But even with the beefed-up rules, these days HIPAA just doesn't seem to be that big a priority-to anyone....
Study shows how Medicare rewards MDs for overuse - February 25, 2010
Medicare's move in 2005 to pay doctors to do bladder cancer surgery in their offices rather than in hospitals dramatically raised the number of procedures and overall health costs, U.S. researchers said on Monday....
Waterloo chiropractor loses licence for sex with patient - February 22, 2010
A Waterloo chiropractor who treated his girlfriend - then referred her unpaid bills to a collection agency after they broke up - has been stripped of his licence for having sex with a patient....
Class action chiropractor turns down settlement offer as lawyers would not get fee - February 22, 2010
Local chiropractor Frank Bemis turned down $48 to settle a class action billing dispute, because his lawyers at LakinChapman wouldn't collect a fee....
Popular Affiliate Marketing Club Empowers Chiropractors to Prosper Online in 2010 - February 22, 2010
In the world of affiliate marketing, the "DCincome Club" is unique in that it focuses on empowering chiropractors with the necessary secrets, tools and techniques they require to readily and easily expand their income via the web. DCincomeClub.com is the creation of Dr. Matthew Loop, a noted entrepreneur who is also a chiropractor. ...
Hospital association opposes Medicaid fraud bill - February 17, 2010
The Iowa Hospital Association is opposing legislation that would provide Iowans with a financial incentive to report suspected Medicaid fraud....
Jackson Health System's losses 'really, really bad' - February 17, 2010
The governing board of Jackson Health System erupted in anger Tuesday when executives said the public hospital system last year lost four times as much as originally thought -- and this year's expected loss is more than double earlier projections....
Marlborough woman's Medicare fraud trial postponed to June - February 16, 2010
The California trial of a Marlborough woman accused of participating in a $4.6 million Medicaid fraud case, originally scheduled for last week, has been pushed back to June....
Decompression Marketing Elite - A Higher Level of Excellence in Chiropractic Marketing - February 16, 2010
Many chiropractors have benefited from Dr. Beck's ultimate chiropractic ads. However, with so many chiropractors implementing spinal decompression therapy into their practices, Dr. Beck saw the need for a more focused form of marketing. By creating Decompression Marketing Elite, he has taken chiropractic marketing to a higher level of excellence, giving chiropractors......
Detroit Clinic Manager Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Role in $2.3 Million Medicare Infusion Fraud Scheme - February 16, 2010
U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro in the Southern District of Florida also ordered Briceño to pay $1.8 million in restitution. Briceño was originally charged by indictment in the Eastern District of Michigan, but after her arrest in Miami, she consented to have her case transferred to the Southern District of Florida for her plea and sentencing....
Fake doctor fleeced patients, prosecutors say - February 5, 2010
Andersson, known to his patients as Dr. Syed, had a wall of photos at his home office in San Francisco's Lakeshore district, showing him with actress Julia Roberts and actress-model Elizabeth Hurley, Nobel laureate Linus Pauling and other notables. San Francisco prosecutors say it was all a lie....
Atricure to Pay U.S. $3.76 Million to Resolve Medicare Fraud Allegations - February 5, 2010
Atricure Inc., a medical device manufacturer, has agreed to pay the United States $3.76 million to resolve civil claims in connection with the alleged promotion of its surgical ablation devices....
Alpha II CodeSets Now Offered Directly to Medical Facilities - February 5, 2010
Alpha II, a leader in healthcare coding, compliance and reimbursement, announced today a medical coding content offering, supplying the customers of its developer partners with Alpha II CodeSets – including ICD-9 CM (International Classification of Disease, 9th edition Clinical Modifications), CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) and HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) codes. ...
Protection from prying eyes: Physician Medicare data stays confidential - February 5, 2010
A federal appeals court ruled against a company's request for Medicare claims data, saying that would violate a 31-year-old injunction against revealing individual payment information....
Transplants Can Proceed Despite Substance Abuse - February 5, 2010
Substance abuse by renal transplant recipients does not significantly affect graft and patient outcomes, according to new data presented at the American Society of Transplantation 10th Annual State of the Art Winter Symposium....
Los Angeles Business Owner Pleads Guilty to Submitting Nearly $1 Million in False and Fraudulent Claims to Medicare - February 5, 2010
The owner and operator of a Los Angeles durable medical equipment (DME) company pleaded guilty today to submitting nearly $1 million in false claims to Medicare....
Home Medical Equipment Supplier ActivStyle, Inc. Acquires Tampa-Based Advocate Medical Services, Inc. - February 5, 2010
ActivStyle, Inc., an industry-leading supplier of home medical equipment throughout the United States, today announced the acquisition of Advocate Medical Services, Inc. Advocate provides medical supplies to customers who suffer from spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, urological incontinence and retention, chronic wounds and ostomies....
Should The Government Regulate Our Health? - February 3, 2010
New Yorkers have recently learned about the detriments of salt. Mayor Bloomberg has launched an initiative to reduce the amount of sodium that people get from restaurant chains and food producers by asking them to voluntarily cut the amount of this now ill-thought of mineral....
Bill could help dialysis, transplant patients - February 3, 2010
Thousands of Georgians could get help paying for dialysis and drugs needed after a kidney transplant if a bill sponsored by state Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, becomes law....
ABOUT $2 MILLION A MONTH: More illegal immigrants getting emergency treatment at UMC - February 3, 2010
There are now four more of them regularly making their way to the emergency room at University Medical Center. And doctors say the illegal immigrants coming in for dialysis treatment at University Medical Center are sicker than they were before, making their care even more expensive....
Chiro Summit issues Medicare briefing: What DCs need to know - February 3, 2010
First convened in September 2007, the Chiropractic Summit represents leadership from some 40 organizations within the profession. The Summit meets regularly to collaborate, seek solutions, and support collective action to address challenges with the common goal of advancing chiropractic. ...
Citizens can police Medicare fraud - February 3, 2010
Billions of dollars are lost each year nationally to fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims. If only legitimate claims were paid, the savings could help pay for health care reform. The federal government has been unable to effectively police against such fraud -- but private citizens can make a difference....
Sharing your space: Things to consider when looking for an office mate - February 3, 2010
Economic pressures are prompting many physicians to sublease underutilized office space. A good match can help reduce overhead and help grow a practice....
Is national health care reform possible? - February 3, 2010
It's a big beast no one seems to know how to deal with. Everyone agrees health care in America is broken. The big question is - how to fix it? An even bigger concern, can it be fixed?...
Top-rated hospitals don't always have superior outcomes - February 3, 2010
Study shows patients can benefit from choosing high-volume hospitals for cardiovascular procedures even if facilities do not have high ratings....
Health-Care Overhaul Still on Table - February 3, 2010
The Obama administration still foresees a major health-care overhaul in its 2011 budget, estimating that the cost of the legislation will reach $743 billion over 10 years....
Chiropractor charged in health care fraud case - February 3, 2010
A Philadelphia chiropractor was charged Friday by a federal Indictment with health care fraud, mail fraud, and making false statements in a health care investigation....
NJ Chiropractor Helps Bring Relief to Chronic Headache Sufferers - February 3, 2010
Dr. Peter Ferraro, a NJ Chiropractor with offices in Bergen and Monmouth Counties, says misalignment of the spinal vertebrae can contribute to chronic headaches. Chiropractic treatment can help relieve the pain....
Chiropractic secrets revealed - February 3, 2010
Unlike magicians, chiropractors haven't taken an oath to never reveal their secrets. In fact, chiropractors actively encourage patients to learn more about how their spine functions so they can prevent future problems....
Technosoft Corporation Announces General Availability of Healthcare IT Compliance Services - February 2, 2010
Technosoft Corporation a growing global provider of IT and Business Process services, today announced the availability of its Healthcare IT Compliance Services to address Healthcare entities' most pressing Healthcare Compliance planning, implementation and execution challenges....
Belmont woman to be sentenced in theft, Medicaid fraud case - February 2, 2010
A Belmont woman who provided personal care services for an elderly woman and was charged with stealing from her is expected to ask a judge to allow her to pay restitution and serve no jail time under the terms of a plea deal....
Medicaid fraud in Florida highest for home health services - February 2, 2010
Florida recovered hundreds of millions in fraudulent Medicaid payments, but that was probably still only a fraction of the total, according to an annual report released Jan. 7 by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration....
County nursing home seeks to replace therapists - January 31, 2010
The Cayuga County Nursing Home wants to replace its independently contracted therapy services with a private rehabilitation service provider because the IRS told the agency its therapists too closely resemble employees....
Fraud charges dropped, but doctor can't recoup costs - January 31, 2010
They say you can't fight city hall. A recent federal appeals court ruling shows just how difficult it is for physicians to take the government to task....
Connecticut sues Health Net over data security breach - January 31, 2010
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has filed a lawsuit against California-based Health Net, alleging the company violated federal laws protecting medical records when a portable data drive disappeared....
Healthcare Watchdog Launches, Promises Everyone a Fighting Chance Against Greedy Health Insurance Companies - January 31, 2010
Healthcare Watchdog's long-anticipated consumer advocacy service has finally hit the market. Dedicated to helping people whose health insurance companies are refusing to reimburse valid claims, reimbursing less than they're supposed to, or refusing to approve access to the healthcare provider or treatment of the clients' choice, Healthcare Watchdog is available nationally for a modest monthly fee....
Emdeon buys FutureVision, expects electronic billing boost - January 31, 2010
Nashville-based medical billing company Emdeon Inc. has purchased a Salt Lake City company in a move that it hopes will free itself from a major chore - handling the vast reams of paper bills that still dominate the health care industry....
New Practice Statute in New Jersey - January 31, 2010
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed new scope-of-practice legislation on Jan. 18, 2010 - just one day before being defeated in his quest for re-election - updating a practice statute considered antiquated and overly restrictive by the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC) and many other DCs in the state. The signing marks the first time New Jersey's scope-of-practice regulations have been amended since 1953....
Patients in Medicare demonstration project give chiropractors high marks - January 31, 2010
According to long-awaited results from a congressionally mandated pilot project testing the feasibility of expanding chiropractic services in the Medicare program, patients have a high rate of satisfaction with the care they receive from doctors of chiropractic. ...
Molestation trial ordered for Redding chiropractor - January 31, 2010
A 44-year-old Redding chiropractor was ordered Wednesday to stand trial in the alleged molestation of a 10-year-old girl last year....
Astonishing Breakthrough For Chicago Chiropractic Care Back Pain Relief During Pregnancy - January 31, 2010
Dr. Ralph A Kruse, Jr., a chiropractor in Chicago with multiple approaches to pain relief is excited to announce a modification to a time tested chiropractic technique that is showing astonishing results in easing back pain for pregnant women....
Docs to FTC: Change Red Flags Rule - January 31, 2010
The American Medical Association, American Dental Association and American Veterinary Medical Association have jointly written to Federal Trade Commission members asking that health professionals be excluded from the Red Flags rule....
Hints of a possible solution for dialysis patients - January 31, 2010
Throughout the drama of the closing of Grady Memorial Hospital's dialysis unit, one question has loomed: What will happen to the 50 patients when funding for their care runs out? Will they be on the street? Will they die?...
Grady dialysis patients emotionally exhausted - January 31, 2010
Grady's decision to close the clinic has sent about 50 of its patients into a medical care limbo. Most were illegal immigrants with little money and no government aid. Olaleye-Abner actually has a green card and is married to an American, but not long enough to qualify for citizenship or Medicaid. ...
U.S. Kidney Dialysis Community Responds to Haiti's Emergency Plea for Life-Saving Dialysis Care - January 31, 2010
Kidney Care Partners' Members Provide Dialysis Equipment, Supplies, Medications, and On-the-Ground Clinical Staff to Haiti to Ensure Continued Patient Access to Life-Saving Treatment....
'Loose Lips' Can Get HIPAA Covered Entities in Trouble, Now That Verbal Gaffes Must be Reported to HHS - January 31, 2010
The caseworker probably thought she was doing the right thing by sharing with the patient's daughter that the woman had become increasingly paranoid. But when the daughter confronted the mother with knowledge of her decline, the mother was rightfully outraged - the daughter was not authorized to receive protected health information about her....
Couple Indicted in $1.8 Million Health Care Fraud Scheme - January 30, 2010
United States Attorney John E. Murphy announced that a Federal grand jury in San Antonio this afternoon returned a 12-count indictment charging a San Antonio couple in connection with an alleged estimated $1.8 million health care fraud scheme....
Texas Medical Supply Company Manager Pleads Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges - January 30, 2010
Manual Deluna has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division....
Most claims for power wheelchairs don't meet Medicare criteria - January 30, 2010
An oversight report cites $112 million in improper payments. But a medical device association says the problem lies in documentation complexities....
Wii Balance Board Beats $18,000 Medical Equipment - January 30, 2010
Wii Remotes have already been hacked for science, and now the Wii Balance Board has been tested to be as "clinically capable" as an $18,000 piece of medical equipment....
AG's office wants direct access to state Medicaid data - January 30, 2010
The state's stonewalling of the Attorney General's Medicaid fraud investigations violates federal regulations, Attorney General's office spokesman Phillip Sisneros said Friday....
Power wheelchair providers fight denials tooth and nail - January 30, 2010
Fed up with Medicare's regional carriers denying a majority of their claims for standard power wheelchairs, some providers are fighting back....
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Attorney General Eric Holder at the National Summit on Health Care Fraud - January 30, 2010
Today's summit marks a critical step forward in the work being done by HEAT, our Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team. In establishing this task force last May, the Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services were inspired by common cause – and by common sense....
Attorney General Holder, Secretary Sebelius Convene National Summit on Health Care Fraud, Unveil Historic Commitment to Fighting Fraud in President's - January 30, 2010
The summit is the first national gathering on health care fraud between law enforcement and the private and public sectors and is part of the Obama Administration's coordinated effort to fight health care fraud....
Top execs at Parkland hospital rake in nearly $2 million in incentive pay - January 30, 2010
Top executives at Parkland Memorial Hospital collected about $1.7 million in bonuses at the end of last year, according to records released recently to The Dallas Morning News....
CMS wants input on new self-referral rules - January 30, 2010
The comment period, which ends Jan. 25, could lead to further guidance for restructuring noncompliant physician-hospital arrangements....
National Dental Management Company Pays $24 Million to Resolve Fraud Allegations - January 30, 2010
The United States today announced that it has settled False Claims Act allegations against FORBA Holdings LLC, a dental management company that provides business management and administrative services to 69 clinics nationwide known as "Small Smiles Centers."...
Health care reform dead; long live reform - January 30, 2010
Massachusetts' election of a Republican senator has put health reform legislation on life support. But for the health care industry, reform is a reality that isn't going to die....
No World Borders to Present at Health Care Industry Conference - January 30, 2010
On February 18th and 19th Michael Arrigo, CEO of No World Borders, Inc. will be participating in Health Care Education Associates' "Strategically Transitioning to ICD-10 for Providers & Plans," a health care industry conference focused on helping the health care industry move to the new electronic health record standards....
Chiropractor and Assistant Charged in Health Care Fraud Scheme - January 30, 2010
Dr. Neil H. Hollander was charged today by Indictment with health care fraud, mail fraud, and making false statements in a health care investigation....
Miami Medicare fraud ringleader, 6 others face prison sentences - January 30, 2010
A Miami man who used his chain of Medicare clinics to commit fraud and exported the business to four Southern states will be sentenced Wednesday along with six other people in federal court....
DaVita Inc. faces shareholder investigation - January 30, 2010
An investigation on behalf of current long term investors in shares of DaVita Inc. (Public, NYSE:DVA) over potential shareholder claims based on breach of fiduciary duty and other state law violations was announced. ...
Mexican national receives one-year prison term for health care fraud - January 30, 2010
He was sentenced Tuesday to one year and one day in federal prison for helping McAllen cardiologist Dr. Fabian Aurignac bilk Medicare and Medicaid out of more than $1 million....
Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty in Connection with Detroit Home Health Care Fraud Scheme - January 30, 2010
According to plea documents, Vigil, a licensed physical therapist, admitted that she began working in approximately September 2008 as a therapist at All American Home Care Inc., and associated entities (All American)....
Texas and federal officials charge more health care embezzlers in Medicaid fraud schemes - January 30, 2010
The FBI, Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit have been working together to successfully convict health care fraud schemes throughout Texas....
Former owners of medical center to pay $10-million settlement in alleged Medicare fraud scheme - January 30, 2010
The two former owners of City of Angels Medical Center will pay $10 million as part of a consent judgment over allegations that they performed unnecessary medical work on homeless people recruited from skid row shelters as part of a Medicare fraud scheme....
Physical Therapy, First Line of Treatment for Low Back Pain - January 30, 2010
Physical Therapy is effective for management of low back pain; A "cornerstone" of non-surgical treatment, report concludes....
Local sports therapist readies for Olympic experience of a lifetime - January 30, 2010
He has a lot of other things on his mind and lots to take care of before leaving for Canada, like making arrangements for his patients and waiting for his British Columbia physical therapy license to clear, on top of his daily routine....
Louisville chiropractor admits health care fraud - January 30, 2010
A Louisville chiropractor has admitted that he defrauded a local insurance company....
Nursing homes face lower Medicaid payments - January 24, 2010
Thousands of health-care providers will see a 3.25 percent reduction in Medicaid reimbursement rates after a vote Thursday by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority....
Jury Convicts Detroit Area Doctor of Health Care Fraud Conspiracy - January 24, 2010
After a week-long trial in Detroit, the jury convicted Dr. Myint of one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. The conspiracy count carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years....
Insurance Groups Push Health Bill Changes - January 24, 2010
A number of insurance carrier and employer trade groups are asking that the effective dates for numerous changes in health place benefits and policies be extended in any healthcare reform legislation....
Bill would hold nursing home owners criminally responsible for abuse, neglect - January 24, 2010
State Sen. Edith Prague said she will re-introduce a bill this year that would make it easier to hold the owners of nursing homes criminally responsible for abuse and neglect of patients in their facilities....
Why Doctors Are Abandoning Medicare - January 24, 2010
Physicians will not be bullied into bankruptcy. Our system needs reform, but what's being hammered out in Washington is not the answer....
N.J. Medicaid audit finds $13M in payments for mistakes over two years - January 24, 2010
A child lost her HMO health coverage through an administrative glitch by the state Medicaid office. Less than a month later, the child needed intensive hospital care for eight months. The cost to the state: $1.1 million....
9 Things in the Health Bill We Should Now Reconsider - January 24, 2010
As Congress takes a deep breath and reconsiders the expansive 2,700-page bill passed by the Senate on December 24 and promoted as the one that could be pushed through the House and onto the president's desk unchanged, the rest of us might want to take a closer read, too....
ArthroCare Getting A Makeover - January 24, 2010
Medical device maker ArthroCare Corp. will have its shares relisted under the symbol "ARTC" on the Nasdaq, beginning January 22....
Michigan's physical therapy assistants in limbo over new federal and state licensing - January 24, 2010
A few weeks ago, Rebecca Stiff was happily working as the director of rehabilitation at a nursing home in southern Genesee County. Now she's anxiously waiting by the mailbox at her Swartz Creek residence, worrying if her new license will arrive from the state in time to keep her job....
Home-Care Mergers Loom for Amedisys, Gentiva on Cuts (Update3) - January 24, 2010
Amedisys Inc. and Gentiva Health Services Inc., the biggest home-nursing companies, plan a shopping spree for smaller rivals as funding cuts in the U.S. health-care overhaul trigger the industry's biggest shakeout....
APDA Launches First-of-its-Kind Parkinson's Rehab Resource Center - January 24, 2010
The center's toll-free "helpline" telephone number is 1-888-606-1688, and callers will be able to speak with a licensed physical therapist who can answer questions about exercise, provide information about programs in the caller's area and provide educational materials....
Man claims physical therapist injured his arm - January 24, 2010
Referred to Christus St. Michael Rehabilitation Hospital for physical therapy for fractured ribs, James Marshall claims he suffered an additional injury to his right shoulder because of the physical therapist's excessive and forcible manipulation of his arm....
The PT Project Promotes Field of Physical Therapy Worldwide - January 24, 2010
The PT Project is a free resource that is dedicated to elevating the educational standards within the field of physical therapy, educating the public, and promoting excellence in practice, standards and ethics within the profession....
U.S. Health-Care System Upgrade Represents One of the Biggest Modernization Efforts in Industry History - January 24, 2010
Not so much in terms of mass hysteria, but in scope: In 2013, the U.S. will upgrade to the latest version of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system -- the standard diagnostic taxonomy by the World Health Organization -- a move which represents "the largest health-care systems modernization effort in history."...
Pinellas doctor agrees to plead guilty on drug, fraud charges - January 24, 2010
A Pinellas County physician has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges that he dealt drugs on the street and defrauded Medicare....
Minnesota County Says State Plan To Cover Costs Of Health Care For The Needy Is Unfair - January 24, 2010
In Minnesota, Hennepin County officials are saying a plan to charge counties extra to "cover health care for their neediest residents would have an unfair impact on the state's largest county and biggest public hospital."...
Thirteen Detroit-Area Individuals Arrested and Charged for $14.5 Million Medicare Fraud - January 24, 2010
Thirteen Detroit-area residents were arrested today by federal agents from the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and FBI in connection with an alleged home health care scheme to defraud the Medicare program of more than $14.5 million....
Connecticut AG uses HITECH to sue over patient data breach - January 24, 2010
Connecticut Attorney General (AG) Richard Blumenthal announced Wednesday that he is suing Health Net of Connecticut for failing to secure private patient medical records and financial information involving 446,000 Connecticut enrollees and promptly notify consumers exposed by the security breach....
Prime Healthcare Services Implements Zix Corporation's Email Encryption Service for HIPAA Compliance - January 24, 2010
Zix Corporation (ZixCorp®), (Nasdaq: ZIXI), the leader in email encryption services, has signed a three-year contract with Prime Healthcare Services, a leading California-based regional health system with 13 separate hospital facilities....
Whistleblower suit fingers DaVita, Networks critical of CMS - January 23, 2010
It was announced this week that the whistleblower suit in Eastern Texas that alleges fraudulent EPO administration and billing practices has been amended for a third time to include DaVita Inc. as the sole defendant....
San Juan Regional Medical Selects ProVation® Medical Software for Procedure Documentation and Coding - January 23, 2010
Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that San Juan Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) has selected its ProVation® MD software for Gastroenterology and Cardiology. ...
Emdeon Launches HIPAA Simplified Web Resource to Address Healthcare Industry Transition to HIPAA 5010, NCPDP D.0 and ICD-10 Standards - January 23, 2010
Emdeon Inc. (NYSE: EM), a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced the availability of HIPAA Simplified, a one-stop online resource for guiding the healthcare industry's transition to HIPAA 5010, NCPDP D.0 and ICD-10 standards....
Georgia's Kidney Care Community Praises Introduction of Legislation to Improve Patient Access to Quality Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Care - January 21, 2010
Members of Georgia's kidney care community – including patients, physicians, providers, and kidney transplant groups – today applauded State Senators Don Thomas (R-Dalton) and Ed Harbison (D-Columbus) for introducing bipartisan legislation to help approximately 2,000 Georgians suffering from kidney failure who are having difficulty accessing health insurance for their dialysis care or needed transplant medications....
Will the bundle improve the way care is delivered? - January 21, 2010
If in fact CMS is interested in keeping a healthy provider mixsmall, medium, and large dialysis organizationsit is imperative that the agency sign off on a final plan that maintains such a balance. And it may not be just for the sake of healthy competition; patients do want a choice....
Muscle Wasting in Dialysis Patients - January 21, 2010
Muscle wasting, also termed protein-energy wasting (PEW), is a state of metabolic and nutritional derangements that is closely associated with high morbidity and mortality in CKD patients....
Do we let Grady dialysis patients die? - January 21, 2010
Thanks to an article that appeared in the New York Times, Jan. 1, we have some idea. The article, "Ailing immigrants find no relief back home," describes the fate of one person who took Grady's offer to return to their home country and went back to Mexico....
Grady Extends Dialysis Deadline amidst Human Rights Inquiry - January 21, 2010
he Grady Health System decided last week to continue providing free dialysis care through a private provider for another month, Atlanta Progressive News has learned....
Hot jobs: Medical coders are in great demand - January 19, 2010
What if you want to ride the health-care growth train but are more comfortable in an office than an operating room? Health information management might be for you, and a job as a medical coder might be the place to start. ...
Feds reach settlement with MIMA in Medicare fraud case - January 19, 2010
The U.S. Department of Justice said it has reached a tentative settlement with Brevard County's largest physician group, which is accused of defrauding Medicare out of millions of dollars in unnecessary, duplicative and costly radiation treatments....
3 arrested in Brighton medical-pot "assembly line" - January 19, 2010
A Brighton chiropractor and two other people were arrested Saturday for distributing pot after police say 100 people gathered - and smoked - at a makeshift medical-marijuana dispensary....
NJ Chiropractor Uses Spinal Decompression To Treat Herniated Discs - January 19, 2010
Dr. Peter Ferraro is one of New Jersey's leading chiropractors offering spinal decompression therapy. The renowned NJ Chiropractor has become nationally recognized for his extensive work using non-surgical decompression technology. ...
Class-action suit against chiropractors led by Alberta woman rejected - January 19, 2010
A judge has ruled a lawsuit against a chiropractor and the agency that regulates them doesn't meet the criteria needed to be certified as a class-action suit....
Chiropractic Care Helps Child With Sinusitis - January 19, 2010
A recent article published in The Journal of Pediatrics, Maternal and Family Health reports the case study of an 11-year old female patient who had been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and who had lost her sense of smell for one year....
New dialysis plan will prevent ER overcrowding - January 19, 2010
Three healthcare institutions agreed to help Jackson's dialysis patients on Friday because the $100,000 move could save lives while saving costs in their own emergency rooms....
Lawyers for Grady dialysis patients seek international stage - January 19, 2010
An international human rights organization is reviewing whether Grady Memorial Hospital violated the rights of patients of its now-closed outpatients dialysis clinic....
Hospital Cuts Dialysis Care for the Poor in Miami - January 19, 2010
To chip away at an overwhelming budget deficit, Miami's public hospital system stopped paying for kidney dialysis for the indigent this week, officials said, leaving some patients to rely on emergency rooms for their life-sustaining treatments....
Lawsuit Filed against Heparin Maker, Dialysis Center - January 19, 2010
The family of Lloyd James Robinson, who allegedly died after he was administered heparin during treatment at the DaVita Lufkin Dialysis, filed a product liability lawsuit in the Beaumont Division of the Eastern District of Texas on Dec. 30 against the drug's manufacturer Baxter and the dialysis center alleging that the Chinese facility where the drug was manufactured did not meet U.S. regulations....
Struggling Public Hospital in Miami Cuts Off Dialysis Payments - January 19, 2010
In covering this beat, I sometimes see a story that makes me stop and think, "So that's what's wrong with healthcare." I read such a piece today in the Miami Herald concerning the decision of the Jackson Health System, a major public hospital in Miami, to stop paying for kidney dialysis for 175 poor, uninsured patients....
Seven Ways Hospitals Can Become 'Smaller Losers' Under Medicare's Recovery Audit Contractor Program - January 18, 2010
There will be bigger and smaller losers in the national recovery audit contractor (RAC) program, experts say. Which category a hospital falls into will depend to a large extent on its command of the data and a willingness to appeal claims denials all the way to an administrative law judge (ALJ), they say....
Health reform package still needs some improvement - January 18, 2010
As we enter the new year, we begin where we left off in 2009 -- with work still to do on health system reform. Topping the AMA's "to-do" list in 2010 is improving the final health reform bill as the House and Senate work to reconcile their two versions, and securing permanent repeal of the broken Medicare physician payment formula....
HIPAATraining.net Launches HIPAA Certification Training for Certified HIPAA Privacy Expert - January 18, 2010
Hipaatraining.net announces the launch of Certified HIPAA Privacy Expert (CHPE) Certification training. This certification will be of great help to comprehend the HIPAA law requirement for Privacy rule & basic overview on HIPAA security rule and will provide all the necessary guidelines on how to make your organization HIPAA compliant....
PHNS to Provide ICD-10 Readiness Assessment for NorthBay Healthcare - January 18, 2010
PHNS Inc. announced that it has been engaged by NorthBay Healthcare (NorthBay), Fairfield, California, to begin the process of assessing its readiness for its migration from ICD-9 to ICD-10....
HAPPYneuron Launches the First Online Professional Destination for Clinical Cognitive Training - January 18, 2010
The HAPPYneuron PRO platform enables effective online cognitive rehabilitation programs for a variety of impairment conditions, including: Alzheimer's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, Schizophrenia and more. ...
Kidney Patients Fault Advance Care Planning - January 18, 2010
Chronic kidney disease patients who responded to a survey said that their end-of-life planning fell far short of their wants and needs. Nearly half of patients with advanced chronic disease said they would like to make advance care plans with their nephrologist....
Making the Family Caregiver a Part of the Healthcare Team - January 18, 2010
This month, the American College of Physicians (ACP) issued a position paper that provides ethical guidance in addressing the role of the family caregiver whom patients depend on for assistance with daily activities, managing complex care, navigating the healthcare system, or communicating with healthcare professionals....
Bill expands what New Jersey's chiropractors can do - January 18, 2010
Thanks to a measure that passed in both the state Senate and Assembly on Monday, state-licensed chiropractors would be able to treat extremities, prescribe medical tests and give nutritional advice as well as sell nutritional supplements in their offices....
Talk your way to the top - January 18, 2010
As a chiropractor, opportunities to speak are abundant since people are always looking for better ways to care for their health. Public speaking gives you the opportunity to market your message and develop a steady flow of new patients....
N.J. lawmakers approve expanding chiropractor treatment scope - January 18, 2010
Chiropractors would be legally permitted to prescribe medical tests, provide nutritional counseling, sell vitamins and supplements and call themselves "chiropractic physicians" under a bill that passed both legislative houses today....
Elysium Internet's Chiropractor.net to Exhibit at Florida Chiropractic Association 2010 Panhandle Convention and Expo - January 18, 2010
Elysium Internet, Inc., an emerging leader in Local Internet advertising, today announced plans to exhibit its Industry leading page-one ranked, direct navigation patient acquisition program, www.Chiropractor.net at the 2010 FCA Panhandle Convention and Expo later this month. ...
U.S. Department of Justice Alleges Johnson & Johnson Paid Kickbacks to Steer Nursing Home Prescriptions: Joins Chicago Pharmacist's Whistleblower Case - January 18, 2010
The United States Department of Justice filed a complaint in Boston federal court today, alleging that pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson committed Medicaid fraud by paying Omnicare pharmacies kickbacks for recommending that nursing home patients use Risperdal® and other Johnson & Johnson drugs....
Medically Unnecessary Admissions Alleged in Rural Hospital False Claims Settlement - January 18, 2010
Hospital admissions that allegedly were not necessary or were extended for no medical reason are at the heart of a False Claims Act settlement with Wheaton Community Hospital in Minnesota....
Patients learn they might have unneeded stents - January 18, 2010
St. Joseph Medical Center in Towson, whose cardiology business is a focus of a continuing federal health-care fraud investigation, has notified hundreds of its heart patients that they may have received expensive and potentially dangerous coronary implants they didn't need....
Healthcare Billing & Management Association Announces 2010 Board of Directors - January 17, 2010
The Healthcare Billing & Management Association (HBMA), a non-profit educational resource and advocacy group representing third-party medical billers and billing professionals, announced today the appointment of the officers and members of the 2010 HBMA Board of Directors. ...
HHS Report Confirms that the Complicated Medicare Documentation Requirements for Power Wheelchair Claims Obstruct Regulatory Compliance by Physicians - January 17, 2010
A federal report released last week on Medicare claims for power wheelchairs confirms that the regulatory documentation requirements are confusing, onerous, and must be improved, says the American Association for Homecare, the nation's largest association representing providers of durable medical equipment and services, including wheelchairs....
Agents arrest 13 Detroit residents in alleged Medicare fraud plot - January 17, 2010
Thirteen metro Detroit residents were arrested today by federal agents in connection with an alleged home health care plot to defraud Medicare of more than $14.5 million between August 2007 and September 2009....
Missouri was most efficient in 2008 of using federal aid to recover Medicaid fraud funds - January 17, 2010
The Missouri attorney general's office was the most efficient in the nation in 2008 in using federal funds to fight Medicaid fraud....
Experts predict top 10 payer trends for 2010 - January 16, 2010
Industry experts predict that the number one trend for healthcare payers in 2010 will be the renewal of information management business models....
Health care: A 'goldmine' for fraudsters - January 16, 2010
There's a group of people who really love the U.S. health care system -- the fraudsters, scammers and organized criminal gangs who are bilking the system of as much as $100 billion a year....
14 Biggest Trends and Events for Hospitals and Health Systems in 2009 - January 16, 2010
Though conditions have improved in some areas, hospitals are still feeling the lasting effects of the recession....
Two Lakeland Therapists Face Charges of Fraudulent Medicaid and Medicare Claims - January 16, 2010
Two Lakeland physical therapists were arrested Monday on federal charges of fraudulently billing Medicare and Medicaid....
Lakeland couple faces charges of Medicare fraud - January 16, 2010
A Lakeland husband and wife have been indicted on federal charges they defrauded the U.S. government by fraudulently billing Medicare for physical therapy services....
How Ready Are Hospitals for Meaningful Use? - January 16, 2010
Every hospital leader that I have spoken with in the past six months or so has been confident that his or her organization is in a position to qualify for meaningful use and capture all of the incentive payments from the HITECH Act....
Team Tips: Systemizing your practice - January 12, 2010
At the heart of a good experience is not only feeling good about the comfort and care given by your entire staff, but also the professionalism and efficiency with which the care is given....
New Online Education Benefit Offered Through California Physical Therapy Association-EDUCATA Partnership - January 12, 2010
Rich Content Available to PTs/PTAs Through the Association's Website at Special Member Pricing. Under the terms of the agreement, all of EDUCATA's interactive content is available to CPTA members at a discounted rate. ...
The Strategic Chiropractor Announces January Seminar Series - January 12, 2010
Chiropractors in search of ways to maximize reimbursements, minimize audit risks and boost profitability have two upcoming seminars presented by Dr. Tom Necela in Seattle & Portland....
Industry Fires Back at OIG Report on PWC Documentation - January 12, 2010
In the wake of an Office of Inspector General report that indicated a significant percentage of early 2007 power wheelchair claims lacked proper documentation, the American Association for Homecare fired back last week with a message that put the blame squarely on CMS....
VPA to pay $9.5M to settle whistle-blower lawsuits - January 11, 2010
Voluntary Physicians Association, a Farmington Hills-based home health care company, has agreed to pay $9.5 million to settle four whistle-blower lawsuits....
MRO's Audit Tracker Online Now Compatible with the American Hospital Association's RACTrac Application - January 11, 2010
MRO Corp., a developer of superior release-of-information (ROI), audit tracking and document management applications and services for healthcare providers, today announced that Audit Tracker Online, MRO's request management program is compatible with the American Hospital Association's (AHA's) RACTrac application. ...
VHA Predicts Increased Demands on Health Care Providers Will Drive Proactive Collaboration to Reduce Costs and Improve Patient Care in 2010 - January 11, 2010
Regardless of the outcomes of health care reform, hospitals and health systems, facing increased demands from the government, patients and industry are being forced to do more with less. ...
Appeals court rejects effort to sell Medicare physician claims data - January 10, 2010
The AMA had joined the federal government in appealing an earlier decision ordering release of data in four states for an Alabama firm's marketing purposes....
Medicaid cuts looming for Va. hospitals - January 10, 2010
Virginia's hospitals are attempting the delicate balancing act of asking legislators to spare Medicaid from deep cuts, while acknowledging the state faces a significant budget shortfall of $4.2 billion....
Bill is fraught with dangers to the public - January 10, 2010
This proposal would allow medically untrained chiropractors to examine and adjust all of the articulations and soft tissue of the body without any physical relationship to the spine....
Folsom Chiropractor Says Chiropractic Care May Be Safer and More Effective Than Painkillers - January 10, 2010
Folsom chiropractor, Dr. Brad Falke of www.chiropracticfolsom.com favors a non-traditional approach to pain relief. He treats causes rather than symptoms of illness. A new web site for Blue Oak Chiropractic is now live and details options. ...
Advocates seeking state law requiring a warning prior to neck manipulation - January 10, 2010
Stroke victims and their families say all they want is for patients to have more information about the possible risks of a chiropractic procedure called cervical spinal manipulation....
Battle brews over safety of neck manipulation - January 10, 2010
There is a battle over health underway in Connecticut. Some victims say neck manipulation by a chiropractor caused their stroke. They want patients warned about the risk, but many chiropractors say the procedure is safe....
Chiropractors' Argument Falls On Deaf Ears - January 10, 2010
While a group of victims of chiropractic stroke listened intently at the state Capitol late Monday afternoon, Matthew N. Pagano stood in front of the cameras to declare that "there is no cause and effect relationship between chiropractic and stroke."...
Grady Dialysis Patients to Appeal Order - January 10, 2010
A lawyer representing dialysis patients who were treated at a clinic that was shut down by an Atlanta hospital has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to take up their complaint seeking ongoing care....
Fresenius Medical Care Urges Dialysis Patients to Prepare for Winter Storms - January 10, 2010
As winter brings freezing temperatures and blankets regions of the U.S. with snow, dialysis patients are especially vulnerable because they typically need treatment every two to three days, and any substantial delay can be life threatening....
Reprieve Eases Medical Crisis for Illegal Immigrants - January 10, 2010
The patients, mostly illegal immigrants with no access to insurance, signed documents stating they understood that Grady's payments would end on Jan. 3. Until then, the hospital would help them relocate to their home countries or other states....
Grady dialysis patients get treatment reprieve -- again - January 10, 2010
Though Grady Memorial Hospital has contracted with a clinic to provide free dialysis care for patients until September, the hospital continues to push patients to find their own care and has set another deadline to stop treatments....
Health Care Providers Protest Zealous Auditing - January 10, 2010
Health care providers say they're getting swept up in a Medicaid fraud dragnet and being forced to pay thousands and sometimes millions of dollars to the government, despite not having committing fraud....
Three hospitals team up in dialysis crisis - January 10, 2010
Three Miami-Dade hospitals stepped forward Friday to provide a month's worth of care for about 40 dialysis patients abandoned by Jackson Health System....
The Robbinsdale facility has corrected the problems that led to ban, state says - January 10, 2010
Robbinsdale Rehab and Care Center can resume taking new Medicare and Medicaid patients, after state inspectors determined the nursing home corrected serious and persistent violations of patient care standards....
Medicare changes rules for home health care - January 10, 2010
Recently, Medicare said it found that some home health agencies may be ending services early for some patients, citing a new Medicare rule that changes how Medicare pays for some high cost episodes of home health care....
Families challenge cuts in funding for disabled - January 8, 2010
Both ARC and CP have been informed their state funding may be cut by 10 percent, which would result in staff layoffs and the elimination or reduction of services. Ten-percent cuts would cost both organizations more than $1.5 million each, officials said....
UM, 2 hospitals to help dialysis patients who lost Jackson care - January 8, 2010
The University of Miami's UHealth, Baptist Health South Florida and Mercy Hospital announced Friday morning they will fund for one month the 40-some dialysis patients who have lost their support from Jackson Health System....
Avoid health care fraud with a compliance culture - January 8, 2010
Last spring, a Medicare Fraud Strike Force team, known as the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team, or HEAT, was formed by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services to investigate and prosecute health care fraud....
Miami-Dade clinic owner held on Medicare fraud charges - January 8, 2010
The Miami-Dade man hasn't held a steady job in more than a decade. Yet Ihosvany Marquez spent millions of dollars on a fleet of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and other luxury cars, along with thoroughbred horses and diamond jewelry, authorities say....
CMS modifies DRG validation in 2010, based on RAC input - January 8, 2010
In response to feedback from the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), providers/suppliers and their associations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has modified the additional documentation request limits for diagnosis-related group (DRG) validation purposes in the RAC program for FY2010...
Understand the 2010 changes in current procedural terminology (CPT) - January 8, 2010
219 additions, 141 revisions, and 63 deletions. Here's what you need to know to get paid this year....
AG urges awareness, welcomes senior sleuths - January 7, 2010
The Senior Anti-Crime University is part of the Attorney General's Senior Sleuths project, a volunteer program to help seniors protect themselves and prevent others from becoming victims of fraud and abuse....
American Business Solutions Announced the Launch of a New Service for Healthcare Providers in Preparation for the Upcoming Medicare RAC Auditors - January 7, 2010
Although physicians currently face a 21 percent cut in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) fees in 2010, the government is looking to take more money back from physicians via the Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs). ...
ICD-10 deadline causing worry, even 3 years away - January 7, 2010
Physician organizations are working with CMS to ensure doctors have sufficient information to prepare for the new code sets....
Jackson Health System halts dialysis for poor patients - January 7, 2010
Dozens of patients are facing a life-or-death situation after Jackson Health System stopped paying for treatment for their failing kidneys....
Health care loophole causes concern - January 6, 2010
An ABC Action News investigation is raising questions about a loophole in a new Florida law aimed at combating Medicaid and Medicare fraud....
Minn. to track often-abused prescription drugs - January 6, 2010
Beginning Monday, pharmacies were required to report data on addictive drugs to the Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program....
Hospital's treatment after death pours salt in wound - January 6, 2010
Shane Wertz, whose heart attack came from out of the blue, was unconscious when he arrived at the hospital's emergency room. He died shortly thereafter. Julie Wertz thought the way in which the family was informed of the death was out of whack, considering the severity of the trauma....
AMA Doesn't Speak for Most Doctors - January 6, 2010
The American Medical Association officially endorsed the Democrats' health reform bill. An eager Barack Obama, of course, used this endorsement to claim that "doctors" support his healthcare takeover. This misleading statement plays on the common misperception that the AMA represents some huge block of American physicians. Not true....
Suspect in $55 million Miami-Dade Medicare fraud held without bail - January 6, 2010
The Miami-Dade man hasn't held a steady job in more than a decade. Yet Ihosvany Marquez spent millions of dollars on a fleet of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and other luxury cars, along with thoroughbred horses and diamond jewelry, authorities say....
Wheaton whistleblower medical suit ends - January 6, 2010
'Country doctor' and hospital to pay $846,461 to settle charges of unnecessary care, although they deny any wrongdoing....
Residents, politicians differ on fixes for New York's budget crisis - January 6, 2010
Many residents pointed to the need to cut salaries of public employees to reflect those in the private sector, and reduce benefits for the chronically unemployed. Elected officials pointed to big programs, such as Medicaid, that they said need to be cut back....
OIG Finds PWC Documentation Lacking; Medical Necessity Next Up for Study - January 6, 2010
Those claims accounted for $112 million in improper Medicare payments out of the $189 million total allowed during the six-month period, the OIG said in a report posted Dec. 30....
New Jersey Chiropractors Improve Profitability and Compliance Using Internet -- Billing Precision Receives ANJC's Business Partner of the Year Award - January 6, 2010
Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC) selected Billing Precision as the Business Partner of the Year for 2009. Billing Precision has become the fastest-growing chiropractic billing company in the country. Its all-in-one Internet-based system includes accountable and transparent billing service, state-of-art touch-screen SOAP notes, advanced patient scheduling, and real-time monitoring for compliance and audit exposure....
Making Medicaid work - January 6, 2010
Our view: To fight the rising costs of health care insurance for the poor, Maryland needs broader authority to go after providers who commit fraud....
Conn. chiropractic board to consider stroke risk - January 5, 2010
This week, 43-year-old Harwe plans to experience another landmark moment in her life when the Connecticut State Board of Chiropractic Examiners takes up the contentious question of whether patients should be warned about a possible risk of stroke from neck manipulation by a chiropractor....
Dialysis during the night - January 5, 2010
The life-saving procedure tends to interrupt the lives of patients with kidney failure, forcing them to fit in school, work or appointments on other days. But since late November, Cooks has more time to get things done by having dialysis from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at Fresenius Medical Care Jackson....
Health Care Compliance Requirements - HIPPA OSHA Joint Commission Red Flag Rules - January 5, 2010
To ensure compliance with laws and regulations it is essential to raise awareness through education. Health care compliance education offers the solution....
Thoroughness, not haste, key in probe of clinic's insurance billing practices - January 5, 2010
Several sources have said the clinic that caused the outbreak, Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada, made a habit of overbilling insurance companies....
Senior Medicare Patrol exposes cases of benefit fraud - January 5, 2010
The 4,700 volunteers who serve as the government's eyes and ears have been credited with saving taxpayers more than $100 million since 1997. The program relies on elderly people to apply a lifetime's worth of common sense and skepticism....
Medicare: Complex but Essential, a Mirror for Reform? - January 5, 2010
As Congress stands poised to make the most sweeping change to the U.S. healthcare system since the creation of Medicare, a look back at the incremental growth in that program may serve as a harbinger for the progress of healthcare reform....
Denying Care To Illegal Immigrants Raises Ethical Concerns - January 5, 2010
Under the House bill, illegal immigrants could buy coverage in the bill's insurance exchange but would be ineligible for federal subsidies; under the Senate version, even that would not be not permitted....
Physical therapist suspended following allegations of sexual misconduct - January 5, 2010
A Bristol physical therapist has been barred temporarily from practicing in Tennessee for allegations that he sexually molested three patients in late 2008, according to recently filed state documents....
Eric Edelman makes physical therapy as painless as possible - January 5, 2010
Eric Edelman says he does everything he can to make physical therapy as painless as possible for his patients – from the inviting decor of his facilities to his caring staff....
$14 million hospital will keep Fort Worth-area patients close to home for rehab - January 5, 2010
Construction is expected to begin early next year on the Texas Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Worth, a $14 million facility that local officials say will keep area patients closer to home while they recover from brain injuries, strokes and other maladies....
WellCare resolves to go after former executives following Medicaid fraud scandal - January 5, 2010
Tampa, Fla.-based managed care plan WellCare intends to file lawsuits against its former top executives, according to a filing in federal court as part of a shareholder lawsuit against the company....
Ohio Doctor Charged with Health Care Fraud - January 5, 2010
Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, announced today that, on Wednesday, December 23, 2009, Dr. Hany M. Iskander, age 48, of Powell, Ohio, entered a plea of guilty to an information charging him with one count of Health Care Fraud before United States District Court Judge Solomon Oliver, Jr. in Cleveland, Ohio....
Woman Arrested For Elderly Abuse - January 5, 2010
A Cantonment woman was arrested Tuesday on charges that she abused two elderly patients under her care....
Chiropractic couple make adjustments - January 5, 2010
Tawnda Andrews jokes that the reason she went to chiropractic school was so that she could meet someone who would be able to give her adjustments for the rest of her life....
Woman sues chiropractor, claiming he caused stroke - January 5, 2010
A Winnipeg woman is suing her chiropractor, whose treatment she claims caused her to have a stroke only hours after visiting his office....
Former Bristol, Tenn., physical therapist suspended for sexual, ethical misconduct - January 5, 2010
A former Bristol, Tenn., physical therapist's Tennessee license has been suspended due to findings of alleged sexual, ethical misconduct and substandard patient care....
Longview care center takes big steps following poor review - January 5, 2010
In November 2007, Longview's Evergreen Frontier Rehab & Extended Care Center, was rated among the worst nursing homes in the United States for chronic violations and failure make improvements, according to federal officials....
Knowledge of supporting literature helpful when deciding between hand interventions - January 5, 2010
A keen awareness of the literature supporting the interventions hand therapists make use of in their clinical practices is essential to making treatment as efficacious as possible, according to a study presented here. ...
Police say Redding chiropractor admitted molestations - January 4, 2010
A 44-year-old Redding chiropractor who pleaded not guilty Monday in Shasta County Superior Court to molesting a 10-year-old girl admitted to a Redding police investigator that he did molest her and that he knew his actions were wrong, a police report reveals....
Medicare cuts cripple access to cardio care - January 4, 2010
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, Medicare patients throughout New Jersey will find it more difficult to receive potentially life-saving heart tests and treatments....
6 charged in $1.2M medical-supply insurance scam - January 4, 2010
A Center City medical-supply company and the couple who own it were charged by a federal grand jury yesterday with bilking Medicare and other benefit programs out of more than $1.2 million....
Healthcare Bills Will Hamper Medicare Services for Seniors and the Disabled - January 4, 2010
Significant changes are needed in healthcare reform legislation to prevent senior citizens and the disabled from facing a difficult time obtaining homecare products through Medicare....
Qualifying for Medicare coverage for power wheelchairs and scooters - January 4, 2010
For Medicare to cover a power wheelchair or scooter, your doctor must state that you need it because of your medical condition. Medicare won't pay for a power wheelchair or scooter only for your convenience or for leisure activities....
Will Reform Open the Flood Gates for Health-Care Fraud? - January 4, 2010
The reform bills moving through Congress commit more than $100 million to prevent fraud and strengthen enforcement practices. And by the time the Senate was finished working on its bill, it had adopted even tougher anti-fraud measures than the House had--increasing penalties for health-care fraud, expanding the definition of actionable offenses, and devoting greater resources to fraud detection....
Faribault nursing home death tied to medication error - January 4, 2010
The state cited a Faribault nursing home for neglect after a woman died of a massive stroke in June. ...
Hospital deaths lower in Utah than rest of nation - January 4, 2010
Utah had lower percentages of in-hospital deaths and injuries than for similar patients nationwide in the latest evaluation released by the Utah Department of Health....
Study Finds Dramatic Improvement in Patient Outcomes in Dialysis Clinics After Being Acquired by DaVita - January 4, 2010
DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), today released a study finding patient outcomes in the company's newly acquired centers showed dramatic improvements over the two years following their switch to DaVita® ownership....
Man did not have license to be a doctor, officials say - January 4, 2010
He said ultrasound imaging technologies allowed him to get a better idea of a patient's condition and make an accurate diagnosis....
Kan. AG says no laws broken in Medicaid decision - January 4, 2010
State officials bypassed their own procedures but didn't break any laws in giving extra Medicaid funds to a nonprofit group with ties to the state Democratic Party chairman, Kansas' attorney general said Tuesday. ...
Oklahoma Hospital Group Pays U.S. $13 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations - January 4, 2010
St. John Health System, headquartered in Tulsa, Okla., has agreed to pay the United States $13,229,348.88 to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, the Justice Department announced today....
Primary Care Doctors See Hope in Today's U.S. Senate Action That Could Deliver More Americans Lower-Cost Alternatives to Health Insurance - January 4, 2010
New Amendment Allows for Flat-Fee Direct Primary Care Practices Nationwide to Compete in Proposed Insurance Exchange, Modeled From House Version....
Court Upholds Chiropractor's Molestation Conviction - January 4, 2010
An Anaheim chiropractor who molested several patients was properly convicted of the relatively new crime of sexual battery by fraud, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled....
Los Angeles Healthcare Fraud Defense Lawyers Announce Recent Results in California Medi-Cal and Medi-Care Criminal Law Cases - January 4, 2010
The Criminal Defense Attorneys of Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin LLP, a premier Los Angeles Fraud Defense Firm, have successfully represented numerous clients accused of state and federal healthcare fraud offenses involving allegations of Medi-Cal and Medi-Care theft....
Senior-Citizen Volunteers Fight Medicare Fraud - January 4, 2010
Volunteer army of senior citizens is helping uncover Medicare scams, saves taxpayers' money....
Doctors studying hard on the beaches - December 29, 2009
Doctors at Santa Clara County's Valley Medical Center are working hard to stay up to date in their fields - spending hundreds of thousands of dollars a year at taxpayers' expense to attend conferences at five-star beach resorts from Maui to Barbados, according to a new county audit....
Qualifying for wheelchairs and scooters - December 29, 2009
For Medicare to cover a power wheelchair or scooter, your doctor must state that you need it because of your medical condition. Medicare won't pay for a power wheelchair or scooter only for your convenience or for leisure activities....
Tape May Ease Pain in Some Cases of Knee Arthritis - December 29, 2009
Simple athletic tape may bring some pain relief to older adults with a form of arthritis that affects the kneecap, a small study suggests....
Two Indian-Americans Plead Guilty In Health Care Fraud Scheme - December 29, 2009
At sentencing, Thangarasan, who is a licensed physical therapist, and Smith face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Aggarwal faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine....
Home Health Agencies Defrauded Medicaid - December 29, 2009
Three home health agencies have entered into a settlement agreement resolving the Attorney General's lawsuit against one of them and three whistleblower lawsuits that alleged the agencies defrauded the Medicaid program....
Miami Man Sentenced to 12 Years Prison for $1.1M Georgia Medicaid Fraud Scheme - December 29, 2009
Varian. V. Scott of Miami, Fla., has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison on charges of healthcare fraud and conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud for his role in a $1.1 million Medicaid fraud scheme....
Philadelphia Insurance Companies Introduces Chiropractor Professional Liability Product - December 29, 2009
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) is pleased to announce it will begin offering Chiropractor's Malpractice Insurance in several states....
Pa. chiropractor pleads guilty to defrauding health benefit program - December 29, 2009
A Moosic, Pa., chiropractor pleaded guilty in federal court to a felony charge of making false statements involving a health care benefit program...
Elysium Internet Expands Healthcare Vertical With Launch of Chiropractor.net - December 29, 2009
Elysium Internet, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: EYSM), an emerging leader in local performance based advertising and digital media, today announced that it has launched a new local Chiropractor directory under its recently acquired brand www.Chiropractor.net....
Louisville chiropractor charged with health care fraud - December 29, 2009
A Louisville chiropractor is facing a federal charge of health-care fraud over accusations that he ripped of a local insurance company....
Medicare and the Chiropractic Practice, Part 4 - December 29, 2009
Many DCs are unaware (or even unconcerned) about the Medicare medical review (MR) process until they receive notice of audit. This article is to help inform the profession about this process before notice of an audit is received and to give guidance for follow-up....
New York Medicaid program used $92 million for improper payments: audits - December 29, 2009
New York's Medicaid program squandered $92 million in overpayments, billing errors and waste, three scathing state audits have found....
Allstate Sues Michigan Medical Billing Company - December 29, 2009
Allstate Corp. is suing a Michigan medical billing company and others for allegedly taking part in a "scheme" to commit insurance fraud that cost the insurers more than $680,000....
10 Phrases That Became Part of the Healthcare Lexicon in 2009 - December 29, 2009
Health reform brought us a bunch of new words and phrases to learn and use. But in case you missed some of them, here's a quick pastiche of some of the most interesting....
Amerigroup Plays Key Role in Fraud Conviction - December 29, 2009
Amerigroup Corporation today announced the successful conclusion of a key fraud case that helped recoup a significant amount of money for U.S. taxpayers....
Time to crack down on Medicaid fraud - December 29, 2009
But there's a big difference between an error and a deliberate act of fraud. Those who knowingly and deceptively create a false medical claim in order to bilk the government out of large sums of money deserve no sympathy whatsoever....
Expert offers recommendations for treating anemia in patients with kidney disease - December 29, 2009
Recent findings that an anemia-fighting drug doubles the risk of stroke in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease without substantially improving their quality of life should lead doctors to be more cautious about prescribing these medications....
Mississippi organ case prompts review - December 29, 2009
Health officials who coordinate U.S transplant surgeries say they will examine policies on using donors who have certain neurological disorders....
System reform at what cost? - December 29, 2009
For nearly a year, Americans have watched and listened as health care reform legislation was discussed, crafted and passed by the U.S. Congress. ...
Allstate Insurance Company Uncovers Alleged Insurance Fraud Scheme Against Global Medical Billing - December 29, 2009
Allstate Insurance Company today filed a complaint in the United States District Court, Eastern District, Southern Division against Global Medical Billing, Sterling Heights, Mich., alleging insurance fraud, misrepresentation and unjust enrichment....
Steps to Consider When Preparing for RACs - December 29, 2009
Taking certain preventive measures can go a long way toward preparing your facility for RAC audits. One of the first steps is for you to make sure your staff understands the issues....
Medicare fraud crackdown brings 30 indictments - December 29, 2009
Physicians are among those charged with bilking millions from Medicare as federal strike teams expand their reach....
Wilmington medical clinic investigated for fraud - December 29, 2009
A medical clinic in Wilmington run by a father and daughter is under investigation for allegedly filing fake Medicare and Medicaid claims....
Justice – finally – is served - December 29, 2009
Two nurse anesthetists sacrificed their careers in a legal battle to save their profession, only to find themselves left behind again by their own organization....
Second state panel opposes Kaiser dialysis - December 29, 2009
A state health panel voted 7-4 Thursday to recommend disapproval of Kaiser Permanente's proposal to develop outpatient dialysis services in Wailuku and Lahaina....
American Society of Transplantation: Dialysis reimbursement should not hold transplant bill hostage - December 29, 2009
The American Society of Transplantation responded to the recent New York Times article, "Plan for kidney drugs spurs division," by releasing a statement that emphasizes the organization's support of the controversial Congressional proposal to extend the immunosuppressive coverage limits....
Immigrants Lose Lawsuit Against Atlanta Hospital - December 29, 2009
Efforts to force the public hospital here to continue providing free dialysis treatment to a group of immigrants, most of them illegal, suffered a setback on Tuesday when a judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging the recent closing of the hospital's outpatient renal clinic....
Judge: Grady dialysis lawsuit will be dismissed - December 29, 2009
A Fulton County Superior Court judge said Tuesday he will dismiss the lawsuit by patients trying to force Grady Memorial Hospital to reopen its outpatient dialysis clinic, according to a lawyer in the case....
Group of NxStage(R) Home Hemodialysis Patients to Take Caribbean Cruise with the System One(TM) - December 29, 2009
NxStage Medical, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXTM), a leading manufacturer of innovative dialysis products, today announced that a group of its home hemodialysis patients and their partners will be embarking on a week-long, conventional (non-dialysis) Caribbean cruise with their NxStage® System One(TM) cyclers....
Plan for Kidney Drugs Spurs Division - December 29, 2009
A Congressional proposal to help pay for drugs needed by transplant recipients to prevent rejection of donated kidneys has run into opposition from dialysis providers, drug companies and the National Kidney Foundation. ...
Senate approves 'public options' for final health care reform law - December 29, 2009
Although the 'public option' included in the House bill is not included in the Senate version, President Barack Obama says there's very little difference between the two bills and he's "getting 95 percent" of what he wanted in health reform....
Detroit is focus of U.S. Medicare fraud probe - December 29, 2009
Since 2007, a joint task force from the U.S. Justice and Health and Human Services departments has indicted more than 460 people nationwide on charges of bilking the federal program out of more than $1 billion in fraudulent claims, particularly unnecessary medical tests....
Michigan Health Care Provider to Pay United States $669,413 to Settle False Claims Allegations - December 29, 2009
Genesys Health System has agreed to pay the United States $669,413 to settle a lawsuit alleging that the health care provider violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims to Medicare....
Medical billing code monopoly explains American Medical Association's support for health plan, critics say - December 29, 2009
As Democrats tout the American Medical Association's endorsement of their health care overhaul, critics are pointing to their studious sidestepping of a little-known monopoly that sends millions into the trade group's coffers each year, saying it's no surprise the Democrats were able to gain the AMA's support....
Foot doctor faces 28 counts of health care fraud - December 29, 2009
A Buffalo foot doctor is accused of numerous counts of health care fraud in an indictment that was unsealed this week in federal court....
Many D.C. medical clinics unlicensed, not inspected - December 29, 2009
The safety of D.C.'s urgent care patients could be in jeopardy because those centers are neither licensed nor inspected by the Health Department, according to a new government report....
CMS Revises Consultation Services Payment Policy - December 29, 2009
Effective Jan. 1, Medicare will no longer recognize CPT consultation codes for payment of services provided to Medicare Part B beneficiaries....
Jury rules in favor of Memorial Hospital - December 29, 2009
A Sandusky County jury ruled in favor of Memorial Hospital in a suit filed by a group of former emergency room doctors....
Bypass Anemia Drugs in Chronic Kidney Disease, Expert Says - December 29, 2009
Anemia in most chronic kidney disease patients should be managed with iron supplements or blood transfusions, if anything, rather than erythrocyte-stimulating agents, a leading nephrologist has recommended....
DiNapoli: NY made $92M in Medicaid billing errors - December 29, 2009
The state Department of Health has made $92 million in overpayments and billing errors in administering Medicaid during the past three years, according to state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli....
Hospitals Face Admission Denials for Stents, but May Be Able to Prove Medical Necessity - December 29, 2009
Claim denials for cardiac stent insertions have been alarmingly high in some states, which should be a wake-up call for hospitals everywhere, medical-necessity experts say....
A Memphis Rx - December 29, 2009
Americans deserve a health-care system that embodies fundamental American values. What would such a system look like? ...
Lourdes reaches deal to pay back Medicare - December 29, 2009
Lourdes Health System has agreed to pay the federal government $7.9 million to settle allegations that its hospitals in Willingboro and Camden defrauded Medicare....
Monterey County's Natividad Medical Center to expand orthopedic care - December 29, 2009
Natividad Medical Center in Salinas will soon offer orthopedic clinics five days a week, and patients will have access to a greater number of specialists....
Medicaid faces major cuts - December 29, 2009
The state may be forced to cut more than $1 billion over the next 18 months from BadgerCare Plus and other health care programs for the disabled, elderly and low-income families....
International Private Practice Business Summit Jan 22 – 24, 2010 Attracts Owners of Physical Therapy Practices for Ongoing Business Development - December 25, 2009
Learn how to run a streamlined and profitable private practice by attending The 2nd Annual International Private Practice Business Summit. This virtual Summit will take place via tele-conference and webcast making it easy and economical for practice owners to attend....
Nintendo game technology becomes therapy tool - December 25, 2009
Michael Durbin moves his stocking feet quickly across the action mat while keeping his eyes on the TV screen, where his character "Rock" rides a rail car at high speed through a winding tunnel....
About 30 arrested over Medicare fraud in 3 state - December 25, 2009
Federal agents arrested about 30 suspects in three states Tuesday in a major crackdown on Medicare fraud totaling $61 million in separate scams as the government targets waste in taxpayer-funded health care....
Three Detroit-Area Residents Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud - December 25, 2009
Jackson, Mich., resident Terrence Hicks and Detroit residents Muhammed Al Mahdi and John Saunders pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Michigan this week for their roles in a $4.2 million Medicare fraud scheme....
They're watching - How to stay off the radar - December 25, 2009
One of the simplest ways to head down the path ultimately labeled "fraud" is your CPT codes. What problem could possibly result from your codes?...
At first you had no clue... - December 25, 2009
You were pretty sure that there was more cash coming in than you were actually seeing. By the time you were certain, thousands of dollars had been stolen by a trusted employee....
Kidney waitlists often miss target - December 25, 2009
Three out of five dialysis clinics failed to meet a federal goal of having at least a quarter of their patients listed for a kidney transplant, according to data the Tribune-Review obtained....
New York Announces Settlement With Three Home Health Agencies - December 25, 2009
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced a settlement with three home health agencies that are alleged to have defrauded Medicaid by billing the system for hundreds of unqualified health aides....
Practice Velocity Receives U.S Patent for PiVoT - December 25, 2009
The US Patent Office has issued a patent to Practice Velocity® for its PiVoT™ software EMR solution for urgent care. The patent covers the system's unique documentation and automated coding processes....
Tighter rules sought for anti-psychotic drug use in nursing homes - December 25, 2009
Health advocates are calling for tough new rules on the use of anti-psychotic drugs in Illinois nursing homes, including tighter controls on doctors who prescribe the powerful medications....
Cost Controls Head PricewaterhouseCoopers' List of Top Issues for 2010 - December 25, 2009
Efforts to reduce healthcare costs are at the top of a new list of the biggest issues for the health industry in 2010 from PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute, according to a release from PricewaterhouseCoopers....
DMEPOS Bidding Presents Major Problems for Equipment Providers - December 25, 2009
The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program Round One Rebid window for bidding closes today....
Obama Calls for Senate to Avoid "Parliamentary Measures" Blocking Health Care Reform - December 25, 2009
President Obama calls on the Senate to avoid using "parliamentary maneuvers" to stand in the way of passing health care reform in his weekly address....
Elysium to Enter $7 Billion Chiropractic Market With Acquisition of Internet Domain Name Chiropractor.net - December 25, 2009
Elysium Internet, Inc., a next generation Local Internet advertising and digital media Company, today announced that it has agreed on terms to acquire the one word generic Internet domain name Chiropractor.net for its newest online destination. ...
Jesup doctor going to prison for health care fraud - December 25, 2009
A 43-year-old Jesup, Ga., family physician was sentenced Monday to 34 months in federal prison for conspiring to commit health care fraud....
Panacea Healthcare Solutions Announces New Partnership to Provide RAC Data Mining Services - December 25, 2009
Panacea Healthcare Solutions, LLC is now offering MedLearn's solution as the exclusive RAC Risk Data Mining module at Panacea's RACAuditor.com web site....
athenahealth Receives Top National Ranking for Small Physician Practice Category in 2009 KLAS Report for Practice Management Services - December 25, 2009
athenahealth, Inc., a leading provider of internet-based business services to physician practices, today announced that it has received the top ranking for solo physicians as well as physician practices with two to five physicians in the practice management category in the annual 2009 Top 20 Best in KLAS Awards: Software & Professional Services report. athenahealth also ranked second in the six-25 physicians and 26-100 physician practice categories, highlighting the scale and wide adoption of athenahealth's centrally-hosted software platform, athenaNet®....
Top 10 Issues Facing Healthcare in 2010 - December 25, 2009
The report, entitled appropriately enough "Squeezing the Juice Out of Healthcare," lists 10 issues of concern for health providers, including insurers, hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical and life-sciences companies, and even community groups and municipalities....
The American Academy of Professional Coders and Ingenix to Offer Comprehensive ICD-10 Implementation Training - December 25, 2009
Two industry-leading sources in medical coding join forces to offer ICD-10 implementation training to providers, outpatient clinics and health plans in preparation for the 2013 compliance deadline...
State suspends chiropractor's license - December 25, 2009
The Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners has issued an emergency suspension of Bandon chiropractor Michael B. Currie's license, while it investigates concerns about his ability to practice chiropractry....
Legislature considering changes in chiropractor licensing - December 25, 2009
Legislation which would redefine the scope of practice of licensed chiropractors in New Jersey has cleared the Senate Commerce Committee....
New molesting charges filed against chiropractor - December 25, 2009
A chiropractor who already faces molesting and battery charges in Floyd and Clark counties faces seven new counts of child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor and child seduction in Clark County....
Patient Photos Help Reduce Hospital's Medication Errors - December 25, 2009
After a medication error occurred on the adult inpatient unit resulting from the misidentification of a patient, Mason and the committee reviewed other patient identification practices on various units within the hospital's psychiatry department....
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Expands Operations Into Brooklyn, N.Y.; Tampa, Fla.; and Baton Rouge, La. - December 20, 2009
Continuing Strike Force Operations Lead to Indictment of 30 Individuals Charged in Miami, Detroit and Brooklyn with more than $61 Million in Fraudulent Billing to Medicare....
A Six Sigma Approach to Health Care Reform - December 20, 2009
Health care in the U.S. needs more than reform; it needs to be re-engineered. ...
Enhanced Functionality and RACTrac Compatibility Provide Even More Depth to HealthPort's® RAC Management Reach - December 20, 2009
HealthPort®, Inc., a top 25-company in the healthcare information technology industry, today announced its recovery audit contractor (RAC) management tool, HealthPort RACPro, now holds the distinction, through the American Hospital Association (AHA), of being RACTrac Compatible. ...
AAPC Now Offers On-site ICD-10 Training for Health Plans Nationwide - December 20, 2009
Developed specifically for health plans by a team of health care, coding and reimbursement experts, the on-site trainings are designed to enable any organization to systematically and effectively make the switch to ICD-10. ...
Dynatronics Inks Preferred Vendor Agreement with 1,100 Member Preferred Therapy Providers, Inc. - December 20, 2009
Dynatronics Corporation announced it has signed a preferred vendor agreement to provide therapy equipment and rehab supplies to Preferred Therapy Providers, Inc. (PTP), a nationwide network of physical, occupational and speech therapy clinics....
Assistive Technology Allows for New Lease on Life - December 20, 2009
Although assistive technology has been around and evolving for 20 years, its application in schools is still in its infancy, she said. Merging technology with specific disabilities, such as hearing or vision impairment, is an ongoing challenge, she said, especially because of cost....
AthletiCo Opens 55th Physical Therapy Center In Milwaukee, Wisconsin - December 20, 2009
The opening of the Milwaukee Eastside facility marks AthletiCo's first center outside of Illinois. AthletiCo Milwaukee Eastside's services include Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Work Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, and Orthotic Fabrication. ...
Rehab from shoulder replacement begins shortly after surgery - December 20, 2009
Assuming that your surgery was satisfactory, your post-operative rehabilitation and exercise program will probably begin while you are still recovering in the hospital. Even though your arm will be in a sling for four to six weeks, physical therapy will begin as soon as you can make a fist with the hand of your operated shoulder....
Lee County residents keep an eye on plans that jeopardize home-care service - December 20, 2009
The U.S. House of Representatives is considering $54.7 billion in cuts to Medicare reimbursements for home health care services over 10 years. The Senate has been debating more than $40 billion in reductions....
Texas Health to build rehab hospital - December 18, 2009
Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth and Centerre Healthcare Corp. plan to build a $14 million rehabilitation hospital near Texas Health Fort Worth....
Scott gets 12 years for GA Medicaid fraud - December 18, 2009
Varian V. Scott, of Miami, was sentenced on Monday to 12 years in federal prison for being part of a health-care fraud scheme that cost Georgia Medicaid $1.1 million....
As Obama Pushes For Second Stimulus, Federal Audit Agency Says States Have Only Spent One-Quarter of Funds Set Aside for Them in First Stimulus - December 18, 2009
As President Obama and congressional Democrats push for a second stimulus package, a federal auditing agency is reporting that less than one-quarter of the economic stimulus money allocated for spending by the states has been used--the majority of which went to cover increases in Medicaid. ...
Health Care's 'Radical Improver' - December 18, 2009
Athenahealth's headquarters, on the banks of the Charles River outside Boston, is a world away from D.C., and it's clear, as he continues his metaphor, that Mr. Bush enjoys the distance: "And these princes, they mean well and they're lovely," he says, "but they're living in this alternate universe where there's no such thing as a market in health care and they don't understand why one might be remotely useful."...
Medicare Eliminates Consultation Codes for Doctors - December 17, 2009
Now that Physicians cannot bill Medicare for consultations how will they get paid for patient care? Capture's medical billing video explains how in easy to understand terms....
Queens Chiropractor Busted For Insurance Bilk - December 17, 2009
A chiropractor with a practice in Woodhaven has been charged with insurance fraud and other charges after allegedly convincing a "patient" to fabricate injuries and then billing an insurance company more than $26,000 for medical treatments over three months....
Physical Therapist, Money Launderer and Patient Recruiter Plead Guilty in Connection With Multiple Detroit Health Care Fraud Schemes - December 17, 2009
According to information contained in plea documents, Thangarasan, a licensed physical therapist, admitted that he began working in approximately September 2003 as a contract therapist for a co-conspirator....
Wellness Medical Center Unveils New Website Cutting Edge Site Matches Boston Clinic's State-of-the-Art Physical Therapy Services - December 17, 2009
Wellness Medical Center, a growing physical therapy and rehabilitation clinic serving the Boston area, announced the launch of its new website designed to highlight the clinic's expert, patient-first healthcare services and keep patients informed....
Health care fraud still main focus of False Claims Act - December 15, 2009
Whistle-blowers continue to drive false claims recoveries. But increased federal scrutiny of health care fraud could have physicians playing defense....
RAC Tracking and Denials Management System, RAConciliation, Is Approved by AHA as a RACTrac Compatible Product - December 15, 2009
RAConciliation, the RAC Tracking and Denials Management system, exclusively available through RACauditor.com in partnership with H.I.M. ON CALL, has been approved by the American Hospital Association (AHA) as a RACTrac compatible product. ...
Insider Secrets About Recovery or Postpayment Audits - December 15, 2009
In June 2009, I had the privilege of attaining certified professional medical auditor (CPMA) certification as offered by the National Alliance of Medical Auditing Specialists. In a nutshell, I was trained to think, analyze and act in the role of a professional auditor....
CMS places limits on recovery audit contractors in 2010 - December 13, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has placed limits on recovery audit contractors (RACs), regarding the number of medical and related claims record requests they may seek from hospitals and other providers during an audit in 2010....
CMS launches anti-fraud program - December 13, 2009
CMS and OIG are highlighting problems associated with medical identity theft and Medicare fraud as part of a broader effort to reform healthcare. ...
Robbinsdale nursing home loses funding - December 12, 2009
Officials have cut federal assistance to new patients at the Robbinsdale Rehab and Care Center because of the errors and failure in care that included those that led to two patient deaths....
Another win for health-care whistleblower Ven-A-Care - December 12, 2009
A corporation that once owned a small Key West pharmacy earned $1.35 million this week as its share of a civil case lodged by the Florida Attorney General's Office....
Upcoming HIPAA changes catching some unaware - December 12, 2009
Expansions to privacy and security rules, mostly affecting business associates, go into effect next year....
Doctor pleads guilty to fraud - December 12, 2009
A Jacksonville doctor pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to bilking $400,000 out of the government in Medicare fraud....
Couple charged in leading Medicare equipment fraud - December 12, 2009
Robert Saul and his wife allegedly thought they could get rich by giving people expensive power wheelchairs and other medical equipment - equipment they didn't need - and falsely billing Medicare....
New charges filed against chiropractor - December 12, 2009
A southern Indiana chiropractor is facing more child sex charges. Authorities in Clark County filed seven new charges against 38-year-old Robert Matthew Nolan this week....
Philadelphia Pair Charged with Fraudulent Billing for Medical Supplies - December 10, 2009
A Philadelphia couple and their medical supply company have been charged with defrauding Medicare and other health benefits programs out of more than $1.2 million....
Two Data Security Breaches Give State Attorneys General a Chance to Exercise Their New HIPAA Powers - December 10, 2009
In a sign that state attorneys general may be flexing the HIPAA enforcement muscle granted by the HITECH Act provisions in the Recovery Act, the Connecticut and Arizona attorneys general are investigating health plans that recently experienced data breaches that they failed to disclose for several months....
HIPAA's role in liability cases tested in Mich. - December 10, 2009
Courts have split over whether the federal privacy statute prevents informal discovery of certain patient information....
Cross-Country Kidney-Donor Chain Involving Stanford and Four Other Hospitals, Cuts Wait Times for Transplant, Gives Local Couple a Reason to Celebrate - December 10, 2009
The chain involving the Sunnyvale couple was one of the most extensive uses to date of a relatively new and logistically complex type of kidney donation in which multiple pairs of living kidney donors and recipients are matched via computer algorithm with compatible recipients and donors. ...
Nursing Homes With Physician Owners May Be Defying Stark Physician Self-Referral Rules - December 10, 2009
Because some services provided at nursing homes are reimbursed outside Medicare's prospective payment system for long-term care, physician-owners might run afoul of Stark if they treat the residents....
Patient Blames Physician for Foot Amputation - December 10, 2009
On cross examination, the defense attorney questioned Mr. X about his diabetes, specifically whether he took his medications as prescribed, whether he visited his physician regularly, and about his efforts to control his blood sugar. The attorney's skillful cross-examination forced the patient to admit that he did not refill his prescriptions on time and was not particularly compliant with his doctor's instructions....
Board suspends Wichita chiropractor for 30 days - December 10, 2009
Wichita chiropractor Bradley Eck says he plans to resume his practice after completing a record-keeping course and a 30-day suspension, as ordered by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts....
Chiropractor pleads not guilty - December 10, 2009
A former Sequim chiropractor accused of double-billing the state Department of Labor and Industries appeared Dec. 4 in Clallam County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty....
Dallas Chiropractor offering a new book - December 10, 2009
Dallas Chiropractor, Dr. H. Khayal is now offering a new book on Symptoms and Solutions on Back Pain along with additional free services at his office....
New molestation charges filed against chiropractor - December 10, 2009
The charges keep piling up against Robert Matthew Nolan, the 39-year-old former chiropractor accused of inappropriately touching four patients and raping a teenage girl....
Chiropractor explains neurological and spinal links - December 10, 2009
This method thoroughly examines patients, focusing on the upper back and neck and searches for gentler solutions to problems than a general chiropractic approach, he said....
Fresenius Medical Care Announces Management Board Changes - December 9, 2009
resenius Medical Care (NYSE: FMS) (FWB: FME), the world's largest provider of dialysis services and products, today announced a transition to a new management board structure, drawing entirely on internal management strength. ...
Many Dialysis Patients Get Wrong Blood Thinners for Angioplasty - December 9, 2009
Some docs not following FDA directive urging against use of Lovenox, Integrilin, study shows....
DaVita Named to FORTUNE's List of Top Companies for Leaders - December 9, 2009
The company has been recognized as the only health care services company on FORTUNE Magazine's 2009 list of Top Companies for Leaders. ...
Forum on Displaced Grady Dialysis Patients Held - December 9, 2009
About 75 patients, doctors, and advocates gathered Tuesday, December 01, 2009, to discuss the latest details regarding dozens of dialysis patients displaced from Grady Hospital and to look for potential long-term care options for them....
Year In Review: Surviving a recession and payment reform - December 9, 2009
Unless you are in the repo business, you've discovered that no industry is recession proof. Some analysts claimed early on that the health care sector was unable to be tarnished by a waning economy. But with declining stocks and massive layoffs, the renal community was hit hard in 2009-but they are surviving....
Health Reform Could Harm Medicaid Patients - December 9, 2009
Both the House and Senate health-care reform bills call for a large increase in Medicaid-about 18 million more people will begin enrolling in Medicaid under the House bill starting in 2013, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Actuary Richard Foster estimates....
Local chiropractor faces charges in Washington - December 9, 2009
A Jefferson City chiropractor is facing one count of theft and nine counts of making false statements or concealing information....
CVS Faces Scrutiny in $1 Billion Texas Contract Bid - December 9, 2009
A Texas pension fund will decide this week whether to award CVS Caremark Corp. a new pharmacy-benefits contract valued at almost $1 billion after the state's attorney general sued the company for alleged Medicaid fraud. ...
Anti-Kickback and Stark Investigations: Attention Intensifies - December 9, 2009
Health care providers, whether physicians or hospitals, should be critically reviewing their longstanding financial relationships to ensure compliance with recent revisions to the federal self-referral restrictions under the Stark and the Anti-Kickback laws....
Almac Clinical Technologies Announces Patient-Reported-Outcomes Partnership With FACIT.org - December 9, 2009
Almac announced today a unique partnership with FACIT.org for electronic distribution of the latter's Patient-Reported-Outcomes (PRO) and Quality of Life (QOL) assessments. ...
A New Semi-Public Option for Health Care Reform; From Bottom Up, Not Top Down - December 7, 2009
Can America's great health care debate be resolved by promoting transparency and fairness for all stakeholders? Perhaps, but for this to happen, health care reform must be approached from the bottom up, not top down....
MDaudit™ Hospital, a New Healthcare Audit Software, Assists Hospitals with RAC Appeals - December 7, 2009
MDaudit™ Hospital enables assessment of compliance risk with the click of a mouse, internal audit review on Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) targets, and comparison of findings to determine appeal strategy....
'Viral' patterns discovered in Medicare fraud - December 7, 2009
Medicare fraud, like the flu, can be communicable, and authorities have found it spreads among different ethnic communities in different cities....
Medicare Fraud Runs Rampant In Miami-Dade - December 7, 2009
Miami-Dade County received about half a billion dollars from Medicare in home health care payments intended for the sickest patients in 2008, which is more than the rest of the country combined, according to a report released Monday....
N.J. surgery center wins ruling in health plan fraud case - December 7, 2009
A New Jersey appeals court ruling is good news for the viability of ambulatory surgery centers in the state and reinforces physicians' rights to do what's best for their patients, according to the state's medical community....
Missouri broker pleads guilty in $700,000 Medicaid fraud probe - December 7, 2009
A Springfield, Mo., insurance broker pleaded guilty to 12 felony counts related to Medicaid fraud after misappropriating more than $700,000 from the program....
Bridgewater chiropractor placed on probation for insurance fraud - December 7, 2009
A township chiropractor was placed on two years probation and had his chiropractic license revoked for a year on a charge of fraudulently billing a health insurance company....
Grady needs public support - December 7, 2009
Grady Memorial Hospital's decision to close its outpatient dialysis clinic has brought protesters to hospital board meetings, sparked a lawsuit, and generated headlines across the country....
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) business owner in Dallas pleads guilty to aggravated ID theft in Medicare fraud scheme - December 6, 2009
The owner of Beltline Medical Supplies, Inc., formerly in Dallas, Texas, pleaded guilty to an Information charging aggravated identity theft....
Hospitals' worry over pay linked to Medicare - December 6, 2009
St. Alexius and Medcenter One share a worry about health care reform. Both face financial calamity if there are no changes in the way the health care and the health insurance system works....
Industry Experts to Discuss How Hospitals Can Utilize Process Automation to Achieve Compliance - December 6, 2009
Ultimus, Inc., a leading provider of Business Process Management (BPM) Solutions, will host a webcast focusing on how Process Automation can help hospitals achieve compliance with Joint Commission and CMS Requirements in 2010....
Two Ways to Correct Safety Regulation Violators - December 6, 2009
Unless they work in a medical facility with perfectly compliant employees, safety directors and infection preventionists (IP) are usually forced into the unenviable, but inevitable job of confronting a healthcare worker who is not adhering to safety and infection control regulations....
Hospitals May Not Have Liability When Their Physicians Are Busted for Fraud - December 6, 2009
Hospitals' Medicaid compliance officers likely needn't panic if physicians who practice at their facilities get busted for fraud of their own. But they might want to dash off a quick "heads up" e-mail to their legal counsel, just to be safe....
Bruno arrested after hiring unlicensed therapists - December 6, 2009
Seven months after it was revealed that Care Point Services in Bedford Hills was using unlicensed therapists to treat local pre-school children, including some from Katonah and Lewisboro....
Choosing the Right Rehab Service for Your Family - December 6, 2009
If you or a loved one has suffered a stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury or other musculoskeletal orthopedic injury, it's important to know that not all rehabilitation services are created equal....
Taking the right precautions after hip replacement surgery - December 6, 2009
As a physical therapist, I find that all too often patients are unprepared for the weeks and months following surgery....
Inspector General Saved Billions in Healthcare This Year - December 5, 2009
The Office of Inspector General announced Thursday that it saved $20.97 billion for fiscal year 2009 and highlighted six of the cases that led to those recoveries or savings....
Senate Democrats push ahead on health bill - December 5, 2009
They pass an amendment requiring insurers to cover women's preventive care and screenings, and reject McCain's bid to restore proposed cuts in what Medicare pays out....
WSPT of the Bronx is Reinventing the Arthritis Foundation Walk-a-Thon - December 5, 2009
WSPT is committed to being on the cutting edge of physical therapy and having a very positive influence on their community. Proving this once again, they are adding a twist to a traditional fund raiser, creating a unique exercise experience for a great cause....
Report Shows Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy May Improve Arm Use In Children With Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy - December 5, 2009
Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is a potentially effective form of intervention for children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, but more research is needed, according to a new systematic review published in the November issue of Physical Therapy (PTJ), the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)....
Careers in Rehab and Therapy Jobs - December 5, 2009
Careers in rehab and therapy jobs don't end with physical therapy or occupational therapy jobs; these also include other healthcare assignments....
Pediatric Therapy Partners serves special needs children - December 5, 2009
Pediatric Therapy Partners is a Fargo business that provides physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology services to special needs children....
Former Sequim chiropractor accused of defrauding state agency - December 5, 2009
The state Attorney General's Office alleges that a chiropractor defauded the state of more than $11,000 by double-billing the state Department of Labor & Industries while he ran the Coastal Chiropractic Center in Sequim....
MDaudit™ Professional Users Top 50,000 Physicians - December 4, 2009
Hayes Management Consulting announced today that compliance auditors are now reviewing the billing of more than 50,000 providers with its MDaudit™ Professional compliance audit software. ...
The Future of the Healthcare IT Market to 2015 - December 4, 2009
Global Markets Direct estimates that the global market for Healthcare IT market was valued at around $11 billion in 2008. ...
Ky. nursing home called one of country's worst - December 3, 2009
A Richmond nursing home is being called one of the worst performing in the nation by a government agency....
Squeezing Money Out of Home Health Care - December 3, 2009
Under the health care bills currently being debated in Congress, more than 30 million uninsured Americans would gain coverage. To help offset the costs, the Senate legislation would reduce Medicare spending on home health care services, which have grown in the push to keep Medicare patients out of hospitals and nursing homes....
Medicare, Medicaid spent $54 billion too much in 2009, White House says - December 3, 2009
OMB figures show an increase over 2008, some of which HHS attributes to stricter review....
1 Nurse, 2 Caretakers Indicted For Patient Neglect - December 3, 2009
Attorney General Jack Conway announced the indictments of a nurse and two caregivers in connection with the alleged neglect of a patient at Creekwood Place Nursing Home in Logan County, Ky....
Kidney patient touts portable system - December 3, 2009
Users spread word to those who don't know about dialysis treatment option....
Fear, frustration mounts for dialysis patients - December 3, 2009
Fear and frustration are mounting among patients who had received dialysis at Grady Memorial Hospital, and who have only a month left of care paid for by the hospital....
Cost estimates from hospitals hard to get - December 3, 2009
Uninsured patients trying to price-shop among California hospitals for procedures may have a tough time getting the information they requested, according to a Rand Corp. study published Tuesday....
Up for debate: How to cure rising health care costs - December 3, 2009
As the Senate plunged Monday into a colossal debate on health care reform, a key question is blaring louder than ever: whether national proposals would do much to control health care costs. ...
Clinical pharmacists can fill in healthcare gaps - December 3, 2009
With the time often not available to physicians, they answer questions, give exercise and nutrition tips, offer encouragement and, most important, build trust....
Doctor accused of inappropriate exam behavior to return to practice, with conditions - December 3, 2009
The Medical Board had issued a notice of contemplated action against Sparks, a board-certified otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat surgeon) who is on staff at Gila Regional Medical Center, in April that alleged: ...
Claims Auditor Solution from Compliance 360 Earns 'RACTrac Compatible' Status from American Hospital Association - December 3, 2009
Industry Leading Software Solution for Managing Medical Claims Audits now Adopted by more than 500 Healthcare Facilities Nationwide....
Ames, IA Wellness Providers Working to Reform Health Care Locally - December 3, 2009
A coalition of providers gathered at North Grand Mall on Saturday October 24 to offer education on the health conditions that are bankrupting America's health care system. The group seeks more venues of public engagement in Ames, Iowa....
Chiropractor faces felony charges - December 3, 2009
A former Sequim chiropractor now living in Missouri faces one count of theft and nine counts of making false statements or concealing information for allegedly double-billing the state Department of Labor and Industries....
Recommending Physical Activity as Prevention - December 3, 2009
Physical activity (PA) is critical for the health of humans. The lack of PA leads to increased risks for a variety of diseases and is associated with overall premature mortality as well....
DJO Incorporated's Chattanooga Division Granted Patent for Moveo XP Rehabilitation Platform - December 3, 2009
The Moveo XP is the first product of its kind, allowing patients who are incapable of supporting full body weight to participate in graded weight-bearing activity at an earlier stage in their physical rehabilitation. ...
State Approves Plans For Kidney Transplants At Advocate Christ Medical Center - December 3, 2009
Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. has become the state's newest kidney transplant center and the first for Chicago's south and southwest suburbs, following formal approval of the hospital's plans today (December 1) by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board....
Hospital Policy: 'Just Say No' to Gifts From Vendors and Patients, but Some Exceptions Might Be OK - December 3, 2009
Hospitals walk a fine line with gifts from vendors, patients and post-acute providers, which risk corrupting medical decision making and harming a hospital's reputation....
Medicare fraudsters rake in billions - December 3, 2009
Medicare fraud is a multibillion-dollar business preying on an ever-increasing number of retiring baby boomers who often are being charged for medical treatments and products they don't need and for services they don't receive. ...
Palatka supplier charged in fraud - December 3, 2009
A Palatka medical equipment supplier became a South Florida man's gateway to ill-gotten riches, according to a recently disclosed federal grand jury indictment....
Sickening spending - December 3, 2009
A statewide crackdown on Medicaid abuse has revealed $96.7 million in misspent funds, with New York City hospitals and health-care providers to blame for half of the hefty tab....
Community clinics are key option for public health - December 3, 2009
Community health centers serve more than 20 million people nationwide. The centers, generally located in medically underserved areas, provide dental, pediatric, women's health and adult health care under one roof....
One "compelling story" about health care Obama doesn't want you to hear - December 3, 2009
This is 2009, not 1993. The debate is taking place in a vastly different America. American taxpayers have watched the financial crisis unfold, the national debt skyrocket and federal government takeover of the domestic auto industry and major financial institutions....
At UMC, audits show privacy lapses are not new - December 3, 2009
Past county audits found shortcomings in HIPAA compliance....
Stevens Hospital incentive pay for exec questioned - December 3, 2009
The base pay that Stevens Hospital's chief executive Mike Carter received last year -- $383,900 -- is near the median, maybe a little below what other people in similar positions are paid, according to a state audit....
Treatment of elderly could be criminal - December 3, 2009
Employees at a Las Vegas assisted-living and Alzheimer's facility may face criminal neglect charges in connection with an ongoing investigation into the horrific care of elderly residents - some of whom were hospitalized because they did not receive their medication....
Miami Strike Force is a model for Medicare fraud crackdown - December 3, 2009
South Florida's rampant Medicare fraud and federal attempts to stop it have taken on new prominence as President Obama and Congress struggle to pay for health-care legislation to cover the uninsured....
The Hospital That Could Cure Health Care - December 3, 2009
Cleveland Clinic is both highly effective and fiercely efficient. So why are its methods so rare?...
Gov't may stop subsidizing child chiropractic treatment - December 3, 2009
Negotiations on children's treatments are underway between the government and the Chiropractors Association of Saskatchewan (CAS). Assistant deputy health minister Max Hendricks said the government would like to see some evidence to justify its continuing subsidies....
Physician's assistant agrees to plea deal - December 3, 2009
A subordinate in an alleged prescription drug fraud enterprise that two Southern Nevada doctors are accused of operating in northwest Arizona entered a plea agreement Tuesday in Kingman. ...
"Cancer of fraud" permeates U.S. healthcare system - December 3, 2009
A U.S. Senate committee revealed last year that public health insurer Medicare had paid as much as $92 million from 2000 to 2007 for medical services or equipment ordered or prescribed by doctors who were dead at the time....
Genesee's Physical Therapist Assistant Program Graduates Have Highest Pass Rate in New York State - December 3, 2009
Graduates of Genesee's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program have the Highest Ultimate Pass Rate for the National Licensing Exam among all PTA programs in New York State....
Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act Of 2009 - December 3, 2009
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applauds the US House of Representatives for taking recent action to ensure that America's seniors and people with disabilities have access to high quality care rehabilitative services....
Occupational Therapist and Patient Recruiter Plead Guilty in Detroit-Based Medicare Fraud Schemes - December 3, 2009
Detroit resident Jaquita Lovelace and Miami resident Timothy Pierce have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in conspiracies to defraud the Medicare program....
Elite Physical Therapy Named Best PT Pratice in the Nation - December 3, 2009
Rhode Island's Elite Physical Therapy Voted "Best Physical Therapy Practice" in the Nation....
Tax evasion trial set for Ephraim chiropractor Douglas Madsen - December 2, 2009
A trial has been scheduled for a Sanpete County man indicted in failing to pay more than $1 million in taxes, hiding other assets from the government and failing to file tax returns....
Kendall doc's got your back - December 2, 2009
Dr. Elliott Grusky treats professional race car drivers and athletes in his Kendall chiropractic practice. He is also the team chiropractor for the University of Miami Athletic Department, where he helps young athletes stay in shape without injuring themselves....
Study offers hope to infertile women - December 2, 2009
A study authored by Dr. Madeline Behrendt, chairwoman of the World Chiropractic Alliance Council on Women's Health, links chiropractic care and the ability of previously infertile woman to conceive a baby and carry the fetus full term....
Hospital Falters as Refuge for Illegal Immigrants - December 2, 2009
Each had crossed the border years before, smuggled across the desert by a coyote, never imagining the journey would lead to a drab and dusty clinic on the ninth floor of Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta....
Education program, bundled payments to improve care for kidney patients - December 2, 2009
For the first time, a program to educate the public about treatment options for dialysis patients will be paid for by the federal Medicare health insurance program for the elderly and disabled come Jan. 1....
Fresenius Medical Care Awards Long-Term Partner Transplace with Contract Renewal - December 2, 2009
The partnership continues Fresenius' use of the award-winning Transplace Transportation Management System (TMS) and its cutting-edge business intelligence analytics. ...
NY company used unlicensed therapists - December 2, 2009
Authorities say a New York company under contract with the Westchester County Department of Health was using unlicensed therapists to serve special-needs children....
Preparing for a Hurricane That May Blow Over - December 2, 2009
Physicians must be educated on proper documentation to meet ICD-10 code-set specificity and payer-coverage policies....
Jefferson City girl gets rehabilitation bike through insurance - December 2, 2009
Bike sends impulses to muscles during therapy....
Lakeville clinic sued for alleged fraud - December 2, 2009
The state is suing a Lakeville chiropractic clinic and its owner alleging that they fraudulently enrolled patients in health-care credit card accounts....
Owner of child-therapy agency for Weschester schools charged with grand larceny - December 2, 2009
The owner of a Bedford Hills company that provided physical and occupational therapy under contract to the Westchester County Health Department was arrested today on charges she used several unlicensed therapists to serve special needs children....
Health Plans That Use Member Enrollment Data to Push Their Political Agenda Might Violate HIPAA - December 2, 2009
Health plans could face stiff penalties under HIPAA if they use enrollment information to contact members without their permission and urge them to join grassroots advocacy campaigns or take a stance on a political issue....
Senate Mandatory Health-Insurance Bill Infringes on Choice and Privacy - December 2, 2009
The Senate's newly released health-reform bill ("Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act") infringes on Americans' health-insurance choices and medical privacy, says Sue Blevins, president of the Institute for Health Freedom (IHF) -- a patients' rights group in Washington, D.C....
Health Insurer Loses 1.5 Million Patient Records - December 2, 2009
A health insurer lost 1.5 million patient records last May but waited six months to disclose the incident....
Doctor charged in pain-pill network - December 2, 2009
Federal prosecutors expect a former Marshall University cardiology fellow to plead guilty after he became the first person charged with crimes related to an alleged prescription drug operation involving millions of dollars a year....
Medical Supplier: Paperwork Undermines Quality Of Care - December 2, 2009
"At least 30 to 40 percent of our business is paperwork. And the rest is providing services, and that's very skewed from where I would like to be."...
Medicare scams are targeting senior citizens in Louisiana - December 2, 2009
Health care officials are asking citizens in Avoyelles, East Baton Rouge, Caddo, St. Martin and Terrebonne parishes to be on the lookout for health care scams that are targeting senior citizens....
PATIENT PRIVACY: FBI probing UMC data leaks - December 2, 2009
The FBI is investigating claims that sensitive patient information was leaked from University Medical Center, violating federal privacy laws....
Meta Health Technology Introduces PowerRAC Software Tool. New Hospital Software Manages Recovery Audit Contractor Process - December 2, 2009
Meta Health Technology, a leading provider of software solutions for health information management, has introduced PowerRac, its new web-based software tool that enables hospitals to effectively manage the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) process and protect their legitimate revenue. The software automates RAC processes and activities across all departments, and produces a seamless workflow for the hospital by integrating with Meta's chart abstracting and release of information software applications....
Two Detroit health care professionals plead guilty to Medicare fraud - December 2, 2009
A Detroit occupational therapist and a patient recruiter from Dearborn pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in conspiracies to defraud the Medicare program....
NHCAA Presents the Southern District of Florida Health Care Fraud Team With Its 2009 Excellence in Public Awareness Award - December 2, 2009
Team of 46 Federal health care fraud prosecutors and investigators in the Southern District of Florida have brought attention and awareness to the scope and magnitude of the health care fraud problem through aggressive prosecutorial action and innovative investigative models. Over 750 individuals charged; Hundreds of millions of health care dollars saved....
Federal Report Finds Billions in Improperly Paid Medicare Claims - December 2, 2009
A new federal report has found that the government paid $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims in fiscal year 2009....
Medicare audits at full strength in 2010 - December 2, 2009
Congress developed the MIP as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 with an eye toward recovering improper payments made under the $300 billion-a-year Medicaid program....
Parkland Health & Hospital System Selects MRO's Audit Tracker Online - December 2, 2009
MRO Corp., a leading provider of electronic release-of-information (ROI), document management and audit tracking solutions for healthcare providers, today announced a contract with Parkland Health & Hospital System (Dallas, Texas) to provide the public academic health system with Audit Tracker Online....
Checking the Right Boxes, but Failing the Patient - December 2, 2009
It has been 10 years since the Institute of Medicine's seminal report on deaths caused by medical errors (numbering at least 44,000 a year). Since then, there has been tremendous focus on how many mistakes physicians and hospitals make, how much they cost and how to prevent them. ...
New laws on patient security breaches mean your associate contracts probably need updating - December 2, 2009
Think your business associate agreements sufficiently protect your rights? Now figure in new laws on security breaches of patient information....
Kan. nurse resentenced in 'nude therapy' case - December 2, 2009
A Kansas nurse convicted of enslaving mentally ill residents of a Newton group home was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday after a federal judge acknowledged the original seven-year term was too short....
Dover's Wentworth-Douglass Hospital now ID'ing patients - December 2, 2009
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and all primary and specialty care practices affiliated with the hospital have implemented a new policy where patients must provide photo identification during their next visit, if they haven't done so already....
Joint Commission International Marks Ten Years of Global Accreditation - December 2, 2009
Joint Commission International (JCI) is marking the tenth anniversary of the first health care organization to be awarded accreditation under its globally developed international standards for hospitals....
Mass. General surgery training program on probation - December 2, 2009
The surgery training program at Massachusetts General Hospital has been put on probation by a national accrediting organization....
Harvard-Affiliated McLean Hospital Launches First Institute of Coaching - December 2, 2009
With an extraordinary $2 million gift from the Harnisch Foundation, McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School, recently launched the Institute of Coaching (www.instituteofcoaching.org), the first-of-its-kind for coaching-related research, practice and education....
Hidden Mistakes In Hospitals - December 2, 2009
A state law intended to protect patients by making them aware of hospitals' errors has ended up making it easier for hospitals to avoid scrutiny....
Hospitals owe state $2.5 million for overcharges - December 2, 2009
Six hospitals owe the state more than $2.5 million as the result of overcharges to the State Health Plan, according to preliminary audit results that the plan released today....
State says N.C. Baptist one of six hospitals that was overpaid for outpatient services - December 2, 2009
The State Health Plan said today that N.C. Baptist Hospital is one of six hospitals that was overpaid for outpatient medical services from July 2003 to June 2008....
Healthcare Organizations Select Plan-Smart™ for Ongoing Dependent Eligibility Audit Savings--Hospitals Choose HRAdvance's Platform to Manage Entire El - December 2, 2009
78 Hospitals to date have choosen HRAdvance's platform to manage their entire eligibility verification process and provide a cost-effective solution for reducing health plan costs....
Mission Hospital audit to look at workers' compensation program - December 2, 2009
Mission Hospital plans an outside audit of its workers' compensation program, but a spokeswoman says the move is not in response to findings by state officials that it had handled some cases improperly....
Reid health bill helps chiropractors, drugmakers - December 2, 2009
Chiropractors get a lift in the Senate health care bill, thanks to a senator from the state practitioners consider the birthplace of their profession - Iowa....
Soul Purpose Chiropractic Center Celebrates Its Tenth Anniversary in Tucson - December 2, 2009
Soul Purpose Chiropractic Center, owned and operated by Erik Rosseland, D.C. and located at 3670 N. First Avenue in Tucson, Arizona is celebrating its tenth anniversary proudly serving the community....
NYC Chiropractor Adds New Therapy for Chronic Back, Neck and Joint Pain to Downtown Practice - December 2, 2009
Dr. Steven Shoshany, a New York City Chiropractor, Expands Services with Rehabilitation Technique for Muscle and Joint Pain. Called FAKTR-PM or Functional And Kinetic Treatment with Rehabilitation, Provocation and Motion, it can Help Patients Reduce or Eliminate Pain....
Bangor chiropractor gets two years for tax evasion - December 2, 2009
A local chiropractor was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court to two years in federal prison for refusing to pay federal income taxes....
Know risks with alternative therapies - December 2, 2009
Alternative medical therapies, which more than one-third of Americans turn to for everything from back pain to depression, have been quickly moving more into the mainstream - and into private insurance plans....
Device strengthens pelvic core for better lower-body mobility: a Stretching Out column - December 2, 2009
Most people never think about their pelvis until it's too late, until they've already lost mobility or developed complications from pelvic core weakness....
Furry helper is on call at hospital - December 2, 2009
The "dogter,'' Memorial's first certified service dog, responds to 80 commands that help the sick and recovering get back on their feet and ready for discharge....
High Pointe has home-owned approach - December 2, 2009
"Feel better, stay better." When home-owned High Pointe Rehab proclaims this motto pertaining to personalized, start-to-finish therapy, owners Jessie and Rusty Carter say they mean it....
Group uses fly fishing as therapy for veterans - December 2, 2009
Teach a wounded veteran to fish, and you'll help him heal. That's what the creators of Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., believe....
Intermedix Corporation Acquires Texas ER Medical Billing, Inc. - December 2, 2009
Intermedix Corporation, the leading provider of technology-based business services to emergency providers, announced today it has acquired the assets of Texas ER Medical Billing, Inc. ("TERM") of Mansfield, Texas. ...
H1N1: Same code for diagnosis, new one for vaccine - December 2, 2009
The CPT diagnosis code is the same as any other influenza immunization visit, and the usual CPT office visit codes should be used for testing and treatment services....
Little-Known Medicare Pay Code Change Will Hurt Specialists - December 2, 2009
While the theatrics of the reform debate hold the nation in suspense, another dramatic policy change-with potentially tragic ramifications-has crept into next year's Medicare physician pay schedule with astonishingly little fanfare....
Medicaid fraud demo program falters in Orange - December 2, 2009
By this time, county officials planned to have audited 25 businesses they targeted through an initial screening of Medicaid bills. But to date, only two audits have been done, no funds have been recovered and the future of the investigation is uncertain....
Health reform costs arm and a leg - December 2, 2009
While Congressional Democrats high-five over plans to cover an additional 10 percent of Americans -- a noble and expensive accomplishment -- I've been struck by what Congress and the White House have kept quiet....
HIPAA - Past, Present, and Future - December 2, 2009
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) ushered in a new age of modernizing the United States healthcare system....
Health Care Reform – More Than Just A Bill - December 2, 2009
Behind the chaos of Obama's health care reform bill, significant changes in the handling of health records are about to begin, affecting employment rates, economic climates and educational focus....
Decatur pediatrician faces federal vaccine fraud charges - December 2, 2009
Dr. Jamie S. Warnick, 53, a Decatur pediatrician, has been charged in a federal criminal complaint with health care fraud....
Justice Department Recovers $2.4 Billion in False Claims Cases in Fiscal Year 2009; More Than $24 Billion Since 1986 - December 2, 2009
This represents the second largest annual recovery of civil fraud claims in history, and brings total recoveries since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims Act, to more than $24 billion....
Seattle biotech can pursue $23M claim - December 2, 2009
Seattle biotechnology firm Cell Therapeutics Inc. can pursue claims for nearly $23 million against a former consultant, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday....
Operating over the limit - December 2, 2009
NO ONE CAN operate safely on patients after three days without sleep. Yet, for decades, surgical residents routinely worked 120 hours per week and for more than 80 consecutive hours at least one weekend per month (from 6 a.m. Friday through Monday afternoon)....
Nephros Reports 2009 Third Quarter Financial Results - December 2, 2009
Nephros, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: NEPH) announced today financial results for the three month period ended September 30, 2009....
CMS Town Hall testimony: Kidney Care Partners - December 2, 2009
KCP would like to comment on 3 areas in the proposed rule of particular concern because if implemented they will seriously harm patients. ...
Don't restrict live-saving remedies to save money - December 2, 2009
Dialysis was still in its infancy requiring equipment and trained personal, scarce at the time. The few patients who could be treated had to be selected by a dialysis board, composed of physicians, nurses, a social worker and a psychologist....
Nearly Half of Dialysis Clinics Do Not Specify Hemoglobin Range - December 2, 2009
Only 56 percent of Medicare-certified dialysis clinics have anemia drug administration protocols in place that explicitly state a target hemoglobin range for patients, according to a recent government review of dialysis facilities....
Praxis Physical Therapy Celebrates 5 Years of Success - December 1, 2009
Praxis Physical Therapy Celebrates 5 Anniversary in Vernon Hills, IL Well-known, Kordecki, serving patients for over 20 years...
U.S. National Library of Medicine Releases Draft SNOMED CT to ICD-9-CM Rules-Based Map to Support Reimbursement - December 1, 2009
The map was designed to support semi-automated administrative reporting and reimbursement for healthcare services within U.S. healthcare organizations. The NLM seeks users to "test drive" and provide feedback for the map-which will guide the development of related maps. ...
Chiro One continues expansion in county - December 1, 2009
Chief Marketing Officer Brett Penager said it was not a coincidence that McHenry County has seen growth from its wellness centers....
Study validates role of chiropractic to employers, payers - December 1, 2009
A study commissioned by The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (www.f4cp.com), validating chiropractic physician services for lower back and neck pain to improve the value of health benefit plans, is generating widespread coverage in the healthcare media and significant attention in government circles....
Picis Announces 2009 Customer Recognition Award Winners - December 1, 2009
Leading medical centers acknowledged for "Shaping Better Healthcare" and achieving clinical, financial and operational results using Picis solutions....
Study Shows Most Healthcare Companies Are Not Ready for New Privacy and Security Compliance Regulations - December 1, 2009
A recent survey of healthcare organizations found that 94 percent believe they are not ready to comply with the privacy and security provision of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. ...
HIPAA-Compliant Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity Guide Now Available From DataCare Corporation - December 1, 2009
The 2009 guide offers workers' compensation professionals a quick reference to address HIPAA and SAS70 requirements for reducing business risk following a disaster....
Management of Cardiac Rehabilitation Reviewed - November 30, 2009
Recommendations for family physicians regarding cardiac rehabilitation in the primary care setting are provided in a review published in the November 1 issue of the American Family Physician....
Kinetic Muscles, Inc. Launches Foot Mentor Pro™ - November 30, 2009
Kinetic Muscles, Inc. ("KMI"), an innovative developer of stroke rehabilitation products, today announced the commercial launch of the Foot Mentor Pro™, which helps stoke survivors recover from "foot drop" and regain proper muscular control of the foot and ankle....
Cyber sleuths catch scammers feasting on Medicaid dollars - November 30, 2009
The Medicaid Program Integrity (MPI) section of AHCA is a major computer sleuth group that scans the statistical horizon for suspicious billings. There are about 100 employees in this unit....
Does health care bill carry too high a price? - November 30, 2009
For months, the most intense debate about health care reform has focused on whether government should go into the insurance business through a "public option." But the issue of cost has been building up steam even among moderate Democrats who support reforms in the bill passed by the House last weekend....
CMS: House bill increases health care costs - November 30, 2009
Democrats have promised that health reform would reduce health care costs, but legislation the House passed last week would increase costs over the next decade by $289 billion....
Govt: Medicare paid $47 billion in suspect claims - November 30, 2009
The government paid more than $47 billion in questionable Medicare claims including medical treatment showing little relation to a patient's condition, wasting taxpayer dollars at a rate nearly three times the previous year....
Warwick man reports apparent Medicare fraud on Fox News - November 30, 2009
Warwick resident Bill Stelz may be one of the few seniors who actually read the Medicare Summary Notice that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services periodically mails out....
AAPC Announces Topics for Workshops and Webinars in 2010 - November 30, 2009
As part of its ongoing efforts to provide members and all certified coders with affordable, accessible and timely continuing education, the AAPC has built up its 2010 educational offerings to include workshops in 53 cities across the country and webinars that cover all specialties and must-know medical coding information (i.e., ICD-10, etc.)....
Bailout under a blue cross - November 30, 2009
Regardless of the legislation Congress passes, the health insurance industry is primed to expand its consumption of U.S. health care dollars by selling more insurance policies to people who are currently uninsured....
Kaiser Permanente pays $1.8 million over billing flaws - November 30, 2009
Kaiser Permanente's Oregon-based unit has agreed to pay $1.8 million to settle charges of false billing brought by the federal Medicare program. ...
Federal rating system for nursing homes a glance, not a complete picture, Anderson-area officials say - November 30, 2009
The federal rankings look at the results of the homes' state health inspections, the number of registered nursing hours spent with each patient each day and the care given to patients' physical and clinical needs....
HAPPYneuron Launches Beta Program for Innovative Cognitive Rehab Tools at AMIA Conference in San Francisco - November 30, 2009
HAPPYneuron PRO delivers clinicians and researchers with online cognitive rehab tools for cognitive impairments caused by Alzheimer's disease, Traumatic Brain Injury, ADD, Schizophrenia and more....
Appleton chiropractor must give up license - November 30, 2009
An Appleton chiropractor who admitted inappropriately touching a patient and taking his pants off during a session with her has been ordered to immediately surrender his license....
Surgeon-Approved, Pro-Athlete Chiropractor Breaks the $50 Billion Neck Pain Cycle With Launch of Pillo1, First Eco-Luxe Neck Pillow - November 30, 2009
The first eco luxe neck pillow, Pillo1 infuses high tech therapy into a decadent pillow made from soy-based foam and Talalay latex, a naturally-derived and renewable resource from rubber tree milk and a solvent free production process....
Livermore Chiropractor uses breakthrough techniques to lower high-blood pressure and treat the most difficult cases of back and neck pain - November 30, 2009
Approaching one million patients, Dr. George Khoury shows no signs of slowing down. Although people have come from all over the world to be treated by this chiropractic phenom, the Tri-Valley and Livermore residents get a world class chiropractor....
CMS: Supervising Physicians Can Be Anywhere on a Hospital's Campus Under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System - November 29, 2009
CMS has given hospitals more breathing room in terms of physician supervision of outpatient therapeutic services provided on hospital grounds....
Path to Alternative Therapies Is Littered With Obstacles - November 29, 2009
In 2007, more than one in three adults and nearly one in eight children, according to a federal study sponsored by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, a division of the National Institutes of Health, used some form of CAM - from self-prescribed nutritional substitutes to repeat visits to alternative health care practitioners....
Select Medical Holdings Corporation Announces Results for Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2009 - November 29, 2009
Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select") (NYSE: SEM), the parent of Select Medical Corporation, today announced results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2009....
Medicaid Fraud Mastermind Stole Over $1M - November 29, 2009
David Williams, an owner of a now-defunct Long Island medical supply company and said to be the mastermind behind a massive Medicaid fraud scheme, has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for stealing over $1 million from Medicaid....
Feds ignored Medicare scam warnings for years - November 29, 2009
For three years, the federal agency in charge of preventing Medicare fraud repeatedly ignored internal watchdog warnings about swindlers stealing millions of dollars by scamming several programs, documents show....
Health Insurance Fraud Increases Cost - November 29, 2009
Health insurance fraud is one of many factors to have caused significant increases in group health insurance costs in the United States. The type of fraud involved in health insurance involves billing for services that were never rendered, charging for services that are not necessary, or charging unfairly....
New rules change who gets donated kidneys - November 29, 2009
Five years ago, the federal government ordered UNOS, the agency that sets policy for organ donation, to find a way to end the mismatch and get more life out of these precious donations....
Getting new kidney may be better option than being on dialysis - November 29, 2009
The high national cost of dialysis - for taxpayers, insurers and patients - has become a hot-button issue as lawmakers debate ways to improve the nation's health care system, amid questions about whether patients receive adequate access to alternatives such as kidney transplantation....
Nursing homes are expanding physical rehabilitation services - November 29, 2009
Nursing homes are remaking their image as not just places for long-term patients at the end of their lives but as affordable alternatives for post-surgery rehabilitation....
New Data Shows Kidney Disease Rising Due to Rampant Rates of Diabetes - November 28, 2009
In late September, the U.S. Renal Data System published its 2009 Annual Data report, which shows the incidence of chronic kidney disease in the U.S. Medicare population is now 9.8%, up from 8.7% reported in last year's data analysis....
Ex-Perrysburg doctor accused of fraudulent medical billing - November 28, 2009
A former Perrysburg physician is to be arraigned Friday in Wood County Common Pleas Court on charges she submitted more than $900,000 in fraudulent insurance claims....
Nursing home doctor's prescription record questioned - November 28, 2009
Neither state nor federal officials appear to have ever assembled a complete picture of Reinstein's thriving practice, built in part within Illinois' poorly regulated system of nursing homes serving the mentally ill. But an investigation by ProPublica and the Tribune found that Reinstein has compiled a worrisome record, providing assembly-line care with a highly risky drug....
Renal Physicians Association offers analysis of 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule - November 27, 2009
Nephrology Reimbursements Overall for 2010 to Increase 1% RVUs for Adult MCP Codes, Inpatient Dialysis Increased Slightly Cuts for Interventional Services Less than Originally Proposed Pricing for CKD Education Increased Significantly Consults Removed from Fee Schedule....
Details on health care bills in House, Senate - November 27, 2009
Here are details on the three bills. The Senate bill has not yet been made public, so some specifics are unknown....
Lawsuit alleges Medicare fraud - November 27, 2009
A chain of clinics and a kidney specialist defrauded Medicare by having unlicensed employees pose as doctors for dialysis treatments, according to a whistleblower lawsuit that moved closer to trial Wednesday. ...
AAPC Announces Collaboration With NAMAS to Offer Auditing Credential - November 27, 2009
The association, effective Jan. 1, 2010, will benefit AAPC members, medical coders, health care professionals and NAMAS customers through the availability of a nationally recognized audit credential. ...
New ChartMaxx(R) V5.5 with Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Manager Helps Hospitals Handle RAC Audit Requests - November 27, 2009
With the new optional RAC Manager, ChartMaxx V5.5 helps health care providers tie together electronic forms, discrete data, color coded timers and e-mail alerts, dashboard reports, and release of information functionality to track, respond to, and report on, requests from RAC auditors....
AtriCure Announces Tentative Settlement with the Department of Justice - November 27, 2009
AtriCure, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATRC), a medical device company and a leader in cardiac surgical ablation systems, today announced that it has reached a tentative agreement, subject to completion and approval of a written settlement agreement, with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to resolve the issues raised in the DOJ's investigation and the related qui tam complaint....
A Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push a Hospital to the Brink of Closing - November 27, 2009
Compass Clinical Consulting (http://www.compass-clinical.com) has released a new whitepaper, "Hospital Near-Death Experience: How Medicare Termination Can Push Your Hospital to the Brink of Closing," (http://www.compass-clinical.com/hospital-near-death/) giving hospital executives a rare look inside the process of Medicare termination and recertification. ...
19 New York, New Jersey residents indicted in Medicaid fraud scheme - November 27, 2009
Nineteen residents of New York and New Jersey have been indicted and arrested for fraudulently collecting Medicaid benefits totaling more than $350,000....
Chiropractor reindicted; state's case weak, lawyer says - November 26, 2009
A Haverhill chiropractor has been reindicted on fraud and conspiracy charges following an investigation by the state Attorney General's Office....
Convicted chiropractor loses appeal - November 26, 2009
A federal appeals court said Thursday that a judge did not violate a former Hermitage chiropractor's rights during his fraud trial, and also backed the judge on Brent J. Detelich's other appeal issues....
Illinois-Based AthletiCo Opens 54th Physical Therapy Center in Park Ridge - November 26, 2009
AthletiCo Park Ridge's services include Physical Therapy, Orthopedic Rehabilitation, Occupational/Hand Therapy, Work Rehabilitation, Work Conditioning, Functional Capacity Evaluations, and Video Gait Analysis....
Nation's Largest Nursing Home Pharmacy and Drug Manufacturer to Pay $112 Million to Settle False Claims Act Cases - November 26, 2009
Approximately $68.5 million of the settlement proceeds will go to the United States, while $43.5 million has been allocated to cover Medicaid program claims by participating states....
Company billed for $14,000 wheelchairs, handed out walkers - November 26, 2009
The head of a now-defunct D.C. medical supplies company has been indicted for health care fraud and is accused of falsely billing the government for hundreds of thousands of dollars for deluxe power scooters or high-end wheelchairs while giving Medicaid recipients cheaper wheelchairs or walkers. ...
Medical Equipment Company Owner Pleads Guilty to Fraud Scheme Involving Nutritional Supplies and "Arthritis Kits" - November 26, 2009
The owner and operator of a Houston-area durable medical equipment (DME) company today pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicare program....
Massive fraud makes Medicare a lousy model - November 26, 2009
The problems of health care - and the prospects for some effective reform of the systems we have to pay for it - are front and center as Washington's legislative geniuses work their magic behind closed doors, crafting "reform" they say will provide health insurance for those who lack it while somehow reducing the skyrocketing costs of providing it....
Cooperation Is Needed Between Compliance and Revenue Cycle Departments - November 25, 2009
Artificial divisions between the revenue cycle and compliance departments can hamper the effectiveness of hospital operations. Though each has its own role in the organization, there is "maximum impact and benefit" if compliance and revenue cycle work together....
Woman's wheelchair goes unfixed because of state's budget woes - November 25, 2009
Company refuses to repair it until Illinois pays for previous claims....
Picis Adds to Growing List of Hospital Systems Using LYNX E/Point to Improve Compliance, Charging and Interoperability - November 25, 2009
Healthcare revenue management solution to standardize and streamline emergency department coding and compliance in 64 hospitals across six major health systems....
Communities accuse Blue Cross of hiding $40 million in fees - November 25, 2009
A dozen Michigan communities say they were overcharged $40 million in hidden fees by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and are demanding that money back....
Affiliated Dialysis Centers Expands Its Nursing Home Dialysis Program in Chicago - November 25, 2009
When the purchase of the 14 locations serving nearly 200 patients are fully integrated into its existing nursing home dialysis program, ADC will become the premier provider of nursing home dialysis in Illinois. The purchase closed on November 1, 2009. Other terms have not been disclosed. ...
Millin Associates Creates New Payment Methodology to Assist Article 28 Clinics - November 25, 2009
With most Article 28 clinics failing to keep the pace with the cost of care and medical advances, the current ambulatory care rates do not appropriately pay providers delivering high-quality service. Ambulatory Patient Groups (APGs) is a visit classification system designed to explain the amount and type of resources used in an ambulatory visit and that is used to determine payment for ambulatory services....
AAPC to Offer Nationwide On-Site ICD-10 Implementation Training - November 25, 2009
Comprehensive on-site ICD-10 implementation training will be available for organizations and companies nationwide beginning January 2010, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, www.aapc.com) announces. The curriculum is customizable for many sizes and types of organizations, including health plans and providers....
Artificial Medical Intelligence Announces Version 4.0 of its Computer Assisted Coding Software - November 25, 2009
Artificial Medical Intelligence (AMI) today announced its newly enhanced EMscribe™ Computer Assisted Coding (CAC) software, version 4.0. ...
Texas a hotbed as authorities crack down on Medicare, Medicaid fraud - November 25, 2009
When federal agents arrived, the scooter was still covered in plastic. It should have been a fancy $5,000 power wheelchair for someone who needed it. That's what Medicare paid for. ...
Slow payments cost United Healthcare 750k - November 20, 2009
United Healthcare Insurance Co., the state's fifth-largest health insurer by number of policies, has been ordered to pay $750,000 for failure to pay doctors' claims within 15 days of receipt as required by Georgia law....
Surprise for organ donors: unexpected medical bills - November 20, 2009
Austin man who gave kidney to co-worker is one of many who have faced health complications, billing problems....
Expanding your practice - November 3, 2009
Although there is increased competition from many professionals, chiropractors are in a prime position to offer anti-aging services as part of their practice....
In Medicaid Fraud Cases, Some Unlikely Suspects - November 3, 2009
Prosecutors said that the defendants filled out applications to receive Medicaid, a health insurance plan for low-income people, and gave incorrect information about their income, assets and where they live....
Technology improves dialysis patient outcomes - November 3, 2009
The real-time reporting engine in Disease Manager Plus helps doctors manage care for patients with chronic illnesses. ...
Litigation stress: Being sued is personal as well as professional - November 3, 2009
Plaintiffs bringing medical liability cases commonly contend they have experienced pain and suffering. Many physicians could say the same about being dragged into the litigation process....
Care center owner held on fraud charges - November 3, 2009
The owner and the operator of the Care Center of Ormond Beach was charged today with Medicaid fraud, practicing medicine without a license and neglecting an elderly person under his care....
New state law denies, revokes licenses of some in medical field - November 3, 2009
A little-noticed provision in the 160-page measure is preventing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, lab technicians and others licensed by the state from working in Florida if they have old felony convictions for fraud or drugs....
Virtual rehabilitation systems may improve therapeutic output, patient compliance - November 3, 2009
Some health care facilities are using virtual rehabilitation systems in conjunction with traditional modes of rehabilitation to help patients regain function. Using the systems can help patients simultaneously improve balance, coordination, muscle strength and range of motion, while providing quantitative data for physical therapists....
International Summit Reaches Agreement: Patient-Self Referral To Physical Therapy Improves Public Health - November 3, 2009
This past week in Washington, DC, physical therapists from around the world heard that direct access and patient self-referral to a physical therapist is proven to be safe, and results in improved health outcomes, more timely care, higher patient satisfaction, and lower costs....
Physical therapists need to be part of reform equation - November 3, 2009
Physical therapists should be allowed to fully participate in current initiatives such as the National Health Services Corp, as well as any new programs established to provide workforce incentives to recruit and retain qualified health care professionals in underserved areas....
International Summit Aims To Advance Physical Therapist Practice - November 3, 2009
A groundbreaking international collaboration among the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (CPA), and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) will bring together thought leaders in physical therapy and policymakers October 22-24, in Washington, DC, to share their knowledge about access and practice issues facing the physical therapy profession....
Becoming a Physical Therapist May Be Demanding But The Job Is 'Guaranteed' - November 3, 2009
If you're like me, you've been hearing more and more people talking about their physical therapist (PT). Yes, I'm getting older and the people I associate with are likely to be baby boomers with aging, aching bodies. But even younger folks are using PTs now more than ever....
Amgen sued by California and 14 other states over anemia drug - November 3, 2009
The suit alleges that the Thousand Oaks biotech firm offered medical providers kickbacks to boost sales of Aranesp, leading to fraudulent claims for reimbursement from Medicaid and other insurers....
Detroit-Area Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty in Medicare Fraud Scheme - November 3, 2009
Troy, Mich., resident Syed Aziz pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program....
Compliance 360 Launches Privacy Breach Management Solution to Address Requirements of HITECH Act - November 3, 2009
Compliance 360, a leading provider of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions for enterprise governance, risk management and compliance (eGRC) announced today the availability of the Compliance 360 HITECH Privacy Breach Management Solution....
Nursing home CEO pulls in hefty pay, patients' families 'frustrated' - November 3, 2009
Nursing homes in Pahokee, Gainesville and Bradenton that get most of their money from Medicaid and Medicare are funneling more than $1 million a year through a maze of nonprofit corporations that chiefly benefit an Okeechobee CEO, along with her daughter and son....
How Chiropractic Helps the Insurance Industry - November 3, 2009
Report suggests covering chiropractic care of neck and low back pain increases value-for-dollar of health benefit plans....
A Comprehensive Program for the Osteoporotic Patient - November 3, 2009
As the risk of drug side effects continues to take the spotlight, consumers are increasingly looking for alternatives to drugs to manage their conditions. Osteoporosis is no exception....
Texas Hospital Group Pays U.S. $27.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations - November 3, 2009
A hospital group based in McAllen, Texas, has agreed to pay the United States $27.5 million to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute and the Stark Statute between 1999 and 2006, by paying illegal compensation to doctors in order to induce them to refer patients to hospitals within the group....
The Malpractice Problem - November 3, 2009
Since physicians are not liable for the increased costs of care but are liable for any error or missed diagnosis, it would be foolish for them to act in any other fashion. The costs of this mindset cannot be easily assessed by surveys....
The Looming Problem In Healthcare EDI: ICD-10 And HIPAA 5010 Migration.2 Comments - November 3, 2009
A huge fiscal burden has been placed on payers and providers as they look to redesign business processes and systems to handle hundreds of thousands of new codes at an estimated cost of more than $14 billion....
Suit alleges kickbacks at Hospital for Special Surgery - November 3, 2009
Manhattan's Hospital for Special Surgery is one of the nation's top-ranked centers for orthopedics, the official hospital for the Giants, Mets, Knicks and Nets. It's got Tiki Barber on its board and former patients playing on both sides of this year's World Series. ...
Twenty Major National Organizations make Wellness Recommendations to President - November 3, 2009
The International Council on Active Aging recently convened a meeting of industry leaders and allied organizations who engaged in a nonpartisan process to identify priorities and action items that will expand the definition of prevention to include active-aging and wellness concepts. We have identified recommendations, listed in this press release, that are specific and actionable....
Planned background checks for in-home healthcare workers are criticized - November 3, 2009
County social service chiefs in California protest the Schwarzenegger administration's plan for prospective health aides, saying they aren't ready to enact the new application process....
Lawmakers Target Medicare and Medicaid Fraud - November 3, 2009
The federal government needs to further step up efforts to fight Medicare and Medicaid fraud to generate more savings to help pay for a health-care overhaul, lawmakers said Wednesday....
Woman arrested for operating assisted living facilities without license - November 3, 2009
Attorney General Bill McCollum announced on Wednesday that a Marion County woman has been taken into custody on charges she was operating an assisted living facility without a license....
Medicare, Medicaid fraud summit being considered - November 3, 2009
The Obama administration is considering a way to bring together patients, doctors, insurers and law officers to combat fraud in Medicare and Medicaid, a Health and Human Services official said Wednesday....
he American Medical Money Machine, the Destruction of Healthcare in America and the Rise of Medical Tourism, a New Book by James R. Goldberg - November 2, 2009
According to Goldberg, the second party of interest is the U.S.Healthcare insurance and medical industry cartel who are actively beginning to export U.S. patients overseas for cheaper and unregulated medical procedures as a part of their private and Medicare insurance coverage....
Care providers warn on Medicaid cuts - November 2, 2009
Amrhein's group represents about 100 non-profit nursing homes in the state and is trying to get Paterson and the legislature to back off yet another round of budget cuts....
Elimination of $850 Billion in Health Care Waste Could Pay for Reforms - November 2, 2009
The report was compiled by Thomson Reuters, an international news source that provides information and support tools in numerous areas of expertise, including health care and science....
Four Essex County pharmacists indicted in $2.3M Medicaid fraud - November 2, 2009
Four Essex County pharmacists were indicted today on charges of conspiring to defraud Medicaid of more than $2.3 million for HIV/AIDS drugs and other expensive medications....
Healthcare system wastes up to $800 billion a year - November 2, 2009
The U.S. healthcare system is just as wasteful as President Barack Obama says it is, and proposed reforms could be paid for by fixing some of the most obvious inefficiencies, preventing mistakes and fighting fraud, according to a Thomson Reuters report released on Monday....
Feds probing Medicaid fraud at SUNY firm - November 2, 2009
A federal criminal investigation into systemic fraud related to audits of New York's Medicaid program is targeting numerous supervisors and employees at the state Health Department and the Research Foundation for the State University of New York....
He makes an app, and medical world listens - November 2, 2009
85,000: Programs available through iTunes from third-party developers. 17: Percent of those programs that are medicine-related....
Health coverage 'plan' was no insurance at all - November 2, 2009
Mary Lloyd of East Bethel says she was "royally duped" into buying health coverage that wasn't insurance, and she's not alone....
How an Insurance Mandate Could Leave Many Worse Off - November 2, 2009
AMERICANS seem to like the idea of broadening health insurance coverage, but they may not want to be forced to buy it. With health care costs high and rising, such government mandates would make many people worse off....
Medicare Fraud: A $60 Billion Crime - November 2, 2009
A.G. Holder Tells 60 Minutes More Oversight Is Needed; Scammer Explains How Easy It Is To Steal Millions....
Medi-Fraud for Everyone - November 2, 2009
While it's shocking that government policing efforts are so lax for Medicare that even a convicted murderer can be granted a license to sell equipment and file claims, Gonzalez is actually a small player compared to other cheats....
Fla. fraud law may curtail some medical careers - November 2, 2009
A new state law designed mainly to crack down on Medicaid fraud is having unexpected consequences by keeping some health care professionals from getting or keeping their licenses at a time when the state is suffering a shortage....
Four Pharmaceutical Companies to Pay $124 Million to Settle FCA Claims - November 2, 2009
Last month, after a string of false marketing settlements with pharmaceutical companies, the Justice Department announced a record-setting $2.3 billion False Claims Act deal with Pfizer to resolve allegations that Pfizer illegally marketed the painkiller Bextra....
The 'Business' of Fighting Fraud - November 2, 2009
"Who's watching the DMEPOS industry?" was one of the big questions at a Medtrade session Tuesday called "Inside the Beltway." Short answer: everyone....
Turning point in healthcare debate - November 2, 2009
OUR OPINION: cf,gtm Bill that emerged from Senate committee offers promising start....
Organized crime's new target: Medicare - November 2, 2009
Experienced in running drug, prostitution and gambling rings, crime groups of various ethnicities and nationalities are learning it's safer and potentially more profitable to file fraudulent claims with the federal Medicare program and state-run Medicaid plans....
Pro & Con: Do Americans have a basic human right to health care? - November 2, 2009
Sickness can and will happen to us all. When we are sick we cannot fulfill the American dream. To keep the American dream alive, we must ensure that no American has anything less than the best quality health care available....
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operations in Houston Lead to Charges Against Six Area Residents - November 2, 2009
Medicare fraud charges have been filed against six individuals in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Houston....
Former Salt Lake nursing home employee gets year in jail in sex-abuse case - November 2, 2009
A former employee of a Salt Lake City nursing home has been sentenced to a year in jail for sexually abusing an elderly patient with Alzheimer's disease. ...
Nursing home cited, sued after elderly man's genitals disintegrate - November 2, 2009
An Everett nursing home is facing a lawsuit after an elderly resident's genitals disintegrated while staff allegedly failed to act....
Coding questions: Medicare's initial-visit guidlines - November 2, 2009
Q: I have been treating Medicare patients the same way for the last three years, but my CA told me there are specific guidelines for initial visits. I conduct a history and examination, and take x-rays, but do not follow any special system. Should I be doing something different?...
Have a headache? Try a chiropractor - November 2, 2009
This October, during National Chiropractic Month, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is encouraging families to consider chiropractic care as a treatment for several types of headaches....
Accused chiropractor's emergency order revised - November 2, 2009
Dr. Jason Ebelsheiser can still perform "soft tissue" treatments on some patients....
State rules Horizon unfairly limited chiropractors' claims - November 2, 2009
The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors announced Monday that the state Department of Banking & Insurance has ruled the state's largest health insurer must pay chiropractors' separate claims for patient evaluation and therapy....
Freehold man sentenced to 3+ years in federal prison - November 1, 2009
A Freehold man who admitted using his two medical billing companies to defraud insurance companies has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison....
Organizer of Medical Equipment Scam Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison - November 1, 2009
Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida announced that defendant Maria F. Hernandez, 62, of Miami, Florida, was sentenced yesterday for her participation in a $5.7 million health care fraud scheme....
Alpha II Announces Contract with Meditec.com - November 1, 2009
Real-life clinical scenarios will now be used to enhance Alpha II's user manual as well as Meditec's coding and compliance training program....
Palmer, 60 chiropractors sue former alumni association - November 1, 2009
Palmer and 60 chiropractors - including the president of the Davenport campus - are suing The Chiropractic International Association. They are asking for an audit of the group's assets and expenses, a host of damages and the dissolution of the association....
Hospitals Move Forward With Gainsharing, Pay-for-Performance Despite Absence of Fraud-and-Abuse Protections - November 1, 2009
Hospital incentive payments to physicians to reduce costs and improve quality continue to blossom, despite the lack of unequivocal fraud-and-abuse regulatory exceptions to protect them from enforcement actions or Medicare overpayment recoupment....
MN AG Sues Nursing Home Owner For Overbilling - November 1, 2009
Attorney General Lori Swanson is suing the owner of a Plymouth nursing home for fraud for allegedly overbilling the state....
Many find essential kidney drugs too expensive - November 1, 2009
But the rules are different when it comes to paying for the medications to keep the new kidneys from failing. ...
AAPC Releases ICD-10 Code Conversion Tool, Now Available to the General Public - November 1, 2009
The AAPC launches its ICD-10-CM online code conversion tool, which allows users to convert (or "map") ICD-9-CM coders to ICD-10-CM codes (or vice verca) through an easy-to-use online tool. The tool is now available on the AAPC's Web site (www.aapc.com/icd-10/codes) free of charge....
Medicare and Medicaid make easy marks for fraud - November 1, 2009
Although Barack Obama might be shooting high with his estimate, even conservative estimates peg Medicare and Medicaid fraud at $60 billion a year....
Democrats push to reverse Medicare payment cuts to doctors - November 1, 2009
Senate Democrats struggled Tuesday to find enough votes to pass a controversial measure intended to ensure that doctors experience no cut in Medicare reimbursement payments over the next 10 years....
American Hospital Association (AHA) Names OnBase 'RACTrac Compatible' - November 1, 2009
The nationwide launch of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program is looming. Healthcare providers of all sizes and types are busy preparing for it as not being ready will yield some pretty severe consequences....
Word power! Newsletters keep you connected to your patients - November 1, 2009
Patients who understand what you do and why you do it and "love" you, too, give you a recipe for referral success. And referrals are a primary way to grow your practice....
Code accurately for best reimbursements - November 1, 2009
If you don't have it documented, it doesn't exist, Mark Sanna, DC, told a standing-room only audience at a Chiropractic Economics' Boot Camp session of the Florida Chiropractic Association (FCA) conference....
Coding Questions: To participate-or not-in Medicare? - November 1, 2009
I received my National Provider Identifier (NPI) number and want to start seeing Medicare patients, but I have to decide between being a participating provider or nonparticipating provider within the Medicare program. What do you recommend?...
Compliant documentation: A way to aquire new patients - November 1, 2009
Compliant documentation can help you acquire patients. To illustrate, here is a true story....
Coding Questions: Documenting activities of daily living - November 1, 2009
Q: I provide patients self-care home recommendations and information on how to modify their activities of daily living (ADLs) from an ergonomic and injury prevention point of view. Can I bill for this type of work? ...
Do you commit accidental fraud? Take this quiz and find out! - November 1, 2009
It's possible - not because you are deliberately breaking the law, but because you may be unintentionally engaging in illegal conduct through ignorance or misunderstanding of laws, rules or regulations that govern healthcare....
Small budget? Low-tech rehab gets great results - November 1, 2009
It's a fact of life today: Chiropractic is becoming more of a cooperative venture between doctors and patients....
The complaint path to a well-functioning practice - November 1, 2009
Contrary to some practitioners' belief, compliance is not costly. In fact, noncompliance is costly. It can result in investigations, audits, and the necessity to pay back money....
Multiple Chiropractors, State Associations File Suit Against Blue Cross Blue Shield - November 1, 2009
Blue Cross Blue Shield has been hit with a class-action suit led by chiropractors and chiropractic organizations including the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association (PCA), the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC) and the New York Chiropractic Council....
HHS OIG Holds Ex-Hospital Exec Responsible for Alleged Stark Violations and False Claims; More Cases Against Executives Should Be Expected - November 1, 2009
A former California hospital CEO who doubled as the compliance officer has been held personally accountable by the federal government for the hospital's alleged payments to physicians for referrals....
Lakeland Pain Doctor Faces New Charges - November 1, 2009
A federal grand jury has lodged additional charges against Dr. Jeffrey Friedlander and three staff members arrested with him in April on charges of conspiring to dispense addictive painkillers....
Switzerland's example of universal healthcare - November 1, 2009
Its citizens receive very good medical care. Controlling costs, however, is difficult....
Dialysis care battle is getting heated - November 1, 2009
Dialysis giant DaVita Inc. has raised the stakes in a bad-blooded competition over chronically ill kidney patients, luring a prominent out-of-town doctor to start a practice in Colorado Springs and oversee one of its centers....
Chiropractic care is a good modality for healthy longevity - November 1, 2009
Regular chiropractic care can be helpful in maintaining optimum health as we age....
Ankeny clinic has alternatives to knee surgery - November 1, 2009
An Ankeny physical therapy clinic is using a national treatment program that therapists say offers an effective nonsurgical alternative for knee pain sufferers....
High-tech pool helping rehab patients get back on their feet - November 1, 2009
Pools have been used as training and therapy tools for years. Now, a San Antonio rehabilitation hospital is using a high-tech pool to get patients back on their feet....
New Home-Study Course Helps Massage Therapists Prevent Work-Related Injury, Earn 10 CEUs - November 1, 2009
Save Your Hands! Announces 10-CEU Home-Study Online Course based on the 2nd Edition of Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists....
Kent County touched by three of Michigan's top five insurance frauds, industry group says - November 1, 2009
It's home to a city that has gone from being the furniture capital of North America to a fledgling hub of medical research. Now, Kent County has a new claim to fame: insurance fraud capital of Michigan....
Albany Judge Blocks Vaccination Rule - November 1, 2009
A New York State judge on Friday suspended a health regulation that would compel hundreds of thousands of health care workers and hospital volunteers to be vaccinated for seasonal and swine flu....
Patented Hand Wash Monitoring System Provides Full Accountability - November 1, 2009
HandGiene Corp. manufactures and offers a Patented RFID enabled Hand Wash Monitoring System that ensures compliance by all covered personnel with established hand wash protocols in a participating facility....
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice Announces the Completion of The BlackBerry Report - a Comprehensive Study on Technology and Home Care - November 1, 2009
The National Association for Home Care & Hospice Announces the Completion of The BlackBerry Report - a Comprehensive Study on Technology and Home Care...
Avoid common PMR coding errors - November 1, 2009
Coding can be confusing. Vague code descriptions and varying carrier rules for how and when codes should be used cause some errors....
The hard truth - November 1, 2009
Low cost: The United States spends the most on health care in the developed world. Universal access: The United States ranks last among developed countries in providing access to health care. And for those with insurance, about 700,000 a year go bankrupt due to medical bills....
Medicare Advantage cited as a culprit in rising health care costs - November 1, 2009
A rural resident who gets Medicare because of a disability, Rogers, 59, signed up through Humana in 2005. These days, he's no great fan of Medicare Advantage, a program in which the government pays private insurers to manage Medicare benefits for members....
Home-care system leaves elderly at risk, auditor says - October 31, 2009
A $332 million state program that oversees home health care services for about 18,000 elderly and disabled residents is vulnerable to fraud and has employed personal care attendants who have committed felonies, including manslaughter, assault, and threatening to commit murder, according to a report released yesterday by the Office of the State Auditor....
Sebelius, West Highlight New Tips to Prevent Medical Identity Theft and Medicare Fraud - October 31, 2009
Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Assistant Attorney General Tony West today highlighted the Obama Administration`s work to fight Medicare Fraud and released new tips and information to help seniors and Medicare beneficiaries deter, detect and defend against Medical identity theft....
Home care program's costs under scrutiny - October 31, 2009
The state's personal care service program is designed to save taxpayers money in the long run, while caring for some of Nevada's poorest and most vulnerable residents....
Risks call dialysis into question for nursing home patients - October 31, 2009
Some observers have questioned whether dialysis, which typically is performed three days a week for three or four hours at a time, is the best option for such patients....
Calculate benefit before dialysis for frail elders - October 31, 2009
Kidney specialists should weigh the potential quality of life for frail elders with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in opting for dialysis over more conservative therapies, a nephrologist and a palliative care specialist suggest in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine....
Kentucky Attorney General Conway Announces $14.7 Million Verdict Against Drug Company - October 31, 2009
Attorney General Jack Conway today announced that a Franklin Circuit Court jury has handed down a $14.7 million verdict against global pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca for defrauding the Medicaid program and Kentucky consumers by inflating the prices of their prescription drugs. ...
Why Not Meals During Dialysis? - October 31, 2009
Overnutrition is a major problem in the general population and a serious risk for metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and death. In dialysis patients, however, protein-energy malnutrition and wasting are by far the stronger risk factors for death....
Massage Brings More than Just Relaxation - October 31, 2009
Massage is a variety of sometimes ancient techniques that manipulate the soft tissues of the body. It can definitely relax you, but there are some benefits of massage that go far beyond relaxation....
Doctor has been sued for Medicare fraud - October 31, 2009
A Montrose doctor whose offices and home Wednesday were raided by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has a history of being sued for Medicare billing fraud. ...
Lake Mills Family Chiropractic practices new method - October 31, 2009
One new local chiropractor is employing a new technique that addresses a person's emotions and past injuries to find the root of a patient's ailment....
Chiropractor suspended - October 31, 2009
A Topeka chiropractor has been suspended from practicing for 30 days, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts said Wednesday....
Grand jury hands up indictment on Toms River chiropractor - October 31, 2009
A chiropractor who let his license lapse but continued to treat patients has been named in an indictment alleging forgery, theft and insurance fraud, among other crimes....
Ex-Antioch Chiropractor Sentenced in Rape Case - October 31, 2009
Antioch has received a plethora of bad press lately because of all the coincidental 'sex cases' that have recently emerged. Even in the midst of all the turmoil it's comforting to know that in many of these cases the Antioch authorities have been quick to apprehend suspects....
How often should I go to my chiropractor? - October 31, 2009
I have been asked this question many times. For some of us spinal and extremity manipulation seems foreign and unusual. Let me enlighten those of us that have this "generation's old way of thinking" clouding our mind. ...
HealthTrio LLC and Malik Hasan, M.D., Spin Out xpress Technology to Form Monument Systems LLC - October 26, 2009
New Company to Drive Cost-Effective Core Administration Technologies That Address HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 Compliance for Healthcare Payer Market....
Some Benefit in Team Rehab for Hip Surgery Patients - October 26, 2009
Older women who receive rehabilitation services after hip surgery from a variety of health care professionals as inpatients are slightly more likely to do better than those who receive usual hospital care are, a new review shows....
Detroit clinic operators indicted in Medicare fraud scheme - October 26, 2009
Three people who operated the X-Press Center, a Detroit-based clinic that specialized in providing injection and infusion therapies, have been indicted in federal court in Detroit....
Medicare Fraud Crackdown in Louisiana - October 26, 2009
The health care debate has taken center stage in public awareness recently, but this is not the only pressing health care issue currently facing the government. In the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), many eyes are turned to the problems of Medicare and Medicaid Fraud....
AAPC Regional Conference Attendance Highest Ever - October 25, 2009
The American Academy of Professional Coders' (AAPC) Regional Conference last weekend in Norfolk, Va., drew the largest number of attendees ever in the history of regional conferences, with nearly 700 medical coders and health care professionals attending the two-day continuing education event, Oct. 8-10. ...
Crack down on Medicare, Medicaid fraud - October 25, 2009
For healthcare reform to work, more money is needed to nab scam artists....
What Congress Will Find in Health Insurer Pay - October 25, 2009
Health insurer executive pay is in the bulls' eye in DC, with the Senate Finance Committee pushing hard on a plan to limit the corporate tax deductibility of health insurers' pay if these companies make a lot of money off of health reform....
Unclear Expectations - October 25, 2009
As flu season descends on North America, hospitalists from Boston to the San Francisco Bay are concerned about what might happen when normal seasonal influenza hospital admissions are added to new cases of the novel influenza A (H1N1) virus....
State checks on why few medical errors being reported - October 25, 2009
The Washington State Department of Health is canvassing hospitals to determine why so few have reported medical errors under a state law that says reporting is mandatory....
Medical Malpractice Insurance Market Stable But Faces Challenges Ahead - October 25, 2009
Recent trends have had an overall stabilizing impact on the medical malpractice market, but several emerging issues may present challenges for insurers and actuaries....
New Jersey Hospital Select MRO's Audit Tracker Online - October 25, 2009
Shore Memorial Hospital integrates audit tracking and reporting application into existing release-of-information system....
Mass. Nursing Homes Earn Top Marks For Care - October 25, 2009
Massachusetts ranks No. 7 in the country for quality nursing homes, according to data reported by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services....
Making Health Care 'Accountable' - October 25, 2009
Currently, most are reimbursed for every service they provide, but so-called fee-for-service payment systems do little to encourage cost control or, since often no one provider is in charge, to effectively coordinate patient care....
Chiropractor could lose license - October 23, 2009
The Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners is proposing to revoke the license of a chiropractor who practices in Salem and Stayton on allegations of sexual misconduct....
Transplant bottleneck - October 23, 2009
Surgeons at Erlanger hospital's Kidney Transplant Center performed 37 transplants in 2004, giving new organs to patients who almost certainly would have died without them....
Two locals arraigned in health-care fraud case - October 23, 2009
Two Mariettans were arraigned Friday on felony charges for allegedly defrauded Blue Cross Blue Shield and other insurers out of $11 million for physical therapy services that were not actually provided....
Maryland Cardiologist Convicted of Evading more Than $16 Million in Income Taxes - October 23, 2009
A federal jury today convicted Pradeep Srivastava, age 50, of Potomac, Maryland, a cardiologist who maintained offices in Greenbelt and Oxon Hill, of evading more than $16 million dollars in income taxes for the 1998 and 1999 tax years, and filing a false tax return for 2000....
Shreveport chiropractor pleads guilty to health care fraud - October 23, 2009
A Shreveport chiropractor pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to two counts of health care fraud, avoiding a federal trial Tuesday at which he would have faced 72 counts of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud....
New Online Service Aims to Revolutionize Physical Therapist - Patient Relationship - October 23, 2009
ason Van Dyke believes his web site, fizio.com, will raise patient compliance, increase patient satisfaction, and improve the speed and efficiency of HEP development in the clinic....
Detroit Clinic Owner, Doctor and Office Manager Indicted in Medicare Infusion Fraud Scheme - October 23, 2009
Three Miami-Dade County, Fla., residents have been indicted in connection with an alleged $2.3 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of X-Press Center, a Detroit-area clinic that purported to specialize in providing injection and infusion therapies....
It's health enrollment time, and premiums likely to rise - October 23, 2009
The debate in Washington about health care changes is generating a lot of heat and strong language, dividing families and turning neighborhood barbecues into backyard brawls....
Chiropractic for Kids: Getting the Word Out - October 21, 2009
The study, phase one of a project undertaken by the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) as part of its practice-based research network (PBRN), assessed pediatric chiropractic by surveying chiropractors and parents of pediatric patients (18 years of age and younger), revealing high overall satisfaction and near-nonexistent complications and adverse events....
Ten of My Favorite Clinical Chiropractic Trade Secrets, Part 1 - October 21, 2009
Based on surveys such as these, I am quite certain that the working technique repertoire of most chiropractors is fairly similar, including both adjustive and diagnostic procedures....
The Case of the Missing Chiropractors - October 21, 2009
Practicing chiropractic in the third decade of the 21st century is much like practicing any kind of medicine. Health care is now run by the government....
Iowa chiropractor sentenced in Medicaid fraud case - October 21, 2009
A Cedar Rapids chiropractor will be spending the next seven years behind bars for using the stolen identities of minors in a scheme to bilk Medicaid....
Physical Therapy Students From Across The Nation Gather To Move Profession And Careers Forward - October 21, 2009
Physical therapy students from across the nation will learn the latest in physical therapist research and treatment techniques during the American Physical Therapy Association's (APTA's) 17th Annual National Student Conclave (NSC) at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Miami, FL, October 30 - November 1, 2009....
Virginia man charged with assault following alleged incident in Rockville clinic - October 21, 2009
Montgomery County Police charged a physical therapist who works in Rockville with second-degree assault and sexual contact without consent....
Austin HealthWorks Celebrates Physical Therapy Month With 30 Days of Motion - October 21, 2009
In order to raise awareness about the benefits of physical therapy, Austin HealthWorks, a physical and occupational therapy clinic, will showcase stretches targeting multiple levels of fitness each day on its web site during the month of October....
Medicaid Fraud More than $63 Million in 5 States Alone, GAO Report Finds - October 21, 2009
A California man took on the name of a dead person to receive taxpayer-funded health care for more than three years, charging $200,000 to the Medicaid system, including $2,870 to buy controlled substances under an assumed identity....
That'll Be $418 For Use of the Examining Room
'Facility Fees' Are Taking Many Patients by Surprise - October 21, 2009
Unlike other add-ons that have aroused public ire -- baggage charges on airlines, surcharges for concert tickets or resort fees tacked on by hotels -- outpatient facility fees, which range from about $25 to hundreds of dollars per visit, may involve a service that is a matter of life and death, such as chemotherapy. ...
Harborside Healthcare to Pay U.S. $1.375 Million to Resolve Allegations of Kickbacks and Sham Durable Medical Services - October 20, 2009
Harborside Healthcare and HHC Nutrition Services will pay the United States $1.375 million to resolve False Claims Act allegations that the company received kickbacks and assistance under the guise of a sham durable medical equipment (DME) provider....
MedAssets' Claims Auditor Achieves Certification Status from Executive Health Resources - October 20, 2009
Certification validates that MedAssets Claims Auditor provides seamless inbound and outbound data exchange between Executive Health Resources and its hospital clients...
Will Health 2.0 startups usher in consumer-driven healthcare? - October 20, 2009
With the Health 2.0 conference taking place in San Francisco this week and President Obama's bruised but not yet beaten healthcare reform bill still awaiting its fate on Capitol Hill, it's a good time to look at how tech startups in the health sector could change the way the US does healthcare....
Regulations increase costs for doctor visits - October 20, 2009
Oftentimes, my patients ask me why it costs so much for a doctor visit. In fact, one of my patients stated when he was 10 years old, his parents went to a physician in town that only charged $10 for an office visit....
Coding Q&A: When an insurance carrier requests patient records... - October 20, 2009
Q: I just received a letter from an insurance company requesting copies of exams, SOAP notes, and financial records on 14 patients. What do you recommend I do?...
QuadraMed Launches ICD-10 Countdown Program at AHIMA 2009 - October 20, 2009
QuadraMed® Corporation (NASDAQ:QDHC), a leading provider of healthcare information technologies and services that help turn quality care into positive financial outcomes, today announced the launch of its ICD-10 Countdown Program....
AHIMA Exhibitors Make Announcements - October 20, 2009
Several exhibitors at the American Health Information Management Association's convention in Grapevine, Texas, made product announcements this week....
Assessing the Impact of ICD-10 - October 20, 2009
For hospitals, making the transition to the new ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes could be a bigger task than addressing the Y2K bug....
Where AARP stands on health care issues - October 18, 2009
There's been a lot of confusion about what's involved in health care reform, and even more confusion about who is supporting what....
Spine Surgery Investigation Continues as Six More Hospitals Settle Fraud Cases for $8.3 Million - October 18, 2009
The first national health fraud enforcement initiative in about a decade - over Medicare claims for kyphoplasty - took another step forward when six more hospitals recently agreed to pay a total of $8.3 million to settle false claims allegations....
Pros, cons and possible solutions - October 18, 2009
No one can argue that we need to make some changes with health care in the United States. My question is: Are we really going to scrap our current health care system in favor of a government-run system?...
Summa Health System Selects ProVation Software for Cardiology Procedure Documentation and Coding Compliance - October 18, 2009
Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading global provider of information for healthcare professionals and students, announced today that Summa Health System has selected ProVation® MD software for Cardiology procedure documentation and coding....
Mafia, violent criminals turn to Medicare fraud - October 18, 2009
Lured by easier money and shorter prison sentences, Mafia figures and other violent criminals are increasingly moving into Medicare fraud and spilling blood over what once a white-collar crime....
Chiropractor: 'DAs really crossed a line' - October 17, 2009
The chiropractor beat charges last year that threatened to send him to state prison for performing a controversial procedure. Now, he's firing back with a $5 million lawsuit. He says an overly zealous prosecutor violated his civil rights....
Single payer the most rational health care solution - October 17, 2009
A single payer health insurance system in the United States will create a "risk pool" of all American citizens - the only rational way of providing health care assurance....
Families can help stop nursing home abuse - October 15, 2009
I reported the nursing home to the Maryland Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene. The DHMH investigated. Major changes would be made at this facility that would benefit those who could not fend for themselves....
A holistic approach to practice health (case studies) - October 15, 2009
The following two case studies are a supplement to Mark Firmin's article titled, "A holistic approach to practice health," which appeared in issue 15....
Scott guilty of GA Medicaid fraud - October 15, 2009
Varian V. Scott was ruled guilty on Monday for being part of a health-care fraud scheme that cost Georgia Medicaid $1.1 million....
US has no good system to track medical implants - October 15, 2009
Experts say such deaths are the result of a major weakness in the nation's system for recalling thousands of medical devices routinely implanted in people's bodies, ranging from screws and plates to artificial knees and hips....
AMA Supports Government Healthcare...Doctors Must STAND UP for Patients! - October 15, 2009
The AMA's support for government run healthcare "reform" appears to be a sweetheart deal with the Administration to protect its coding and business revenue under the guise of standing up for physicians and patients....
State recovers $7M from Medicaid fraud - October 15, 2009
Wyoming's share of settlements in Medicaid fraud cases totaled $7 million between 1993 and 2009. In some of these cases, Wyoming collected more money than much larger states....
Five Detroit Residents Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud Charges - October 15, 2009
Detroit residents Dierdre Teagen, Robert Wynn, Ernest Neal, James Harris and Steve Sherman pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Detroit this week for their roles in various Medicare fraud schemes...
New Jersey Hospital to Pay $8.3 Million for Kickbacks, Medicare Fraud Scheme - October 15, 2009
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) has agreed to pay the government $8.3 million to settle allegations that it illegally paid kickbacks to cardiologists and caused the submission of false claims to Medicare....
A chiropractor in Afghanistan - October 15, 2009
"I researched the Middle East about chiropractic and found there were only a few in the entire region, and none in Afghanistan."...
Hospital's $40M shortage stuns doctor shareholders - October 15, 2009
Pinnacle Hospital might either close or be sold within weeks, according to some of the for-profit hospital's physician owners....
Medicaid audit finds that prescriptions were filled for 1,800 dead patients - October 15, 2009
In Texas, a dead doctor "wrote" prescriptions for Medicaid recipients. Not to be outdone, pharmacies in Texas and four other states filled controlled-substance prescriptions for more than 1,800 dead Medicaid patients....
How the U.S. Government Rations Health Care - October 13, 2009
The agency that would likely run the 'public option' was slow to pay for implantable cardiac defibrillators....
Rehab center celebrates 5 years, reflects on improvements - October 12, 2009
Unusual sights are normal in Singing River Hospital's Comprehensive Rehabilitation Center. On a typical afternoon, one can see patients lifting weights, riding a stationary bike, or even bouncing a ball down a hallway....
Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center of Raleigh Rates Zero Deficiencies - October 12, 2009
Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center of Raleigh scored zero deficiencies on the annual quality survey to ensure they meet care standards mandated by Medicare and Medicaid....
Rehabilitation services needs to be part of health care debate - October 12, 2009
The health care debate often focuses on all the problems and frustrations associated with the current health care industry. What is typically overlooked is the discussion about what is working well in our existing health care system....
Eureka health care and rehab center settles race discrimination case - October 12, 2009
A private Eureka assisted independent living facility is denying allegations of employee racial discrimination after settling a case involving an African-American nurse for $80,000. ...
Detroit-Area Rehabilitation Facility Executive Pleads Guilty to $18.3 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme - October 12, 2009
Suresh Chand pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Detroit to participating in multiple conspiracies to defraud the Medicare program and to launder the proceeds of the fraud....
New Annual Report Provides Objective, Independent Analyses of Quality Improvements in America's Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities - October 12, 2009
Today the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the Alliance for Quality Nursing Home Care (Alliance) publicly released the nursing, post-acute, short term and rehabilitative sector's first comprehensive report examining quality trends in the nation's nursing homes....
Georgia hospitals rated 'weak' - October 12, 2009
Twenty-two hospitals across Georgia stand out in the latest Medicare data for poor results for patients with pneumonia or heart trouble....
Folsom long-term hospital replacing itself - October 12, 2009
The only long-term acute-care hospital in the Sacramento region is quietly building a $43 million, 58-bed replacement facility on its campus in Folsom....
Pain clinic announcement expected - October 12, 2009
The Guelph General Hospital is expected to shed light today on the future of Dr. Kulbir Billing's private pain clinic here, the fate of which has been in doubt since the spring....
Attorney General Cuomo Announces Amagansett Doctor Sentenced To Prison For Writing Illegal Prescriptions To Medicaid Reciepients - October 12, 2009
Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that Michael Chait, M.D., an Amagansett physician charged in 2007 with writing hundreds of illegal prescriptions for patients from the Bronx and Manhattan, was sentenced to 3 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision....
Modesto chiropractor suing for $5M - October 12, 2009
A Modesto chiropractor once charged with defrauding insurers and workers compensation out of millions of dollars wants to clear his name....
Health care in Massachusetts: a warning for America - October 12, 2009
The Bay State's mandatory insurance law is raising costs, limiting access, and lowering care....
HMS Acquires IntegriGuard to Expand Program Integrity Capabilities - October 12, 2009
HMS today announced that it has acquired the business of IntegriGuard LLC, an ISO-certified and URAC-accredited organization devoted to the prevention and detection of fraud, waste, and abuse in the healthcare system....
AHCA Combats Medicaid Fraud in Florida - October 12, 2009
AHCA Agency commits to visiting every home health agency in Miami-Dade County by the end of the year....
A look at health care plans in Congress - October 12, 2009
Health care legislation is taking shape in the House and Senate as President Barack Obama pushes to overhaul the system to cover millions of uninsured Americans and contain rising costs....
CMS Updates Compliance Standards for DME Sales in Practitioners' Offices - October 12, 2009
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released Change Request (CR) 6528, impacting guidelines for sleep labs that administer durable medical equipment....
HHS OIG Omits Data Essential for Accurate Evaluation of Medicare Program's Power Wheelchair Costs - October 12, 2009
Misleading OIG Report Could Wrongly Lead to Price Cuts that Put Suppliers Out of Business....
Bridgewater chiropractor pleads guilty to fraudulent billing - October 11, 2009
A township chiropractor pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court on a charge of fraudulently billing a health insurance company....
60 doctors took speaker fees from drug giant - October 11, 2009
At least 60 Massachusetts doctors collectively have earned more than a half-million dollars this year as speakers paid by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. - including two Boston Medical Center physicians whose participation is being reviewed for possible violation of a hospital policy against marketing activities by its doctors....
A-Life Medical's Hospital Subsidiary to Present and Exhibit at 81st American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention and Exhibit - October 11, 2009
A-Life Medical, Inc., the pioneer and leading provider of computer-assisted coding (CAC) products and services to the healthcare industry, announced today that A-Life Hospital, its wholly owned subsidiary, will exhibit and present at the upcoming 81st American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Convention and Exhibit....
Former Antioch chiropractor pleads to druggings, sex assault - October 11, 2009
A former Antioch chiropractor pleaded no contest today to charges he drugged two women at a bar and then sexually assaulted one of them at his doctor's office while she was unconscious - an assault authorities say he videotaped on his cell phone and showed to others back at the bar....
North American Seminars Inc Introduces Cervical Spine Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention - A Neuromechanical Perspective - October 11, 2009
North American Seminars, Inc. introduces a new physical therapy continuing education course entitled Cervical Spine Examination, Evaluation, and Intervention - A Neuromechanical Perspective. This course is designed for physical therapy continuing education....
Illinois-based AthletiCo Opens 53rd Physical Therapy Center in Elk Grove Village - October 11, 2009
AthletiCo, an Illinois-based leader in physical therapy and occupational therapy, opens its 53rd center at 990 Elk Grove Town Center in Elk Grove Village. AthletiCo Elk Grove Village's services include Physical Therapy, Occupational/Hand Therapy, Work Rehabilitation, Work Conditioning, Functional Capacity Evaluations, and Massage Therapy....
Investigated California Medical Firm Forgoes $70M Workers Comp Claims - October 11, 2009
A Southern California medical management company accused of fraudulent workers' compensation-related billing has dismissed $70 million worth of filed claims, the largest workers' compensation mass dismissal of liens in California history....
Chiropractor faces 107 years in U.S. prison - October 11, 2009
A Burlington chiropractor faces up to 107 years in a U.S. prison and a quarter-million-dollar fine for allegedly defrauding the American Medicaid program four years ago....
Chiropractor charged in scheme to cheat Pennsylvania health insurer - October 11, 2009
A Luzerne County, Pa., chiropractor faces insurance fraud charges for filling false claims as a patient to a local Blue Cross affiliate....
Davie man sentenced for Medicare fraud - October 11, 2009
A Davie man was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years in prison and ordered to make restitution for his role in a $20 million health care fraud and money-laundering scheme....
St. Vincent's to pay $2M in Medicare fraud case - October 11, 2009
St. Vincent's Health System has agreed to pay nearly $2 million to the federal government to settle a Medicare fraud case....
Man admits health care fraud - October 11, 2009
From 2003 to 2007, Chand admitted he and his associates filed false claims worth $18,379,300....
Integrating a vibration exercise studio: Adding a profit center - October 11, 2009
Over the years, Chiropractic practices have expanded from focusing on spinal subluxations, to providing wellness care, nutritional counselling and rehabilitation services....
Health reform advocates targeting Medicare fraud - October 11, 2009
Government administrators and senior advocates say there is no way to know how much money is sucked in via wheelchairs billed to the government for people who can still walk, services that aren't delivered and treatment that's not needed....
Mix-up closes fertility clinic - October 11, 2009
Ochsner Hospital Elmwood has indefinitely suspended operations at its in vitro fertilization center in Elmwood due to a mix-up in the labeling of frozen embryos....
Six Hospitals in Indiana and Alabama Pay $8.3 Million to Settle Whistleblower Lawsuit for Medicare Fraud - October 10, 2009
hree hospitals in Indiana and three hospitals in Alabama have agreed to pay the federal government a total of $8.3 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit that alleged the hospitals deliberately overcharged Medicare for routine, minimally-invasive back surgery....
Westhampton nursing home revises application for assisted living facility - October 10, 2009
The operators of a Westhampton nursing home have revised their plans to construct an assisted living facility, and are now looking to build a structure that is about one-third smaller than originally proposed....
Former Bedford clinic owner surrenders therapy license - October 10, 2009
The owner of a former pediatric clinic that's accused of allowing unlicensed therapists to treat special-needs children has surrendered her New York state occupational therapy license....
Stricter self-referral rules may end some physician contracts with hospitals - October 10, 2009
As of Oct. 1, physicians will have to restructure or unwind many hospital arrangements to avoid federal penalties. Some doctors worry patient care will suffer....
Experts: Crucial to get on waiting list as soon as possible - October 9, 2009
Even though he was diagnosed with kidney disease five years ago, it wasn't until two months ago that Cannon completed the required evaluation to be listed....
Utah's Medicaid wants a big boost - October 9, 2009
With its enrollment fast approaching 200,000 Utahns -- an all-time high -- the state's Medicaid program is poised to ask the Legislature for $17 million in additional funding to keep it afloat through fiscal 2010. ...
According to Excel Physical Therapy and Fitness, Awareness Still Low for Law that Allows People to go Directly to a Physical Therapist without a Docto - October 9, 2009
A law called Direct Access, recognized in 42 states, gives consumers control over healthcare costs, saving time and money....
Many on debilitating dialysis not told about transplantation option - October 9, 2009
The failure of doctors at dialysis clinics to inform thousands of patients about kidney transplantation may be shortening lives and costing taxpayers millions of dollars a year....
3 women suspected of Medicaid fraud - October 9, 2009
Three women from Franklin County face Medicaid fraud charges in Penn Township after the state Attorney General's Office alleged they filed false time sheets accounting for more than 1,000 hours of work at the local office of United Cerebral Palsy of South Central Pa. ...
Bozeman Health and Rehabilitation Center Earns a Perfect Survey - October 9, 2009
Bozeman Health and Rehabilitation Center achieves a deficiency-free rating - the equivalent of a "five-star" rating of their nursing home quality....
Stearns Nursing and Rehab Center named in med mal complaint - October 9, 2009
The administrator of the estate of a recently deceased woman alleges the woman developed decubitus ulcers while living in Stearns Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, which caused her pain and suffering until her death....
Arizona Heart Hospital to pay $675K to settle Medicare claim case - October 9, 2009
Because there was no billing code for this procedure, the hospital used a comparable billing code to cover costs of the procedure, said Dr. Edward Diethrich, medical director of the Phoenix heart hospital....
Critics see home health care boom as wasteful, but others tout benefits - October 9, 2009
From 2004 to early 2008, Medicare paid her two agencies more than $6.5 million to care for elderly Dallas-area patients. A federal investigation found that much of the care never was given. ...
DOMA Transforms Healthcare IT with Increased Security While Reducing Cost -- iCodeRx/iDocs/iCharts 6.0 Debuts at AHIMA National Convention - October 8, 2009
DOMA Technologies has launched the latest version of its revolutionary cost-cutting software. Newly developed upgrades to iCodeRx, iDocs, and iCharts now allow healthcare organizations to fully integrate and streamline their records and coding processes, while providing the highest security possible to patient information....
Is your nurse an ex-con? - October 8, 2009
While there were no cameras at the Florida Board of Nursing meeting, the hearing was recorded. Waiting to have their cases heard were dozens of applicants hoping to become nurses for the first time or applying to have their license restored....
Research: People With Type 2 Diabetes Improved Muscular Strength and Exercise Capacity Through Physical Therapist Exercise Counseling Combined With Fi - October 8, 2009
Physical therapist-directed exercise counseling combined with fitness center-based exercise training can improve muscular strength and exercise capacity in people with type 2 diabetes, with outcomes similar to those of supervised exercise....
Two Kansas lawmakers seek probe into whether officials committed Medicaid fraud - October 8, 2009
Two Kansas lawmakers have asked Attorney General Steve Six to investigate whether state officials committed Medicaid fraud by giving extra funding to a politically connected Johnson County nonprofit....
State leaders trade accusations on Medicaid - October 8, 2009
Mississippi's Medicaid director told lawmakers Wednesday that Attorney General Jim Hood has refused to prosecute a possible case of $24 million in fraud by a man paid to provide behavioral services to patients....
It's Time For A Chronic Health Care Bailout - October 8, 2009
Since bending the health cost curve is a key objective of health reform, it stands to reason that targeting chronic conditions should be a basis for changing how health care is paid for in the U.S....
Wright Medical Center Occupational Health and Wellness expands efforts - October 7, 2009
Since the arrival of Dr. Charles Mooney to Wright Medical Center, the facility has taken their Occupational Health and Eellness Department to the next level....
Pharmacy Owner Sentenced For Medicaid Fraud - October 7, 2009
The former owner of a Manhattan pharmacy has been sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 78 months in prison. ...
LA may shut medical pot dispensaries - October 7, 2009
A Los Angeles City Council committee Tuesday began considering a proposed permanent ordinance to require the immediate closure of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries that operate for profit. ...
Thousand of patients warned about theft of personal information - October 7, 2009
Thousands of patients at a Kern County health clinic have been warned their personal information could have been stolen....
Miami Medicare fraud defendant gets 8 years - October 7, 2009
A local medical equipment supplier convicted of Medicare fraud is sentenced to eight years in prison after having fled South Florida to evade prosecution....
Free Webinar on Helping Hospitals Control Healthcare-Associated Infections by Improving Hand Hygiene - October 7, 2009
A free 40-minute webinar, Hand Washing for Healthcare Providers: A Critical Factor in HAI, is being sponsored by Compirion Healthcare Solutions, a hospital process improvement firm headquartered in Elm Grove, Wisconsin....
Busting healthcare myths - October 6, 2009
From scary warnings about death panels to missing facts about the insurance industry's willingness to play its part in reforming the system, the past several weeks have demonstrated that it's business as usual in Washington....
Obama's Expert on Medicare Fraud - October 6, 2009
Health-care czarina Nancy-Ann DeParle built a career at companies that have had to defend themselves against federal investigations....
Chiropractors Bent Out of Shape Over Blues' Post-Payment Denials - October 6, 2009
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and 22 Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) plans were named as defendants Sept. 11 in a class-action suit alleging they engaged in "abusive practices in using post-payment audits and reviews."...
Nationally Recognized "Qui Tam" Attorney Michael I. Behn Discusses Billion Dollar Medicaid Fraud Settlements and False Claims Act Amendments at Chicag - October 6, 2009
Whistleblowers' lawyer Michael I. Behn of Behn & Wyetzner, Chartered, Chicago, Illinois will participate on a panel discussing new amendments to the False Claims Act, recent billion dollar Medicaid Fraud settlements against Lilly and Pfizer, and other developments concerning whistleblower lawyers....
Two nations, one debate over how to achieve reform - October 6, 2009
A message to all physicians from AMA President J. James Rohack, MD....
Hospitals' charity care under scrutiny nationwide - October 6, 2009
One bill includes a proposal to improve community service, transparency, billing practices of nonprofit hospitals....
Experts Available to Discuss: Hospital CEOs Claim Healthcare Reform Savings Goals Double with Lean, Six Sigma, Toyota Methods - October 5, 2009
In the first study to investigate the implementation of lean, the American Society for Quality surveyed 77 hospitals, half report some level of lean and/or Six Sigma deployment....
Space age back healing - October 5, 2009
The number of children receiving chiropractic care is on the rise. According to the American Chiropractic Association, the percentage of chiropractic patients under 17 years of age has increased at least 8.5 percent since 1991. ...
Two Buffalo hospitals among six seeking exemption from reform - October 5, 2009
Six hospitals in the state, including two in Buffalo, are asking lawmakers to exempt them from a bill to reform New York's public authorities....
AG asks retirees to join sleuth program - October 5, 2009
Retired folks, often the target of con-artists, are now being recruited by the state of Arizona to help catch the swindlers in action....
Warrant issued for caretaker who billed state even after grandpa died - October 5, 2009
Medicaid recipient Lawrence Whitish died on Aug. 12, 2008. But a state's attorney says his granddaughter – a government-funded care provider – continued to bill Medicaid for his ongoing care and claimed he was "fine."...
UHC Develops Resource for Recovery Audit Contractor Reviews - October 5, 2009
University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) has announced the development of the Clinical Documentation Audit Profile, designed to assist hospitals with Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) reviews....
New Thera-Band Active Care Products Promote Home Exercise Programs from Lake Erie Medical of Ohio - October 5, 2009
Lake Erie Medical announces five new exercise products for use in-clinic or in-home. The new Thera-Band products are the Foot Roller, Mini Ball, Ankle and Wrist Weight Sets, Stability Disc, and Resistance Tubing Loop with Padded Cuffs....
Hospital Settles Civil Monetary Penalty Case Over Gifts to Physicians and Medical Staff Travel - October 5, 2009
For the first time, a hospital has settled a civil monetary penalty (CMP) case stemming from the gifts and travel expenses it gave to referring physicians. Memorial Hospital of Union County in Dayton, Ohio, has agreed to pay $31,202 to resolve an alleged Stark law violation over nonmonetary compensation that exceeded the law's annual $355 per-physician cap....
Northwest Hospital & Medical Center to become part of UW Medicine system - October 5, 2009
Northwest Hospital & Medical Center will become part of UW Medicine, a deal that will make the Northgate-area hospital a member of the region's leading teaching and research medical institution....
Can You Pass the Smell Test? - October 4, 2009
The issue concerning when actions and conduct do not meet the "smell test" can be summed up much like late Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart did when asked to define pornography. His answer was: "I can't define it, but I know it when I see it."...
The Culture of Sports Chiropractic - October 4, 2009
The tone, attitude and dedication of this group of sports chiropractors really impressed me. The discussions were not about patient volume, insurance hassles or practice-building; they were about how to get athletes back in the game and improving outcomes using the latest evidence....
Former chiropractor sentenced to prison - October 4, 2009
An Ottawa man, who had his chiropractic license suspended earlier this year, was sentenced to prison for a gun violation by La Salle County Circuit Court Judge H. Chris Ryan Jr. Wednesday morning....
Exeter chiropractor's fraud case continued - October 4, 2009
The trial for Paul Loch, an Exeter chiropractor charged with federal tax evasion, bank fraud and knowingly filing false tax returns, has been extended upon his request....
CareMedic`s RAC Audit Solution Achieves Platinum Certification Status From Executive Health Resources - October 4, 2009
Certification validates that Audit Management provides seamless inbound and outbound data exchange between Executive Health Resources and its hospital clients...
Compass Clinical Consulting Launches New Resource-Rich Website for Hospital and Healthcare System Leaders - October 4, 2009
The new Compass Clinical Consulting (Compass) website is a part of the company's Web 2.0 strategy to create and share high-value healthcare information, insights and inspiration for hospital leaders....
Dialysis Management Services Throughout New York - October 4, 2009
With a long history of providing nephrologists and dialysis centers the methods and means to offer superior care to patients with chronic kidney disease in New York, Atlantic Dialysis Management Services (ADMS) ensures that patients are cared for by a staff that is qualified and sensitive to their needs and by a company that has achieved respect and recognition. ...
Trial Date Set to Challenge New Texas Fraud Law - October 4, 2009
A temporary restraining order to prevent HB 148 from taking effect was filed in federal court by a plaintiff attorney and chiropractor on August 27....
NARA'S Annual Fall Conference To Provide Vital Information For The Success of Rehabilitation Providers and Businesses - October 4, 2009
The National Association of Rehabilitation Providers & Agencies (NARA) will be hosting its 31st annual Fall Conference in Sand Key Beach, Florida October 21-23, 2009. ...
Baucus' Plan To Lower Health Care Costs - October 4, 2009
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) today introduced the America's Health Future Act, landmark health care reform legislation to lower costs and provide quality, affordable health care coverage....
Revealed: Secrets of Leading Health Care Providers - October 4, 2009
The secret of their success, expert say, is that because doctors in such systems receive a salary, they have few incentives to give patients unnecessary treatments or care. ...
SourceMedical's Therapy Software Division Takes a Leading Role in Therapy Documentation For Medicare Requirements - October 2, 2009
SourceMedical, a leading provider of outpatient information management solutions, announced today that it is taking a leading role in providing industry education to prepare therapy clinics for Medicare audits....
Three charged with Medicaid fraud - October 2, 2009
Three Jackson County individuals have been arrested on charges of defrauding Medicaid, Attorney General Bill McCollum announced in a news release Wedesday morning....
3M Introduces ICD-10 Code Translation Tool - October 2, 2009
3M Health Information Systems has released the 3M™ ICD-10 Code Translation Tool, a new software application that helps convert ICD-9 based applications to ICD-10....
Houston VA Awarded 3-Year Accreditations For Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation Medicine Programs - October 2, 2009
A three-year accreditation is the highest level of accreditation an organization may be awarded. CARF is committed to developing and maintaining practical, customer-focused standards to help organizations measure and improve the quality, value, and optimal outcomes in the lives of the persons they serve....
Post Acute Medical / Warm Springs Announces Long-Term Contractual Relationship With Gulf States LTAC of New Braunfels - October 2, 2009
Working together, with the Warm Springs Specialty Hospital at Luling and the San Antonio Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital, the Company and Gulf States LTAC will collaborate on best practices to offer Long Term Acute Care (LTAC) and rehabilitation services to the entire region....
Online Continuing Education for PTs Available Through Private Practice Section - EDUCATA Partnership - October 2, 2009
The Private Practice Section (PPS) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), and EDUCATA, a global provider of online continuing education, announced a partnership to provide online courses to Section members. ...
Republicans skeptical of malpractice reform - October 2, 2009
In his health reform pitch to Congress, President Barack Obama promised to move on an issue near and dear to the hearts of many conservatives -- medical malpractice reform. ...
Class Accuses Blue Cross of Extortion - October 2, 2009
Three state chiropractic associations say Blue Cross Blue Shield is trying "to extort millions of dollars" from chiropractors, unfairly demanding that they return money paid on claims, after "retrospective" determinations that the doctors did not provide "covered services."...
Forty Fort chiropractor accused of obtaining more than $100,000 through fraudulent claims - October 2, 2009
Authorities allege a Forty Fort-based chiropractor charged Tuesday with felony insurance fraud had been using another doctor's information to bill for services he never received....
Health Reform Should Begin with Ending Fraud - October 2, 2009
We believe that fraud constitutes at least ten percent ($100 billion) of the nearly one trillion in taxpayer dollars that Medicare and Medicaid will spend this year. That is likely a conservative estimate....
Nursing-home residents urge state to reconsider new Medicaid billing system - October 2, 2009
A little-noticed change in how the state pays for wheelchairs, physical therapy and other care has caused some Ohio nursing-home residents to lose services and others to fear that they could be next. ...
Facility Transfers - October 2, 2009
Patient care provided in the acute setting might not always end with discharge to the patient's home. Pay extra-close attention when admission responsibility changes....
Wellmont, HealthSouth Form Joint Venture to Open a New Rehabilitation Hospital in Southwest Virginia - October 2, 2009
Wellmont Health System and HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) today announced that a joint venture entity formed by the two parties has been awarded a certificate of public need (COPN) to open a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Bristol, Va....
U.S. vs. Canada: Doctors Give Their View - October 1, 2009
President Obama's initiative to reform the American health care system has stirred vigorous debate about the best way to accomplish the objectives of reining in costs and expanding coverage to the uninsured and underinsured. Some individuals believe the country should emulate Canada and adopt some type of single-payer system of universal coverage....
Sacramento-area hospitals use simple ways to cut mistakes - October 1, 2009
In this story about cutting-edge innovation in hospital care, you won't read about robots or nano-devices so small you need a microscope to see them. These next best things in health care are socks, sashes, work sheets and cards; homely items are transforming hospital care in Sacramento and around the country....
Miraculous stroke recovery
Literally taking one step at a time - September 30, 2009
After four or five days, Ehrich started showing some improvement, thus becoming a good candidate for physical and occupational therapy at the Rochester Hospital....
Pain Management: Cubicle Warrior Ergonomics - September 30, 2009
As the exclusive chiropractor for Electronic Arts Los Angeles since 2005, Dr. Lynn Kerew D.C. sees employees of the corporate gaming giant with back to back appointments every week. According to a 2006 survey over 40 million Americans work year in and year out in cubicles....
Local chiropractor charged with more counts of sexual abuse - September 30, 2009
An Oskaloosa chiropractor will appear in court next week on seven charges of third-degree sexual abuse and one charge of tampering with records....
Health care reform: Patients must accept some of the blame for escalating costs - September 30, 2009
How is it the fault of insurance or drug companies that obesity and related conditions (diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke) are at historic highs, and growing at epidemic rates?...
The dirty little secret of health care costs - September 30, 2009
The nation's debate over health care reform has missed the boat so far. The problem is not the delivery system per se, or the fear of unbridled "socialism" entering the back door via a public option plan....
Hospitals Should Utilize Their In-House Data to Fight Auditors' Fire With Fire - September 30, 2009
As recovery audit contractors (RACs) and other program-integrity contractors bear down, it's becoming increasingly important for hospitals to analyze claims before and after they're prepared for submission to determine what edits their claims are hitting repeatedly and what systemic changes would improve claims accuracy....
Patient-driven rehab business aims to heal whole person - September 30, 2009
Sterling MedCare Home Health has announced that Rehab Dynamix of Sterling will be providing the physical and occupational therapy for their clients....
Five Health Care Reforms You Won't Hear the President Propose - September 30, 2009
Health care needs improvement, there is no debate. What should be debated is how the reform is effected, because the "how" will either extend fundamental principles that have served our economy for two centuries, or it will supplant them with an irreversible forfeiture of our individual freedoms. ...
CMS to Stop Payment on Claims for Services Ordered by Non-Enrolled Providers - September 30, 2009
CMS is cracking down on claims for services that are ordered or referred by physicians who don't participate in Medicare, even if the services themselves are Medicare-approved....
UCI settles a dozen fertility suits - September 30, 2009
Doctors at the school's Center for Reproductive Health were found to have stolen eggs or embryos for years and given them to other women. Two doctors involved fled the country to avoid prosecution. ...
More government health care would hurt doctors - September 30, 2009
One key to good health and a successful health care system for all is a sufficient pool of quality physicians. Yet according to recent Congressional testimony by Dr. Jeffrey Harris, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP), we are facing a critical shortage....
Agency sells its home health group in auction - September 30, 2009
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department has sold its home health agency in a public auction to the owner of a private, local in-home health company for $400,000....
Check Point: Examining Obama's Assertions - September 28, 2009
It was an angry retort to Mr. Obama's statement that illegal immigrants would not benefit from proposed health care legislation. And while other points in Mr. Obama's speech were debatable, this one was not. ...
4 Conundrums That Impede Healthcare Reform - September 28, 2009
Everybody agrees that something is wrong. Yet it remains remarkably hard to fix our $2 trillion healthcare system....
Marrero woman among three convicted of Medicaid fraud - September 28, 2009
A Marrero woman could face up to 270 years in prison and more than $7 million in fines after she was convicted in federal court Wednesday along with two other New Orleans women of Medicaid fraud....
Pomerantz Files Class Action Against Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ("BCBSA") and Related BCBSA Entities - September 28, 2009
Pomerantz Haudek Grossman & Gross LLP today announced that it and co-counsel Buttaci & Leardi, LLC filed a class action lawsuit against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association ("BCBSA") and 22 leading BCBS insurers across the country on behalf of a putative nationwide class of health care providers, as well as the Pennsylvania Chiropractic Association ("PCA"), the New York Chiropractic Council (the "Council"), and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors ("ANJC")....
CMS releases new ICD-10 fact sheet - September 28, 2009
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have released a new fact sheet outlining the World Health Organization's International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM/PCS)....
A Hospital Hand-Washing Project to Save Lives and Money - September 28, 2009
While President Obama deals with the big picture, the chief hospital accrediting agency is turning its attention to what should be the most mundane of details: persuading health care workers to wash their hands....
Unfair labor practices charge dropped against hospital - September 28, 2009
A second charge of unfair labor practices against Boulder City Hospital has been dropped, but a union vote among its 300 nurses, housekeepers and other workers appears to be on hold while previous charges are appealed to the National Labor Relations Board in Washington....
Analysis: Obama speech to Congress unlikely to be game changer - September 28, 2009
The big question of the night was how Obama was going to address the public health insurance option, but he largely repeated what he has said for weeks: He supports it, but will sign a bill that does not have it....
Home health care firm owner sentenced in MA fraud case - September 28, 2009
The owner of a Braham-based home health care business will be required to pay $30,000 restitution as part of her Sept. 3 sentence for Medical Assistance (MA) fraud and can no longer be employed anywhere MA funds are received....
Federal Procurement Fraud Claims Likely to Rise - September 28, 2009
In this type of distressed economic situation, it is more important now than ever before for businesses to ensure they have effective and efficient corporate compliance procedures in place to protect themselves from federal procurement fraud claims....
Thousands Of Patients Affected By Hospital Burglary - September 28, 2009
Kern Medical Center Sends Out Notices To 30,000 Patients....
A Different Approach to Healthcare Reform - September 28, 2009
The only hope for effective reform in this irrational environment is to change the healthcare system incrementally with easy, uncontroversial solutions, identified and solved quickly....
Medicaid Fraud Unit increases its efforts - September 28, 2009
Wyoming's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit is looking for more business. But the agency cannot go shopping for cases of fraudulent Medicaid claims and instead must depend on outside referrals....
West Palm doctor takes practice on the road - September 27, 2009
Sales rep Nick Monacky is going to the chiropractor in a most unusual place: a Winnebago....
Chiropractor files another PPO class action in St. Clair County - September 27, 2009
A putative class action lawsuit has been filed against an insurance company that allegedly benefited from preferred provider discounts without referring patients to doctors....
Audit: Expenditure controls inadequate in Va. program for disabled children - September 27, 2009
A state program for disabled children has inadequate internal controls over millions of dollars in benefit expenditures, according to an audit released yesterday....
Children's Rehabilitation Services helps kids with various diseases - September 27, 2009
Chelsea has cystic fibrosis, and her health depends on help from others. A piece of equipment that helps keep mucus in her lungs loosened is just one of the things provided to her through the Children's Rehabilitation Service, a division of the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services....
Payment Reduction Policy For 'Efficiencies' Could Limit Patient Access To Care, Says APTA - September 27, 2009
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging against the adoption of payment policies outlined in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report1 released Monday that recommends the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reduce Medicare payments for physical therapists and other health care providers who perform multiple procedures on the same patient on the same day....
Blue Cross sleuth says health care fraud is increasing - September 27, 2009
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Greg Anderson, vice president of corporate and financial investigations, has been tracking down health insurance fraud for more than 27 years....
Expanded team gets tougher on health care cheats - September 27, 2009
It is well known that Michigan and metro Detroit have a great national reputation for health care quality and innovation. Many top providers - including the University of Michigan Health System and Henry Ford Medical Group - are based in the state....
Underutilized therapy can relieve pain, increase range of motion - September 23, 2009
Muscle Energy is a practice that employs muscle stretches and contractions to adjust body alignment....
Hillsborough physical therapist keeps patients calm, comfortable - September 23, 2009
Dr. Corinne Sicola, a township-based physical therapist, wants patients to focus on rebuilding balance throughout their bodies -- instead of pain....
Managing pain - September 23, 2009
A new understanding of how chronic pain differs from acute is paving the way for alternative therapies....
Nursing home worker claims she was fired after reporting abuse - September 23, 2009
An East St. Louis woman says she was fired from her job at a nursing home after persistently reporting a fellow employee's abuse of patients....
Tom C. Maynor Rehabilitation Center awarded three-year CARF accreditation - September 23, 2009
CARF International announced that Tom C. Maynor Rehabilitation Center at Riley Hospital has been accredited for a period of three years for its rehabilitation programs....
State fines Mercy San Juan hospital - September 23, 2009
Mercy San Juan Medical Center in Carmichael is one of 12 state hospitals recently hit with administrative penalties from the California Department of Public Health, state officials said today....
Health Reform and a Strong Medicare Program - September 23, 2009
The time to strengthen Medicare is now -- the question is, will Congress have the courage to do it right?...
Adult day care worker sentenced for role in Medicare, Medicaid fraud plot - September 23, 2009
The manager of a Harlingen adult day care center was sentenced Wednesday to two years of government supervision for illegally referring patients to a corrupt doctor in exchange for bribes....
State assesses administrative penalties to county's hospitals - September 23, 2009
The state Department of Public Health said Thursday that it is assessing administrative penalties against 12 hospitals around the state – including Lake County's two hospital facilities – for noncompliance with licensure requirements....
Practical Documentation: Is your routine visit documentation D-A-I-L-Y? - September 23, 2009
By spending this extra time at the front end of each case, you provided the roadmap of necessity for your treatment plan. Once complete, you must continue the roadmap throughout your patient's routine follow-up visits....
CIGNA Responds to ACA, Clarifies Documentation Policy - September 23, 2009
In July, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) notified its members about CIGNA's new supporting documentation requirements for certain services reported with the -25 and -59 modifiers....
Federal Study on Power Wheelchair Costs in Medicare Is Misleading and Ignores Costs of Required Services for Beneficiaries - September 23, 2009
In a study released yesterday, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) ignored the substantial costs of services related to providing power wheelchairs, including complex rehab, to seniors and people with disabilities who require mobility assistance....
Reform would gut home health care - September 23, 2009
In a cost-efficient move, Medicare pays for home health care to keep patients out of hospitals - a program combining efficiency with compassion. But if President Barack Obama and Congress have their way, Cox and many of the other 3.2 million other Medicare patients who utilize home health care benefits could be cut off next year....
Health care: A broken system - September 23, 2009
Across the country, the debate surrounding health care reform has evoked an array of emotions, from anger and frustration to hope and optimism, and has captured the attention of people from all walks of life....
Motorized scooters frequently part of Medicare fraud cases - September 22, 2009
Wheelchairs and motorized scooters have become big business in the world of Medicare fraud....
Use of Interim Compliance Officers Meets Need for Internal Reviews and Buys Time in a Transition - September 22, 2009
Hospitals and physician practices are increasingly hiring interim compliance officers (COs) for periods of six to 18 months. Usually they are lawyers or consultants hired to satisfy the sometimes overlapping needs of providers....
Medicare RAC Audit Preparation Identifies and Corrects Errors, Saving Thousands - September 21, 2009
Payment Automation Network, Inc. announced the launch of a new service for physicians, home health agencies, hospitals and durable medical equipment providers in preparation for the upcoming Medicare audit by the RACs....
3 Nashville-area hospitals join program to audit patient care, costs - September 21, 2009
At three Nashville-area hospitals under Saint Thomas Health Services, patients are being evaluated more closely to make sure that they get the right treatment plan and to determine if an overnight stay is necessary....
Hospital Corporation of America Joins Practice Greenhealth - September 21, 2009
Hospital Corporation of America, (HCA), which is composed of locally managed healthcare facilities that include 163 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England, has joined Practice Greenhealth, the nation's leading group for organizations in the healthcare community that have made a commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices. ...
Pfizer Concludes Previously Disclosed Settlement Agreement With U.S. Department Of Justice Regarding Past Promotional Practices - September 21, 2009
Pfizer Inc today announced that it has finalized a previously reported agreement in principle with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle an investigation regarding past off-label promotional practices related to Bextra, which Pfizer voluntarily withdrew from the market in 2005....
Two Lehigh Valley Healthcare Leaders Collaborate to Deliver Safer, High-Quality Care to the Community - September 21, 2009
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network Improves Safety and Medication Accuracy with B. Braun Medical Inc.'s Industry-Leading, Safety Infusion 'Smart Pumps'...
Rehab institute earns accreditation - September 21, 2009
The Orlando Health Rehabilitation Institute has received a three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities for each of its 13 programs....
AAMC revamps cardio rehabilitation program - September 21, 2009
A rehabilitation program at Anne Arundel Medical Center has been so busy that the staff was forced to make some changes to accommodate everyone....
Mundelein chiropractor sued for insurance fraud - September 20, 2009
A Mundelein chiropractor is being sued in a federal court for insurance fraud Tuesday after he allegedly overbilled an insurance company more than $300,000 for services he never performed....
Chiropractor concentrates on health as whole - September 20, 2009
In my practice, I focus on the person's health as a whole. I evaluate each person as to structural, physiological and emotional imbalances....
Medical costs per claim decline after comp reforms, researchers say - September 20, 2009
Medical costs per workers' compensation claim in Texas have declined significantly over a relatively short period after a series of legislative reforms, according to a recent study. However, according to the report, Texas still has higher costs and utilization than many other states for some types of medical care....
Raleigh couple accused of Medicare fraud - September 20, 2009
A Raleigh couple is under federal investigation for allegedly pocketing nearly $13 million since 2007 from false Medicare claims for motorized scooters, powered wheelchairs and other medical equipment....
Young Mother Dies After Missing Dialysis Treatment - September 20, 2009
Dr. H, 52, had been a nephrologist for more than 20 years. He shared a practice with several other physicians and had a steady flow of patients, many of whom came regularly for dialysis treatments....
GT Alert: New Provision in Medicare Program Integrity Manual is Effective on September 8 - September 20, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a new manual provision that will severely restrict the use of consignment closets in physician offices by suppliers of durable medical equipment, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS)....
Time to bring sanity to health care debate - September 20, 2009
As we watch the unfolding health care debate, I'm reminded of the ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times." ...
Study Says Privacy Rule Costs Underestimated and Questions to Ask Your Vendor About HIPAA - September 20, 2009
The final privacy rules for hospitals and health systems could cost $22.5 billion over five years -- far exceeding original government projections, according to research prepared by First Consulting Group for the American Hospital Association (AHA)....
APTA And The Foundation For Physical Therapy Announce New Foundation Bylaws - September 20, 2009
The Foundation for Physical Therapy (the Foundation) and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) are pleased to announce a change in the governance structure for the Foundation. The new Foundation bylaws, taking effect January 1, 2010, clarify the relationship with APTA....
Claims Auditor Solution from Compliance 360 Chosen by More Than 200 Hospitals - September 20, 2009
Increasing Financial Threats from Medicare and Medicaid Recovery Audits Drives Rapid Adoption of Industry-Leading Solution for Defending Legitimate Revenues....
State physical therapy board chief resigns - September 20, 2009
The state Board of Physical Therapy's chief administrator and an office assistant have resigned amid an investigation into a $475,000 phone bill charged to the agency by a Taiwanese scammer....
Sports performance and medicine center kicks off - September 20, 2009
The Physical Performance Center at Gaston Rehab and Associates has combined sports performance training with sports medicine in an effort to condition athletes while keeping them injury free....
More people turn to massage therapy to beat stress from economy - September 20, 2009
During this tough economy more people are turning to massage therapists for help, Smith said. "There hasn't been an economic downtown for me," Smith said. "I have picked up people who are seeking relief from stress."...
Phys Ed: An Easy Fix for Tennis Elbow? - September 20, 2009
Huddling a while back to brainstorm about inexpensive methods for combating the injury, the scientists glanced around their offices and noticed a homely, low-tech rubber bar, about 8 inches long, which, at the time, was being used for general physical therapy programs....
Canes, walkers and wheelchairs: Making the right choice - September 20, 2009
It's human nature: We love to get up and move on our own. And we hate it when, for any reason, that freedom and ability are limited. That's why a senior family member may see a wheelchair, walker or cane as a mixed blessing....
VA Compensation will be Paid for Medical Notification Error - September 19, 2009
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has promised to compensate veterans who were mistakenly notified that they have Lou Gehrig's disease due to a VA medical mistake acknowledged earlier this week. ...
How and When to Assign V Codes
There are different guidelines for inpatient vs. outpatient coding - September 19, 2009
V codes identify circumstances for encounter related to circumstances other than a disease or injury and are also used to report problems or factors that may influence present or future care. Appropriate V code assignment is extremely important in terms of reporting, medical necessity and avoiding inaccurate denials....
Vets Wrongly Told They Have Fatal Disease - September 19, 2009
Letters were sent to 1,864 veterans about disability benefits for those with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, and a "small number" have contacted the VA indicating they received the letters in error, VA spokeswoman Katie Roberts said Monday night....
Action taken against chiropractor in Phoenix steroid case - September 18, 2009
State investigators are trying desperately to obtain hidden camera video of a local chiropractor accused of illegally selling anabolic steroids at two clinics in Phoenix and Peoria....
Missouri Fines United Healthcare Over Chiropractor Claims Handling - September 18, 2009
Under a settlement with the Missouri Department of Insurance, United Healthcare has agreed to reexamine at least 50,000 claims filed by chiropractors who treated the company's policyholders....
Lebanon chiropractor offers high-tech healing - September 18, 2009
One of Serra's newest tools is a digital infrared system that maps the spine, showing red-hot spots where stress exists. As stress and pain are relieved, the colors on the map change from red to green....
Negligence Suits Likely Over VA Procedures - September 18, 2009
A problem with sterilization practices at a VA facility in Tennessee was discovered in December, and the department has notified more than 11,000 veterans who had endoscopic procedures at three of its facilities that they may have been exposed to cross-contamination. ...
Phony patients facing charges - September 18, 2009
Hospital patients who gave false names were once merely a headache for hospital administrators. Now, those who are discovered are likely to face criminal charges....
Why the Health Care Debate Is So Explosive - September 18, 2009
Every time the issue comes up (and it has come up often - 1946, 1949, 1962, 1964-5, 1974, 1979, 1991-4 and 2009), the rhetoric runs long, loud, and hysterical. Why so hot? Because big health reforms always plays out on three different levels - every one one of them a killer....
Detroit Area Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty to Causing More Than $1.6 Million in Fraudulent Medicare Billing - September 18, 2009
Detroit area physical therapist Jay Jha, 45, pleaded guilty today to participating in a conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program of approximately $18.3 million....
GeckoSystems Expects New Medicare/Medicaid Payments to Increase Personal Robot Demand - September 18, 2009
GeckoSystems Intl. Corp. (PINKSHEETS: GCKO) announced today that the new Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes recently approved, for physicians only, will further enhance the cost/benefit ratios of personal companion robots for family care....
Versa Card, Inc. Opens First Treatment Center for Spine Pain Management, Inc. - September 18, 2009
Versa Card, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: IGLB), doing business as "Spine Pain Management, Inc." (the "Company"), has entered into a Medical Services Agreement with Northshore Orthopedics, Assoc. ("NSO") to open its first spine injury treatment center in Houston, Texas....
Waterloo hospital pays feds $4.5 million - September 18, 2009
A Waterloo hospital has agreed to pay $4.5 million to the federal government to settle allegations that it overpaid physicians in an illegal scheme to boost its business....
Reform: Contrasting views from the medical field - September 18, 2009
The legislation would change our nation's medical care system in dramatic ways. And, I believe, the cost would be enormous and the purported benefits are suspect....
Operators of Assisted Living Facilities Charged - September 18, 2009
A trio from Jacksonville is busted for operating illegal assisted living facilities....
Two women fined thousands for Colorado Medicaid wheelchair fraud - September 18, 2009
Two employees of wheelchair companies have been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in restitution for running Medicaid fraud scams....
Appleton chiropractor Keith J. Oudenhoven accused of touching patient inappropriately - September 18, 2009
An Appleton chiropractor has been charged in Outagamie County with sexually assaulting a female patient....
DIY dialysis: Home treatment returns kidney disease patients to active lives - September 17, 2009
The NxStage System One, a product from a Massachusetts-based firm that received Food and Drug Administration approval four years ago, is part of a new wave of technological advances benefiting victims of end-stage renal disease....
Dialysis treatment in USA: High costs, high death rates - September 17, 2009
Although the USA spends more per dialysis patient than other countries, that does not result in higher survival rates or even, many argue, a better quality of life....
NY Chiropractor Scammed Insurance Companies - September 17, 2009
A New York chiropractor has admitted engaging in a scheme to defraud insurance companies of more than $750,000 by billing for medical services that were not performed....
Iowa County Chiropractor Suspended - September 17, 2009
The Chiropractic Examining Board (CEB) has ordered a one year suspension of the license of Judith Yager of Cobb Wisconsin....
How much will covering health care for illegals cost? Rampant Medicaid fraud gives an indication - September 17, 2009
The fact is that is impossible to know exactly how many illegals are in the country. But with the prospect of universal health care on the horizon the question begs to be asked, how much would covering illegal immigrants under such a plan cost the American taxpayer?...
American Hospital Association endorses smart card product - September 17, 2009
The American Hospital Association, through its subsidiary AHA Solutions Inc., has announced its endorsement of EXTENSION HealthID....
How We Can Afford Health Care Reform - September 17, 2009
"How are we going to pay for health care reform in this terrible economic environment," followed by the warning that our children and grandchildren will be taxed to the gills because of the Boomers, is a legitimate question being asked by those opposed to health care reform....
Health plan examines payments - September 17, 2009
Officials say some hospitals did not notify them of rate changes and may have been overpaid....
Hospital Checklists Need a Reality Check, According to Penn Collaborative Study - September 17, 2009
A team of sociologists and health-care researchers is calling for greater understanding of how hospital and medical checklists can be used to improve patient safety....
Cleveland hospital warned about corruption - September 17, 2009
Officials at the city's public hospital were warned five years ago about problems with construction contracts approved by a former executive accused of taking more than $600,000 in bribes, a newspaper reported Sunday....
Hot Button - September 17, 2009
If Washington wants to lower the costs of health care it should start cracking down on scammers bilking the system, argues former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and other conservatives in a timely new book....
McAllen cardiologist sentenced to prison for Medicare, Medicaid fraud - September 17, 2009
A former cardiologist who confessed to bilking Medicare and Medicaid out of nearly $1 million was sentenced Thursday to four years and nine months in prison....
Crackdown on workers' comp billing fraud is dealt a setback - September 17, 2009
California's powerful insurance lobby has quietly scuttled an effort to combat fraudulent medical billing that drains hundreds of millions of dollars from the state's workers' compensation insurance system....
Medicare pay for services by nonphysicians comes under scrutiny - September 17, 2009
OIG finds the "incident to" rule is allowing care to be provided by nonphysicians who lack the necessary qualifications....
Springfield, VA Chiropractor, Dr. Todd P. Sullivan Offers A New Solution for Chronic Pain Sufferers - September 17, 2009
From chronic neck and back pain to car accidents, carpal tunnel syndrome and sciatica, NOVA Chiropractic & Wellness and Dr. Todd P. Sullivan have helped thousands of local residents recover from injuries with a new state of the art soft tissue treatment called Graston Technique....
Physical therapy agency chief hired husband as maintenance worker - September 17, 2009
Two years before the West Virginia Board of Physical Therapy got stuck with a $475,000 phone bill after a Taiwanese scammer stole the board's conference call access code, the agency's chief administrator was cited for hiring her husband as a part-time maintenance worker. ...
Steps to Health: Some yoga can strengthen bones - September 16, 2009
A pilot study published in the current issue of the journal Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation suggests a short daily yoga routine can build bone mineral density, preventing or treating osteopenia and osteoporosis....
The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) to Hold Annual National Institute - September 14, 2009
The American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management (AAHAM) www.aaham.org , will hold its Annual National Institute (ANI) , "The Future of Healthcare in a Changing Economy, Everything New Under the Sun", October 14-16, 2009 in Scottsdale, Arizona at the Fairmont Princess Resort & Spa....
Data From HHS Office of Inspector General Reveal Excessive Billing for Services Performed by Unqualified Nonphysicians - September 14, 2009
For the first time, the HHS Office of Inspector General has determined that a significant number of services billed by certain physicians are performed by unqualified nonphysicians....
AAPC Teaches Advanced E/M Coding and Auditor Techniques Workshop - September 14, 2009
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) is hosting the Advanced E/M Coding and Auditor Techniques workshop in 65 cities across the country in October. This workshop is a "must attend" for health care professionals looking to improve their E/M auditing and coding skills....
In the Absence of Specifics, 'Public Option' Looms Large - September 14, 2009
It is now clear that the Obama administration did not intend to spark a firestorm of criticism over the public option. A team noted for its discipline during the campaign found itself unexpectedly on the defensive this week trying to explain the inexplicable....
Compirion Hosts Free Webinar on Achieving JCAHO-Compliant Quality Outcomes - September 14, 2009
A webinar on JCAHO Emergency Department Core Measures: Achieving Successful Quality Outcomes is being presented by Compirion Healthcare Solutions to aid Hospital Emergency Departments in instituting treatment standards as defined by the Joint Commission, for AMI, CHA and CAP patients....
New York fines one limited benefit plan, reviewing others - September 14, 2009
New York officials are examining the marketing practices of companies selling limited benefit health insurance plans in the state, after fining one company $700,000 for violations of state insurance law....
California Attorney General Arrests Individuals for Medicare Fraud and Rip-off - September 13, 2009
Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced that agents from his office late last night arrested two individuals who bilked Medicare out of $678,000 by submitting phony bills for walkers, wheelchairs, diabetic shoes and even body braces and canes, using the proceeds for luxury goods including a gold-colored Hummer H200....
Brooks Opens New Center for Back & Neck Health - September 13, 2009
Brooks Rehabilitation's newest specialty clinic, the Brooks Center for Back & Neck Health, offers patients advanced treatments for both acute and chronic conditions of the spine, including whiplash, lumbar stenosis, cervical or lumbar radiculopathy, cervical or lumbar instability, sciatica, TMJ, osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and more....
Breakthrough Gait Therapy for Medicare Neurological Patients in Brooklyn, N.Y. - September 13, 2009
Physical therapy clinic in Brooklyn, N.Y. is offering Parkinson's disease and other movement disorder patients breakthrough gait treatment....
The dweller Academy of Professional Coders Revamps Payer Coding Credential - September 12, 2009
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC, www.aapc.com) has released an updated, revamped version of its Certified Professional Coder–Payer® (CPC-P®) medical coding credential. ...
Houston Chiropractor Practice 1960 West Chiropractic Sees Increases in Neck and Back Tension Due to Stress - September 12, 2009
Houston chiropractor Dr. Karen Thomason of 1960 West Chiropractic has noted an increase in patients experiencing headaches as well as neck and back pain. ...
Metro chiropractor gets jail for tax fraud - September 12, 2009
Cumming, Ga., Chiropractor Michael J. Falite was sentenced Tuesday to two years in federal prison on charges of filing a false tax return....
What is a chiropractor? An interview with Dr. John H. Park - September 12, 2009
Dr. John H. Park is the founder of Progressive Spinal and Sports Rehabilitation, P.C. Below is an interview about chiropractic care as well as integrative therapies....
Care goes beyond back aches, is known to help headaches, other pains, too - September 12, 2009
Chiropractors are known for treating back and neck pain by manipulating the spine through adjustments. However, some practitioners also advertise that frequent and regular visits can help with ailments such as sinus problems, acid reflux, hypertension, even fertility....
Auditors warn Utah Medicaid is likely wasting millions of taxpayer dollars - September 12, 2009
Millions of tax dollars are likely being wasted in Utah's Medicaid program on procedures -- including a breast augmentation and nose jobs -- that aren't covered by the government insurance program, according to a scathing legislative audit released Tuesday. ...
Former Lansing-area chiropractor pleads guilty to fraud - September 12, 2009
A chiropractor who once was an owner of the Greater Lansing Chiropractic Center has pleaded guilty to billing an insurance company for services he did not provide, officials said. ...
Durable Medical Equipment Company Owner Convicted in Medicare Fraud Scheme - September 12, 2009
According to the Indictment and evidence admitted at trial, defendant Ortiz controlled and operated Daky Medical Supply, Corp. ("Daky Medical"), located in Miami, FL. Daky Medical purportedly provided durable medical equipment to Medicare beneficiaries....
Physical therapist focuses on women's health - September 12, 2009
With core-strengthening exercises and weekly massages, Mills was able to reduce Brooks' hip pain during her pregnancy as well as lessen her postpartum recovery time....
Lewes man reclaims his life after disabling accident - September 12, 2009
Gordon Boslet was moving his lawn furniture in June 2008, as a storm approached and one of those freak accidents happened - the kind of accident that changes one's life forever....
APTA Calls For CMS and Congressional Action to Prohibit Unqualified Personnel From Providing Physical Therapy Services - September 12, 2009
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is calling on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Congress to act to prevent unqualified personnel from providing physical therapy services....
Discussing Experiences, Treatments May Help Chronic Pelvic Pain - September 12, 2009
It is a pain that many people will never tell you they have. And, if not treated it can lead to a life of suffering and countless doctor and therapist visits....
Stop the Medicare scams
Medicare must cut payments for fake diabetic treatments - September 12, 2009
This particular scheme involves home visits to inject insulin for elderly patients with diabetes -- a rare service in most of the nation....
An American Universal Health Care System - September 12, 2009
Real health care reform is a complex issue; therefore it's not possible to cover every aspect of universal health care or reform of the current system in this short article. However we will cover as much ground with the limited space available....
Over One-Third of Centers Operated by Skilled Healthcare Group Subsidiaries Win AHCA/NCAL National Quality Awards in First Year of Application - September 10, 2009
Thirty-seven skilled nursing and assisted living centers which are operated by subsidiaries of Skilled Healthcare Group have earned the prestigious 2009 Step 1 National Quality Award from the American Health Care Association and the National Center For Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) in recognition of the centers' strong commitment to continuous quality improvement....
Research and Markets: Rehabilitation Therapy Practices - September 10, 2009
Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Rehabilitation Therapy Practices" report to their offering....
Assault charges against Bath chiropractor John Marino are withdrawn - September 10, 2009
Northampton County prosecutors today dropped indecent assault and harassment charges against Bath chiropractor....
Mandeville Chiropractor Loses Weight Fast and Keeps It Off, and You Can Too - September 10, 2009
St Tammany Chiropractic Specialist to share how he lost 115lbs in only 200 days and continues to maintain 5 years later, and help the Covington Food Bank in the Process....
Obamacare Sets Up a Health Dictatorship - September 10, 2009
A healthcare system so devilishly complex, run by the same government that owns and operates the public schools, the Post Office, Amtrak, and other notoriously inefficient public enterprises, is guaranteed to be a disaster for the American people....
Promises of Better Care Baffle Hawai'i's Elderly and Disabled - September 10, 2009
Concerns continue to plague state's switch to HMO plans to manage Medicaid benefits for the blind and elderly. "There's a lot of frustration, confusion, nobody responding to your calls." ...
Chiropractors Focus on Patients' Best Interest - September 10, 2009
The Minnesota Chiropractic Association (MCA) and its members operate with the best interest of patients as a key focal point. We do not in anyway condone the actions relating to the alleged misconduct and credit card fraud recently announced in the news....
Lessons from Europe – Part One Universal Health Care - September 10, 2009
Another knock your socks off expose' regarding the proposed movement across America to exchange Democracy for Socialism. Beware wolves in sheep's clothing. ...
The Promised Land of Government Controlled Health Care - September 10, 2009
Evangelical Left activist Jim Wallis of Sojourners is rallying liberal wayfarers for the Promised Land of government-controlled health care, announcing his "40 Days for Health Reform" crusade during an August 10 media conference call....
Attorney General files lawsuit against Lakeville chiropractor - September 10, 2009
Attorney General Lori Swanson and the Minnesota Board of Chiropractic Examiners filed a lawsuit today (Wednesday, Aug. 12) in Dakota County District Court against a Lakeville chiropractor alleging his clinic enrolled patients in medical credit cards without permission and wrongfully placed charges on the cards....
Medical errors ignored 10 years - September 10, 2009
Long-term research and studies are meaningless if the findings are casually tossed aside and ignored....
Covenant to halt kidney transplant program
Patients to be transferred to other Lubbock facility - September 9, 2009
The provider of more than half of all kidney transplants in the Texas Panhandle and South Plains will soon be sending its patients elsewhere....
Symptom Codes and OASIS Info - September 9, 2009
There are still lots of discussion on whether to use 781.2 abnormality of gait, 728.87 muscle weakness, or 780.79, malaise and fatigue....
Surge in Hospital Employment of Physicians Means Greater Compliance Risks - September 9, 2009
A revolution in health care relationships is underway, with a big upswing in hospital employment of physicians, and compliance considerations are at the heart of it....
Partnering with HIMers to Ensure ICD-10 Implementation Success - September 9, 2009
A strong revenue cycle in 2013 is dependent on a successful transition to ICD-10 and how well health information executives (HIEs) and health information management professionals (HIMPs) partner to lead that transition....
Lakeville Chiropractor Sued For Predatory Lending - September 8, 2009
A chiropractor in the south metro is accused of aggressively enrolling patients for a medical credit card and signing them up without their knowledge....
ACOM Health Announces $50,000 Ultimate Chiropractic Practice Makeover Contest; Debuts at FCA National Convention & Expo August 27 - September 8, 2009
ACOM Health, developer and marketer of ACOM Health Documentation and Practice Management chiropractic software solutions and Chiropractic Consulting services for practice success, today announced its "Ultimate Practice Makeover" contest, in which the winning chiropractor will receive an exceptional package of software and consulting services creating an "office of the future"....
Covenant: No more kidney transplants - September 8, 2009
The provider of more than half of all local kidney transplants will soon be sending its patients elsewhere. The Covenant Health System will discontinue its renal transplant program in mid-August....
Diabetes Patients May Have Wrong Idea About Taking Insulin: Should be Front-Line Defense - September 8, 2009
Common fears of weight gain, developing low blood-sugar, decline in quality of life are largely unfounded, researchers find....
Career Step Announces New Career Training Program for Medical Coding Field - September 8, 2009
Career Step has announced the launch of a new program that will expand the career options of professionals and students in the medical coding field with training in inpatient medical coding. ...
Best in Class: Why Tenet Is the Healthiest Play in Hospitals - September 8, 2009
As a part of President Obama's larger agenda to remake health care in the U.S., hospitals agreed to contribute some $155 billion in Medicare and Medicaid savings over the next 10 years....
National Pharmacy Omnicare Pays 'Unusual' Settlement to Resolve Charges of Generic Drug Switching in Algonquin Nursing Homes, Resulting From 'Qui Tam' - September 8, 2009
Omnicare, Inc., which calls itself "the nation's leading provider of pharmaceutical care for seniors," paid $283,000 to settle Medicaid fraud charges by the State of Delaware. Delaware alleged that the pharmacy had committed Medicaid fraud by illegally switching the drugs of senior citizens in nursing homes and other facilities....
State board gets stuck with $475,000 phone bill - September 8, 2009
The state Board of Physical Therapy got stuck with a $475,000 phone bill after someone in Taiwan went online and stole an agency conference call access code that was posted on the Secretary of State's Web site, state officials confirmed Monday....
What is a chiropractor: Interview with Dr. Michaella Walter - September 8, 2009
Chiropractors remove subluxations from the spine which cause interference to the nervous system. By allowing the nervous system to function as it should all of the tissues and organs of the body can function properly....
How to prepare for your next Medicare audit - September 8, 2009
With potential changes coming in Medicare, there are important things that skilled nursing facilities need to do to prepare themselves. It is not just about prevailing through an audit-it is about improving patient care and improving outcomes....
Technology enlisted to reduce errors
Scanning systems are said to work well, but are not universally used - September 8, 2009
Both of these systems were designed to fix the two places where medication errors commonly occur in a hospital -- the doctor's prescription pad and the nurse's morning medication rounds. Some research suggests that hospitals using both systems could catch most medication errors....
Health Care Reform Legislation: A 1,000 Page Complete Disaster - September 8, 2009
As a physician, I feel obligated to comment on health care reform, as well as the current health care bill in Congress. Unlike other areas of the political arena, this is an area where I'm straddling the fence-at least on the pending legislation....
Settlement in fraud case against Shelby County couple is $1.44 million and prison time - September 8, 2009
A 2008 federal investigation sparked by a whistleblower complaint led to a $1.44 million civil settlement against a Shelby county couple in a Medicare fraud case, U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance announced late Friday....
Carolinas HealthCare adds four S.C. hospitals - September 5, 2009
Carolinas HealthCare System has added four S.C. hospitals to its network....
SunBridge Healthcare Centers Recognized Nationally for Continuous Quality Improvement - September 5, 2009
Ten skilled nursing centers operated by SunBridge Healthcare Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sun Healthcare Group, Inc., have earned the prestigious 2009 Step 1 Quality Award for demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous quality improvement by the American Health Care Association and the National Center For Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL)....
Build a better practice - September 5, 2009
You most likely became a chiropractor to help people; not to crunch numbers or lead marketing efforts. But running an efficient practice not only helps you make a living, it frees you up to treat patients - which ultimately leads to success....
Wyoming chiropractor sentenced to jail for fondling patients; judge likens man's office with basement bar to 'Animal House' - September 5, 2009
In the first of a pair of sentencing hearings for a Wyoming chiropractor accused of fondling female clients, Gregory Alan Freeman will spend nine months in the Kent County Jail....
The Nursing Home Complaint Center Wants To Talk With Law Firms In California, Florida and Texas That Have A Passion For Elder Abuse - September 5, 2009
The Nursing Home Complaint Center was created by one of the nation's leading advocacy groups in order to educate the average US citizen about elder abuse, especially when it comes to our nation's nursing homes, and at the same time help victims or their families find high quality law firms in the top 100 US metro areas, to assist the victim or the family ascertain if there might be an elder abuse issue....
Therapy focuses on injuries that can strike golfers - September 5, 2009
Marti Kunishima, a physical therapist at Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center in Pomona, specializes in finding the causes of injuries like Washington's, helping them heal, and preventing them from happening again....
Will a Public Option Hurt Insurance Company Profits? - September 5, 2009
The public debate over health-care reform has been dominated in recent days by the issue of the so-called "public option" -- namely whether the government should offer an insurance plan that competes with those offered by private insurers....
Health care fraud widespread -- in public and private sectors - September 5, 2009
Health care entities have been found responsible for 80% of fraud, as federal officials crack down on fraud as part of health system reform....
In-house Compliance Hotlines Can Provide a Wide Range of Assistance to Employees - September 5, 2009
Rather than outsourcing to a hotline vendor - a common practice in the health care industry - Carilion's compliance department takes its own calls and keeps the hotline (called "ComplyLine") open for all types of employee inquiries....
Florida Investigating Use of Health Insurance Databases Linked to Fraud - September 5, 2009
Florida insurance regulators are investigating health insurers' use of scandal-tarred databases used in billing for out-of-network medical care. ...
Healthcare Chronicles: Crime Doesn't Pay - It Gets Reimbursed - September 5, 2009
Health care fraud costs our society between $70 billion and $300 billion per year. The government is aware of the problem but evolutions in our government and social developments have shifted resources from one area of interest to another....
Chiropractic and Fascia - September 5, 2009
As most of you know, fascia is a component of pretty much all structures. The practice of Rolfing, or structural integration, is a popular form of bodywork and purports to be directed at balancing the fascial structures in the body, leading to optimal structural health....
Integrating Fitness Programs Into a Chiropractic Practice - September 5, 2009
Chiropractors continue to expand their practices by offering a wider variety of services. This can be driven by market forces and opportunities or the chiropractor's passion for certain services....
A medical doctor's view of chiropractic care - September 5, 2009
As both a chiropractor and medical doctor, Dr. Ralph Gay has an unusual perspective on the legendary rift between the two professions....
President Obama's VIP healthcare - September 2, 2009
The commander in chief and his family get free treatment from a staff of four doctors. White House physicians see their role as mirroring the Secret Service, to protect the chief executive....
Hospitals Risk False Claims Cases for Not Reporting Adverse Events - August 28, 2009
Adverse-event reporting is a hot topic on the state and federal level, and where reporting is required, failure can result in criminal or civil penalties and licensure problems. Now it turns out that the Department of Justice sees fertile grounds for False Claims Act cases in this area as well....
Physical therapist accused of assaulting patient - August 25, 2009
An Austin physical therapist has been accused of sexually assaulting a patient during an office visit....
Told he might be unable to walk, man soon may not need his wheelchair - August 25, 2009
After losing most of his mobility in 2008, Ernst's health care providers now say he is "amazing" and has made some of the quickest progress they have ever seen....
Consumers pay $34 billion for alternative medicine - August 25, 2009
mericans spend about $34 billion annually on alternative medicine, according to the first national estimate of such out-of-pocket spending in more than a decade....
Paralympian runners teach others who've lost legs to move forward - August 25, 2009
The Amputee Walking School, which also is sponsored by Michigan Orthopedic Services, is designed for everyone from young amputees who lost limbs because of violence or cancer to seniors who lost legs to diabetes....
Slow down on health reform - August 25, 2009
Reform is necessary, and has been for quite some time. However, the pace at which the Obama administration is racing toward a solution is of grave concern to us....
Medicaid fraud crackdown pays off - August 25, 2009
South Carolina recovered $4.4 million more in Medicaid fraud and abuse collections from health-care providers in fiscal 2009 than it did the year before....
Got a Splitting Headache? Moweaqua Chiropractor Dr. Brian Mcgregor is Using Chiropractic to Help Stop Headaches, Without the Use of Pain Killer. - August 25, 2009
According to the American Chiropractic Association, nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Dr. Brian McGregor, owner of Moweaqua Accident & Injury Center, is using chiropractic to successfully stop migraine headaches in hundreds of patients who previously had little help from traditional medicine....
Woman Accused Of Striking Elderly Patient - August 25, 2009
A Broward woman is charged with abuse on a nursing home resident who was under her care....
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operations Lead to Charges Against 32 Doctors and Health Care Executives for More Than $16 Million in Alleged False Billin - August 25, 2009
Thirty-two people have been indicted for schemes to submit more than $16 million in false Medicare claims in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Houston, Deputy Attorney General David W. Ogden and Deputy Secretary Bill Corr of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced today....
Healthcare Reform: Will Device Makers End Up in the Red or in the Pink? - August 25, 2009
Despite some concerns, execs say device sector should emerge from the legislative OR in good health....
Health Care and the Supply Chain: Ten Steps to Reduce the Cost of Health Care Right Now - August 25, 2009
While we wait to see what Washington will do for us or to us on the health care front there are a number of things that could be done right now to reduce the cost of health care....
Newt's six-point health-care reform - August 25, 2009
Barack Obama likes to accuse his critics on health-care reform of proposing nothing in opposition to ObamaCare. Newt Gingrich and Nancy Desmond run the Center for Health Transformation and have their own response, a six-point plan to reform health care and lower costs, without spending trillions of dollars to do it....
Lawmaker Says State Needs Background Checks For Nurses - August 25, 2009
A 7NEWS investigation has found a nurse accused of stealing medications from a Denver hospital lied on her nursing license application, and now a state lawmaker says the law should be changed....
State of Washington Awards Program Integrity Contract to Ingenix - August 23, 2009
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has awarded a $19 million, five-year contract to fight and prevent Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse to Ingenix, a leading information, technology and consulting services company....
CMS Moves to Ease Outpatient Compliance by Allowing Supervision by Non-Physicians - August 23, 2009
CMS's recently proposed changes to physician supervision requirements for outpatient services should allow hospitals to achieve compliance with less financial strain, lawyers and compliance officers agree....
Local chiropractor issued 'monitoring requirements' - August 22, 2009
Chiropractor Jason Ebelsheiser, 33, will continue to see patients, just not in the same way....
DJO Incorporated Announces Financial Results for Second Quarter 2009 - August 22, 2009
DJO Incorporated ("DJO" or the "Company") a global provider of medical devices that provide solutions for musculoskeletal health, vascular health and pain management, today announced financial results for its operating subsidiary, DJO Finance LLC ("DJOFL"), for the second quarter of 2009, ended June 27, 2009. ReAble Therapeutics, Inc. ("ReAble") acquired DJO Incorporated ("DJO Opco") in a transaction completed on November 20, 2007 (the "DJO Merger")....
Dozens arrested in Medicare fraud busts across US - August 22, 2009
Federal authorities arrested 30 people, including doctors, and were seeking others in a major Medicare fraud bust Wednesday in New York, Louisiana, Boston and Houston, targeting scams such as "arthritis kits" - expensive braces that many patients never used....
Group Of Alabama Physicians Opposes Government-Run Health Care - August 22, 2009
Around 43,000 doctors in several states are standing against President Barack Obama's government-run health care plan. Several hundred of those physicians are in North Alabama....
Association of NJ Chiropractors Brings Class Action Suit Against Aetna for Post Payment Audit Practices - August 22, 2009
The Association of New Jersey Chiropractors (ANJC), one of the largest chiropractic state associations in the nation, today announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Aetna seeking nationwide relief on behalf of chiropractors and other healthcare professionals....
Marijuana Reimbursement Claims Highlight How Pot Could Be Gold for Employers - August 22, 2009
A medical billing company may be blowing smoke, but could reimbursing patients for medical marijuana lower drug costs for employers?...
Physical Therapy Clinic Owner Charged in Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Case - August 22, 2009
The owner of City Nursing Services of Texas Inc., an alleged Houston physical therapy clinic, has been indicted for conspiring to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, mail fraud and money laundering arising from an alleged multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme....
New warrant issued for Southern Indiana chiropractor - August 21, 2009
A local chiropractor accused of raping and molesting a female family member and inappropriately touching four female patients is again a wanted man....
Chiropractor Charged With Abusing Patients - August 21, 2009
Oskaloosa police have arrested a chiropractor on sexual abuse charges....
Attorneys to ask Stack for initial approval in chiropractor's AIG class action settlement Tuesday - August 19, 2009
Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel Stack will be asked to grant preliminary approval to the settlement of a class action suit over improper Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) discounts Tuesday....
DiNapoli nails medical providers on billing - August 19, 2009
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli has found three medical providers have overbilled the state about $1.3 million. The firms, in Nanuet, Albany and Warrensburg provided routine physical therapy but charged them for the costlier TENS or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, according to audits....
Flushing-area chiropractor accused of $48,000 insurance scam involving teacher massages - August 19, 2009
Miguel M. Ruelan, 39, is accused of defrauding Blue Cross Blue Shield by giving massages to teachers and other patients whose insurance didn't cover the service then billing the insurance giant for medical procedures that were never performed....
Rehab Improves Attention Deficits in Stroke Survivors - August 19, 2009
A rehabilitation program for impaired attention was successful in patients who had suffered a stroke, a randomized trial showed....
President's Council Projects Growth For Physical Therapy Profession - August 19, 2009
The nation's aging population and expanded health care coverage will increase the demand for physical therapist (PT) services, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as a new federal report1 that presents a projection of potential developments in the US labor market over the next 5 to 10 years is released....
MossRehab Again Ranked among Nation's Top Rehabilitation Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report - August 19, 2009
For the 16th year, MossRehab, part of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network, has been recognized as one of the nation's leading rehabilitation facilities in the 2009-2010 U.S. News & World Report magazine survey of "America's Best Hospitals."...
Eliminate Pain In Only 4 Sessions? Seminar Teaches Physical and Massage Therapists Effective Rehabilitation Technique - August 19, 2009
The Active Myofascial Therapy association is hosting its first annual certification seminar in August 3-7, 2009 in San Francisco, California. A small group of physical and massage therapists from across the country will join the founder of the Active Myofascial Therapy technique, Irene Diamond, RT., to learn The Diamond Method™ in a 5 day comprehensive seminar....
Shelbourne Releases New Information on Knee Replacement - August 19, 2009
Research from the Shelbourne Knee Center shows most patients can avoid total knee replacement; most improve with rehabilitation and are able to avoid surgery....
Watertown whistleblower gets $10 million in Medicaid fraud suit against New York - August 19, 2009
A former Watertown woman will pocket $10 million in a record-breaking settlement of a Medicaid fraud whistleblower suit against the state and New York City, the Justice Department said today....
Chiropractors: How much can they really heal? - August 19, 2009
Chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain. But can their hands-on manipulations of the spine also help with colic, asthma, ear infections, allergies and digestive issues?...
First and Only Doctor on CT Shoreline to Receive Certification in Computerized Instrument Adjusting - August 19, 2009
Branford Chiropractor, Dr. William Lordan is exclusively certified for Impulse®. A special technique that incorporates the use of the hand-held Impulse Adjusting Instrument® for treatment of low back pain, sciatica, neck pain, headaches, and whiplash....
$Billions in Medicare/Medicaid lost to fraud, abuse - August 19, 2009
Missing from President Barack Obama's health care program pitch last night was the likelihood that increased government control will also mean increased fraud, corruption and abuse of the system. ...
SK&A Announces Database of Physicians with Hospital Affiliation - August 19, 2009
SK&A Information Services, a leading provider of healthcare information solutions and research, today announced the release of its Physicians with Hospital Affiliation list, bringing users access to physicians and the hospitals where they hold admission privileges....
What Americans Want for the Future of Health Care - August 18, 2009
Health care has taken center stage in Washington, and a new poll conducted by Zogby International and commissioned by S. Ward Casscells, MD, a public policy expert at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, gives unique insight into how Americans feel about this hot-button issue....
AAPC Hosts Medical Coding Conferences This Fall in Hawaii, Virginia - August 18, 2009
The AAPC is hosting two medical coding educational conferences this fall: Oahu, Hawaii, Sept. 10-12, and Norfolk, Va., Oct. 8-10. These conferences are ideal for medical coders and health care professionals....
Medicare: Penny Wise and Pound Foolish - August 18, 2009
OIG reports from 1986, 1998, 1999 and 2005 also allege that inappropriate payments were made for maintenance therapy and miscoded, improperly documented claims. The response from the chiropractic profession has been a sort of collective mea culpa. ...
New York State and New York City to Pay Record $540 Million to Settle Allegations of False Claims for Medicaid Funds - August 18, 2009
The state of New York and New York City have agreed to pay $540 million to settle allegations that they knowingly submitted, or caused to be submitted, false claims for reimbursement for school-based health care services, primarily speech therapy and transportation, provided to Medicaid eligible children from 1990 to 2001....
Reform Health Care Now: Special interest groups shouldn't call the shots - August 18, 2009
Of all the problems with the current health care system, perhaps the most insidious is that the system is fueled by special interest groups, whose chief concern is their own bottom line....
Obama Tries to Rally Lawmakers on Health-Care Legislation - August 18, 2009
President Obama urged Democrats today to overcome divisions to achieve health-care reform, asserting that he was "absolutely convinced" that legislation would reach his desk this year....
How physicians would attack health-care reform - August 18, 2009
Health-care insurance has been a constant struggle for Americans, especially for the 44 million individuals who don't have it. Now, as the government pushes for a national insurance option, the conundrum of exorbitant plans and care, insurance company fraud, and political unrest remains far from solved....
South Cerney chiropractor Nick Hall banned after affair with patient - August 18, 2009
A SOUTH Cerney chiropractor has been banned from practising after having an affair with a "vulnerable" patient....
Nursing homes face $78M Medicare cut - August 13, 2009
Florida nursing homes face a proposed $78.4 million cut in Medicare reimbursements, which may cause some facilities to close and/or shed nearly 2,000 jobs statewide....
Memorial Hermann Urology, Kidney Disease and Rehabilitation Programs Named Among Nation's Best by U.S. News & World Report - August 13, 2009
Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and TIRR Memorial Hermann have earned distinction as two of the nation's top hospitals in U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Hospitals" issue....
Florida Resident Sentenced on Health Care Fraud Charges - August 13, 2009
Geoffrey Ramseur, 52, of Rockledge, Florida (formerly of Northville, Michigan), was sentenced yesterday to 20 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $121,000.00 after having been convicted on health care fraud charges, announced United States Attorney Terrence Berg....
New Federal, State Laws Raise the Stakes When Dealing With Employees Who Snoop Into Patient Health Information - August 12, 2009
The law also requires CMS and the HHS Office for Civil Rights to investigate complaints where a preliminary inquiry shows that "willful neglect" is the cause. And the law raised the penalties the government can hand down....
Competition in the Health Care Marketplace - August 12, 2009
Congress is attempting to address in major health reform legislation the many problems in our health sector: Health insurance and health care still cost too much. As a result, tens of millions of Americans don't have health insurance, and many more are worried they are one pink slip away from losing their coverage....
Ads about free medical scooters often lack wheels - August 12, 2009
Used to, The Scooter Store guaranteed it was free. But after the federal government cracked down on the firm over its billing practices, including false promises about what Medicare or Medicaid would cover, the wording changed....
Six Are Charged in Medicaid Fraud Scheme - August 12, 2009
Six people have been charged with stealing more than $47 million from Medicaid in the past 10 years, accused of using an elaborate system of corporations to mask their involvement while collecting the funds in New York State, Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo's office announced in a news release on Thursday....
Wrong health reform will hurt economy - August 12, 2009
After the vice president admitted the administration had misread the economy, the president said administration officials, instead, had incomplete information - but yet they would not have done anything different in the too-slow stimulus. We need to prevent a recurrence of the stimulus mistake on health care....
KarenZupko & Associates, Inc. and ReachMD XM 160 Announce New Radio Programming Series, "Practice Success" hosted by Karen Zupko - August 12, 2009
A new medical practice management radio show, Practice Success, is now available on XM Satellite Radio Channel 160. This program is produced by KarenZupko & Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based medical practice management consulting and training firm, in partnership with ReachMD, a new media communications platform for medical professionals....
Local man sought in Medicaid fraud - August 11, 2009
Authorities are seeking a former nursing home employee they believe falsified patient records in order to get drugs for himself....
Physician Hospitals (PHA) Responds to TIME Magazine Article: Filled With 'Incorrect Assumption and Innuendo' - August 5, 2009
The TIME Magazine article "How Healthcare Reform Could Hurt Doctor-Owned Hospitals" (7/13/09) correctly states that physician owned hospitals would be hurt by pending health reform legislation; however, there is little else in the article that can pass as anything more than incorrect assumption and innuendo says Physician Hospitals of America (PHA)....
Use Metrics to Identify Documentation and Coding Errors - August 5, 2009
Unfortunately, many young physicians do not have a firm grasp on the rules and regulations surrounding coding and documentation. But before you set out to find a remedy, you need to identify and understand the problem....
Lifting the veil on hospital care
Federal and private Web sites offer quality and cost data - August 5, 2009
For consumers who want to know, there are now ways to compare cost estimates for surgeries. You can learn how often hospitals lose patients as customers, and how often they get them back after less than a month, because of complications and mistakes....
Billing dispute leaves naval families without therapy for children - August 4, 2009
A billing dispute between a military health benefits contractor and a rehabilitation services company has left scores of First Coast naval families scrambling to find new therapists for their children....
Ohio's lawmakers approve $51 billion budget - August 4, 2009
Instead of billing the government for services such as oxygen and physical and occupational therapy, medical equipment such as custom wheelchairs, over-the-counter medication and transportation, nursing homes will pay for the services out of the per diem increase....
Retail: A natural fit - August 4, 2009
Offering a selection of nutritional supplements can be a win-win for your patients and your practice....
Implement a compliance program - August 4, 2009
As chiropractors, most of the problems you see today arise from lack of compliance with federal and state law. Some problems are also from government and insurance payer requirements for billing, coding, and documentation....
Nursing aide charged with voyeurism for phone picture incident - August 4, 2009
State prosecutors charged a male nursing aide last week with voyeurism for allegedly taking a picture of an exposed patient at a Salt Lake rehabilitation center....
Final Version of House Bill Would Give Primary Care Docs a Pay Boost - August 4, 2009
The House of Representatives' final healthcare reform bill includes a number of new rewards for primary care physicians as part of its package for extending health insurance to nearly all Americans....
Medicaid problems swell in new system
Rollout delayed as private firm works on fixes - August 4, 2009
Indiana's nearly 2-year-old experiment with a privatized welfare system appears to be failing. The backlog of pending Medicaid applications has ballooned in counties where welfare is handled by private contractors. ...
Stolen Medicare cash may have been sent overseas - August 4, 2009
In a probable cause hearing Tuesday, Umawa Oke Imo, 54, of Nigeria was accused of operating a multimillion dollar health care fraud scheme at a physical therapy clinic at 9888 Bissonnet in Houston....
HBMA Forms ICD-10 Task Force - August 4, 2009
Healthcare Billing & Management Association and Other Organizations Will Work Toward Improving ICD-10 Planning, Outreach and Implementation....
20 arrested in Medi-Cal fraud targeting disabled patients - August 4, 2009
Twenty people were arrested this morning in a $4.6-million Medi-Cal fraud scheme that law enforcement officials allege used unlicensed individuals to provide in-home nursing care for disabled patients....
Fifty-Three Indicted in Health Care Fraud Investigation - August 4, 2009
Fifty-three people have been indicted for schemes to submit more than $50 million in false Medicare claims in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Detroit....
Why instrument adjusting? - August 3, 2009
Instrument adjusting has become one of the most commonly used techniques in today's chiropractic practice. It is second only to diversified-type manual spinal manipulation, according to the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners Survey of 2000....
Coding Questions: Medicare maintenance claims and the new ABN form - August 3, 2009
With the current Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) form, I have to submit claims for maintenance care even though it's not payable by Medicare if the patient checks "yes" to option No. 1. Does the new ABN form allow me to discontinue submitting claims to Medicare for maintenance care?...
Practical Documentation: 3 coding and documentation mistakes to avoid - August 3, 2009
You want what every doctor wants - an office that runs smoothly, high satisfaction for all employees, systems and procedures in place, no compliancy issues, and financial rewards for all your hard work....
Code Correctly - August 3, 2009
A hospitalist who scrutinizes claims might notice a payment denial related to "unbundling" issues. Line-item rejections might state the service is "mutually exclusive," "incidental to another procedure," or "payment was received as part of another service/procedure." Unbundling refers to the practice of reporting each component of a service or procedure instead of reporting the single, comprehensive code....
Physical Therapists Say Proper Fit and Use of Walkers and Canes Can Prevent Fall-Related Injuries in Elderly - July 30, 2009
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is urging elderly adults who use canes and walkers as walking aids to be properly assessed and fitted by a physical therapist to avoid fall-related injuries....
Physical therapist uses music in his practice - July 30, 2009
Physical therapy is often times a painful process. Music is relaxing, and relaxed patients tend to do better quicker....
As health data becomes available, patients can demand better care - July 29, 2009
For consumers who want to know, there are now ways to compare cost estimates for surgeries. You can learn how often hospitals lose patients, and how often they get them back after less than a month because of complications and mistakes....
Brooklyn Doctor Charged With Workers' Compensation Fraud - July 27, 2009
Federal prosecutors charged in an indictment Friday that a Brooklyn doctor defrauded workers' compensation insurers by seeking reimbursement for procedures he did not perform, including some that he said he had done in his office at times when he was actually in Latin America. ...
Court rejects physician challenge to change in self-referral rule - July 27, 2009
A federal trial court turned down a challenge brought by a group of physicians and physician-owned entities to a recent change in the federal self-referral rules that doctors worry could harm patient care....
Medicare fraud suspect from Miami-Dade flees country - July 26, 2009
Two Miami-Dade men were charged in one of the region's biggest Medicare fraud cases. One was arrested; the other fled the country....
Chiropractor charged with molesting, raping girl in Floyd County - July 23, 2009
A New Albany chiropractor accused of touching four female patients at his Clarksville practice faces even more serious charges in Floyd County....
Bath chiropractor can practice, despite charges, state says - July 23, 2009
A Bath chiropractor can continue to practice despite accusations that he inappropriately touched four patients, a state hearing examiner has found....
Becoming THE chiropractor in town: Part I - July 23, 2009
No matter how you envision your ideal practice, one truth remains: You'll meet your goals most efficiently, professionally, and affordably when using lay-lecture marketing throughout your community as your chief patient-attraction method....
Walking the Fine Line of Crosswalks: Understanding ICD-9-CM Vol. 3 vs. CPT-4 - July 22, 2009
Whenever the phrase "procedure coding" is mentioned, the first question many outpatient coders have is "CPT or ICD-9?" And even though HIPAA guidelines dictate that for hospital coding the ICD-9-CM volume 3 code set is for inpatient visits only and the CPT code set is for outpatient services only, in reality, many hospitals still require their outpatient coders to assign both sets of codes for outpatient visits....
Surprises Arise as Hospitals Struggle With FTC's Red Flags Rule - July 22, 2009
As hospitals and health systems implement the FTC Red Flags Rule, they are confronting unanticipated challenges. These challenges include unforeseen compliance angles involving post-acute care and the National Patient Safety Goals, and patient misrepresentation that can set off alarm bells but isn't necessarily what it seems....
AAPC Begins ICD-10 Implementation Training with Series of Free Webinars - July 21, 2009
The American Academy of Professional Coders is hosting a free ICD-10 implementation training Webinar series in July. The series, which has separate tracks for providers and payers, will review the ICD-10 training plan and the necessary steps for successful implementation....
Coding Questions: Spinal decompression therapy - July 21, 2009
Q: I own a spinal decompression therapy table. Most of my patients have insurance and want me to submit the claim to their carrier, but I am hesitant to do this. What is the most appropriate way to submit the claim? ...
Software makes practice management perfect - July 21, 2009
If you have a practice, you also have practice management needs. Documentation. Billing. Patient scheduling. And that's not all. Practice management software may be just the thing you are looking for to help you meet those needs. With the right software solution, you can turn your practice into a powerhouse of efficiency....
New York Charges Doctors, Hospital Employees with No-Fault Fraud - July 21, 2009
New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced the indictment of 12 people and 9 corporations across New York City for their roles in an alleged criminal enterprise that paid hospital employees for confidential patient information, lured patients into receiving unnecessary treatment, and then submitted more than $1 million in phony personal injury claims to insurance carriers....
DOTmed Industry Sector Report: Physical Therapy - July 20, 2009
For more than 100 years, physical therapists have been dealing with assistive, adaptive, rehabilitative and analytical devices to help their patients. While the equipment has become more advanced both technically and physically, the basic concepts have stayed the same....
Michigan Passes Legislation to License Physical Therapist Assistants - July 20, 2009
Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm signed SB 151 into law last week, requiring physical therapist assistants (PTAs) to obtain state licensure. Michigan is now the 48th state to regulate PTAs, according to the Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA)....
Hands-on healing techniques like massage and acupuncture score with clients: Healthy Cleveland - July 20, 2009
Chiropractic care, rated highest in the survey at 59 percent of patients completely or very satisfied with treatment, is based on the idea that restricted movement in the spine leads to pain and loss of function....
More claim molestation by therapist - July 20, 2009
Ayres, 77, has pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of lewd and lascivious activity on six former patients between 1988 and 1996 when they were aged 9 to 13. Four other former patients are also allowed to testify for the prosecution although their allegations fall outside the statute of limitations....
Fear of nursing homes shouldn't thwart rehab - July 20, 2009
It is important to recognize the benefits of rehabilitation for someone who is recovering from a medical problem such as a stroke, hip fracture, knee replacement or injuries from a fall. ...
Direct access to physical therapy can cut costs - July 20, 2009
Direct access is covered under most health insurance plans, and U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., has co-sponsored legislation to include it under Medicare in those states that have legalized it. The bill was introduced in the Senate this spring and is now in committee....
House Of Delegates Elects Directors, Officers, And Committee Member Prior To PT '09 In Baltimore - July 20, 2009
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) House of Delegates elected officers, directors, and a member of the Nominating Committee during its annual meeting prior to PT 2009, June 10-13, in Baltimore....
Elite Sports Physical Therapy Starts Fremont's 1st Dance Therapy Program - July 20, 2009
Holding true to their commitment to provide cutting edge sports and orthopedic physical therapy in Fremont, CA, Elite Sports PT is starting the area's 1st Dance Rehabilition/Dance Therapy Program....
Rochester psychologist, wife charged with Medicaid, Medicare fraud - July 20, 2009
A Rochester psychologist and his wife were charged today with defrauding the state Medicaid and Medicare programs of $258,000....
Polycystic Kidney Disease Onset Delayed With Healthy Lifestyle - July 17, 2009
The disease comes in two forms: autosomal recessive, a rare disorder that often causes death in the first month of life; and autosomal dominant, one of the most common life-threatening genetic diseases....
Update on Manipulation and Exercise
What the Research Says - July 17, 2009
Although not all studies agree, the majority suggest that there appears to be a synergistic effect when both manipulation and exercise are used in combination....
The Four-Hour Chiropractic Workweek - July 17, 2009
In their unending quest for success, many chiropractors have had their curiosity piqued by advertisements from DCs who claim to do virtually no work and make a fortune. Even those of you who would instinctively resist responding to such an ad probably have seen examples of such marketing and wondered if it indeed were a possibility....
Ingenious Med Announces a New Coding & Compliance Tool, MasterCoder - July 17, 2009
With the growing potential threat of Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) audits facing healthcare organizations as well as the increased legislative plans currently in process within congress to further combat fraud in the medical system, Ingenious Med releases a new tool, MasterCoder, to help its customers address these concerns....
Tennessee Medical Assn. sues collections firm - July 17, 2009
Health Research Insights has contacted physicians in several states this year trying to collect alleged overpayments....
Five-Star makes complaints against nursing homes even more serious - July 16, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services showcases the Five-Star Quality Rating System as an excellent source of information to aide the public in selecting a nursing home. But many believe that it will soon serve as the platform for public and private ratings programs such as "pay-for-performance."...
Physicians snared by growing Medicare fraud strike team - July 16, 2009
The indictments are the first major actions since the Depts. of Justice and HHS expanded a joint Medicare fraud initiative last month....
Stop Medicare scammers - July 16, 2009
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice busted a Medicare fraud ring in Miami, indicting eight suspects who allegedly cheated the government out of $30 million. That same week, the agency arrested 40 people in Detroit and Miami on similar charges of defrauding Medicare out of $50 million....
ObamaCare disses doctors - July 16, 2009
In his address to the AMA last month, President Obama said, "And I want to commend the AMA, in particular, for offering to do your part to curb costs and achieve reform." Two-thirds of America's doctors, had two reasons to think that the AMA was in no position to make such a promise....
Psychologist facing Medicaid fraud charges - July 11, 2009
Dr. Matthew Hamilton Leddy, 51, allegedly defrauded Medicaid by billing for unperformed services for more than 60 patients, according to his indictments handed down by a Montgomery County grand jury June 18....
Department of Justice charges 16 in multi-million dollar Medicare fraud schemes - July 11, 2009
In the span of less than a week, the U.S. Department of Justice secured indictments on 16 Miami-Dade County, Fla., individuals linked to Medicare fraud schemes totaling more than $120 million....
Jury Convicts Los Angeles Physician Assistant for Stealing Doctor's Identity and Defrauding Medicare in $7.7 Million Scheme - July 11, 2009
After a seven-day trial in federal court in Los Angeles, a jury found Ronald Luis Bradshaw, 59, guilty on all charged counts, including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, multiple counts of health fraud and aggravated identity theft for prescribing medically unnecessary durable medical equipment to hundreds of Medicare beneficiaries under the stolen identity of a doctor....
Government moves to staunch massive Medicare fraud - July 11, 2009
Since 2006, U.S. taxpayers have paid nearly $155,000 to send home health nurses to inject twice-daily insulin shots for an elderly, diabetic Miami man....
Tapeless Medical Products Earn Medicare HCPCS Code - July 11, 2009
An innovative, non-adhesive dressing system have been approved for a Medicare billing designation that promises to make wound care easier and more affordable for thousands of individuals who require in-home medical assistance....
Chiropractor John Marino's license reinstated - July 9, 2009
A Bath chiropractor accused of molesting four patients had his license restored Thursday by the Pennsylvania Department of State....
Jackson, TN Chiropractor Host New Radio Program, "Better Health Secrets" - July 9, 2009
Jackson, TN Chiropractor, Dr. Shannon Bone, DC, is hosting a new, exciting radio program, "Better Health Secrets" every Tuesday morning from 11:30 to11:45 AM over the next three months on FM 97.7 Super Talk Radio...
ICD-10 Will Reduce Payment Errors and Claims Denials, but Will Also Help Fraud Investigators - July 8, 2009
Payment errors should be reduced significantly under ICD-10 diagnosis and procedure codes, which must be implemented by Oct. 1, 2013. Experts say that improvements over ICD-9 - including less ambiguity, more specificity, standardized terminology and combination codes - will help hospitals improve their compliance....
WellCare President and CEO Schiesser to resign - July 8, 2009
Health insurer WellCare Health Plans Inc. said Monday that Heath Schiesser, who was promoted to president and CEO during a leadership shakeup in January 2008, will resign once a successor is found....
iMedicor Adds Pre-populated CV's to its HIPAA Compliant Portal Through Partnership with VitalsSM - July 8, 2009
This partnership gives iMedicor the ability to access Vitals' database of more than 700,000 practicing physicians in the United States to streamline physicians' registration on the iMedicor portal. ...
Compass Clinical Hospital Accreditation and Compliance Expert Urges Public Comment on CMS Joint Commission Deeming Status - July 8, 2009
Rare Opportunity for Hospital and Healthcare Leaders to Share Experiences and Suggest Improvements to CMS...
Medical fraud under the guise of alternative medicine - July 8, 2009
The breaking news today is the story of a healthcare practitioner from Georgia who was just sentenced to less than five years in prison for medical fraud. Chaunsay Beckwith was the operator of an alternative medical clinic in Tucker, Georgia called International Alternative Medicine Inc., which was offering hyperbaric chamber treatments as a medical alternative....
Consumer Action / Proposal would require hospitals to screen patients for MRSA - July 8, 2009
Legislation recently introduced in Congress would require hospitals to screen patients to identify those who are carriers of MRSA, to help prevent the spread of the infection by identifying which patients need special handling....
Crackdown on Medicare fraud a priority for Obama administration - July 8, 2009
The Obama administration is aggressively pushing Medicare fraud prevention along with criminal prosecutions as the president seeks to expand healthcare coverage for millions of uninsured Americans....
Obama Health Care Poison Pill - July 8, 2009
The antidote of public scrutiny is needed. Otherwise, Obama's health care poison pill could kill the private system that makes American medicine the world's best....
Medicare fraud suspect a no-show in court, is declared a fugitive - July 8, 2009
A Miami man charged in a $100 million Medicare scam stretching across five southern states has been declared a fugitive after he failed to show up for a pretrial bond hearing Friday morning in federal court, authorities said....
Calculating insurance interests - July 8, 2009
LAST WEEK, three insurance executives made starkly clear why President Obama is right to insist on a public-plan option in any health reform package. The three stood before Congress and refused to stop the practice of canceling coverage of sick policyholders for unrelated medical reasons, even in cases where the firms can't show intentional fraud by the policyholders....
Using Your ECM System To Simplify RAC Audits - July 8, 2009
If you are involved in any way with the administrative end of a healthcare facility, you are well aware that there are many factors that have to converge behind the scenes in order for a facility to operate effectively. A critical component to smooth operations and stellar patient service is the ability to locate, access, and disseminate information. ...
Physical therapist helps patients return to active lifestyle with physical training - July 8, 2009
At the suggestion of his physical therapist, Wofford contacted Nanette Farris, 41, a physical therapist with Campbell Clinic, who became certified as a personal trainer in 2004 and had begun taking patients on an individual basis....
AMA meeting: Physician supervision of nurses sought in all practice agreements - July 8, 2009
AMA delegates also debated the National Board of Medical Examiners' role in a new doctor of nursing practice certification exam....
Man charged with sexually assaulting nursing home patient - July 8, 2009
Last week, Police say an 87-year old patient was touched inappropriately by a visitor at the Bradford Square Rehabilitation and Nursing center. ...
Justice Department Intervenes in Americans With Disabilities Act Lawsuit Against Transportation Provider - July 8, 2009
The Justice Department today announced that it has moved to intervene in a lawsuit filed in federal court in Jackson, Miss., challenging inaccessibility in Jackson's public transportation system. ...
A David vs. Goliath battle emerges in the fight for dialysis dollars - July 7, 2009
For an idealistic young physician, it was a harsh introduction to the high-stakes world of Wall Street. For DaVita Inc., the multi-billion-dollar corporation behind the suit, it seems to be business as usual....
Nazareth chiropractor's license suspended - July 7, 2009
A Bath chiropractor who was charged with indecent assault of four female patients in April has been temporarily barred from treating clients....
New Analysis Examines Fraud in Both Private and Public Health Insurance Markets - July 7, 2009
A new report from The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, Department of Health Policy challenges the notion that fraud is a problem only in public health insurance markets and finds that fraud is a system-wide problem affecting private and public health insurance alike....
Eight Miami-Area Residents Charged in $22 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Involving Home Health Care Agencies - July 7, 2009
Eight Miami-Dade County, Fla., residents have been indicted in connection with an alleged $22 million Medicare fraud scheme operated out of Miami businesses purporting to specialize in home health care services....
Glenwood review finds progress - July 7, 2009
The Glenwood Resource Center is one step closer to complying with a 2004 court order to improve resident care. The U.S. Department of Justice says the state-run care facility's clinical care and nutritional services are now in substantial compliance with the standards spelled out in the court order....
Health care plan needs patient accountability - July 7, 2009
Any effort to overhaul our nation's health care system with the intention of reducing health care costs needs to include specific mandates for patient accountability with respect to their own care and treatment....
HCPC Calls for Greater Healthcare Savings Through Improved Adherence to Prescription Drug Regimens - July 7, 2009
With today's announcement that the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) has offered to voluntarily grant some $80 billion in discounts to Medicare beneficiaries over the next decade in an effort to reduce overall healthcare costs, the Healthcare Compliance Packaging Council (HCPC) noted that far greater savings can be achieved if immediate steps are taken to help people take their prescription drugs properly....
CollaborateMD Celebrates Ten-Year Anniversary - July 7, 2009
This year, CollaborateMD celebrates their tenth anniversary of providing hybrid SaaS practice management and medical billing software to physician offices and third-party billing services....
Justice Department Files Complaint and Reaches Settlement to Improve Conditions at Texas State Facilities for Persons With Developmental Disabilities - July 7, 2009
The Justice Department announced today a simultaneous lawsuit and settlement with the state of Texas concerning the care given to residents of the state's 13 facilities for persons with developmental disabilities....
Medicare Fraud Strike Force Operations Lead to Charges Against 53 Doctors, Health Care Executives and Beneficiaries for More Than $50 Million in Alleg - July 7, 2009
Fifty-three people have been indicted for schemes to submit more than $50 million in false Medicare claims in the continuing operation of the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in Detroit....
8 Miami-Dade home healthcare providers jailed in Medicare fraud scam - July 7, 2009
FBI agents arrested eight Miami-Dade residents at their homes early Friday on charges of fraudulently billing Medicare for $22 million by charging for nurses to treat mostly homebound diabetic patients -- many of whom didn't have the disease or didn't receive the services....
Local chiropractor pleads not guilty to sexual assault charges - July 7, 2009
An Indio chiropractor being prosecuted on charges of sexually assaulting several patients under the guise of medical examinations pleaded not guilty today to three additional felony counts....
New Season of 'The Chiropractic Marketing Makeover Show' Offers Expert Video Tutorials for Chiropractors Looking to Grow Their Practice - July 7, 2009
Chiropractic marketing coach Ben Cummings announces brand new episodes of his #1 rated online video series that teaches chiropractors how to attract patients with low cost advertising and social media marketing methods....
Truckee chiropractor pleads not guilty to arsons - July 7, 2009
A chiropractor charged with setting fire to her Truckee office and home entered a not-guilty plea Monday to two felony counts of arson....
New York City Chiropractor Announces New State-Of-The-Art Facility, Website - July 7, 2009
Dr. Steven Shoshany of New York City is proud to announce that he has recently launched his new website, www.LivingwellNewYork.com, to coincide with an exciting new direction he is taking with his office and an expansion of the practice....
Feds charge 53 in $50M medical billing scheme - July 7, 2009
The huge case is really a collection of eight cases involving physical therapy and injection or infusion therapy clinics. In all, 53 defendants, including four doctors, either appeared Wednesday in federal court in Detroit or are expected to do so in the coming days....
Zynex Introduces New Product Line - July 7, 2009
HealthCare Insight(R) Launches StopHealthCareFraud.com - July 7, 2009
Site Designed to Be America's Premier Web Resource Dedicated to Helping Consumers Understand, Identify, and Take Action Against the Multibillion Dollar Health Care Fraud Problem...
How to Eliminate Fraud From the Health-Care System - July 7, 2009
If the U.S. can cut out fraud from the health-insurance system, we can all save a lot of money and get better care. That's something just about everyone can agree on. What's tougher, of course, is actually trying to root out the fraud, or even defining what exactly "fraud" is....
'Navigaitor' Helps Patients Walk Again - July 7, 2009
Severe stroke victims and other acutely ill rehabilitation patients are learning to correct their unsteady and unsafe gait sooner and without the fear of falling by using a new therapeutic device that allows them more freedom of motion to walk again....
New age of chiropractors entering the industry - July 5, 2009
The first generation of chiropractors focused mainly on the back and spine. But this isn't your father's – or grandfather's – practice any longer....
The Nursing Home Complaint Center Intends To Team Up With Personal Injury Law Firms To Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Medicare Fraud In Each State - July 5, 2009
The Nursing Home Complaint Center also wants to work with law firm that also have an interest in Medicare-Medicaid fraud, Class actions, and employee wage and hour issues....
Atlantic Financial Consulting Launches a Nationwide Physician Coding Audit Service to Prepare Practices for the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Aud - July 5, 2009
With Medicare audits on the rise due to the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RACs) audits that have been implemented in all 50 states by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it's essential that physician practices have a compliance plan in place and that they are properly coding and documenting their patient encounters in accordance with Medicare guidelines....
VA officials grilled over botched colonoscopies - July 5, 2009
Lawmakers sharply criticized the Department of Veterans Affairs on Tuesday about why a national scare over botched colonoscopies earlier this year didn't prompt stronger safeguards at the agency's medical centers....
Florida probes Miami-area medical-equipment kickbacks - July 5, 2009
Medicaid investigators are targeting fraud in Miami-Dade County, zeroing in on questionable billing for medical equipment....
Public Comment Period Open for HIPAA Privacy and Security Standards - July 4, 2009
As part of its commitment to a comprehensive review of its standards, URAC, a leading health care accreditation and education organization, today called for public comment on revisions to its Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security standards....
Healthcare owner convicted of Medicare fraud gets jail sentence; whistle-blowers go on vacation - July 4, 2009
Two whistle-blowers who reported a business owner for Medicare fraud left Wednesday for an island vacation while Janice Davis of West Monroe prepares to spend time in a federal prison....
May Shut Down Nursing Home - July 4, 2009
The Illinois Department of Public Health is looking to close an Oak Lawn nursing home for their history of offenses....
The Importance of ICD-10 - July 4, 2009
"Which of these vague codes in these vague categories is the one I should use?" This is a common question posed by coders today using ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. According to Sue Bowman, RHIA, CCS, director of coding policy and compliance, American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), that points to improved data quality as one of the key outcomes of the switch to ICD-10....
Patients fume over Cleveland Clinic fee; hospital not alone in levying facility charge - July 4, 2009
The Clinic isn't the only hospital that charges the "facility fee" or "hospital services fee" for doctor visits and other services it provides at its outlying medical centers. MetroHealth Medical Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, and Lake Health (formerly Lake Hospital System) charge them in some cases, too....
The GOP Can Stop ObamaCare - July 4, 2009
It's extremely unlikely that Republicans will be able to pass their own health-care plan in this Congress. But in politics you can't beat something with nothing, so it is critical that the GOP offers an alternative to President Barack Obama's government-run monstrosity....
Locklear Electric files two new class actions over unsolicited faxes - July 4, 2009
A Wood River electric company has filed two new separate class action lawsuits against a chiropractor's office and a real estate company, alleging the office and company sent unsolicited faxes to it, causing a waste of paper and employee time....
Board puts Johnson City chiropractor on probation for filing false insurance claims - July 4, 2009
The Tennessee Department of Health's Board of Chiropractor Examiners has placed Johnson City Chiropractor Dwight C. Whynot's license on probation for a year for allowing unlicensed clinic staff to practice and filing false insurance claims for services never preformed....
Both victims and family of Wyoming chiropractor weep after Gregory Freeman found guilty of fondling two patients - July 4, 2009
There was weeping on both sides of the courtroom as a jury found Wyoming chiropractor Gregory Alan Freeman guilty of two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct for fondling the breasts of two women at his 36th Street SW office....
Tax shelter could land Kerrville chiropractor in prison - July 4, 2009
In a case the IRS says highlights the risks of offshore tax shelters, a prominent Kerrville chiropractor pleaded guilty Thursday in Austin to three misdemeanor charges of failing to file tax returns....
Kennebunk chiropractor's license revoked, again - July 4, 2009
Kennebunk chiropractor Clifford Faldman on June 10 had his state license to practice revoked, this time for at least six months....
Patients testify on behalf of chiropractor accused of criminal sexual conduct, saying he improved their health - July 4, 2009
A very different portrait was painted in court Wednesday of a Wyoming chiropractor accused of misusing his position to gain the trust of female patients before fondling their breasts under the guise of treatment....
Parade of women testifies against Wyoming chiropractor in alleged groping case - July 4, 2009
The allegations included fondling, asking women to expose themselves, looking at pornography and serving shots of Jagermeister and Pabst Blue Ribbon in the disco ball-decorated bar in the basement of his 36th Street SW office....
New Jersey chiropractors trying to spread the word about who they are and what they do - July 4, 2009
That's because people don't view chiropractic as a continual vessel for health and well-being. They only see it as something that's necessary when the back is out of wack....
Physiatrists oppose eliminating Medicare PT referral - July 3, 2009
The physicians say the legislation in the House and Senate could hurt patients. Physical therapists back the proposed law....
Loan Repayment Legislation Includes Physical Therapists as Frontline Providers - July 3, 2009
Legislation to establish a Frontline Providers Loan Repayment Program that includes physical therapists was introduced Tuesday by Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA). The Access to Frontline Health Care Act of 2009 (HR 2891) would encourage physical therapists to practice in underserved areas, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)....
Infosys Technologies Introduces iTransform™ Product Suite, One of Industry's First End-To-End Solution to Simplify and Accelerate HIPAA 5010 and ICD-1 - July 3, 2009
By taking a comprehensive approach for assessment and remediation, and automating a significant amount of the transition exercise, based on prototype results the iTransform Product Suite can help healthcare payers and providers save up to 50 percent of the cost and up to 50 percent of the duration to make the transitions compared to the manual process and remediation. ...
Study Shows How Stroke Affects Hand Function; Provides Roadmap for Rehab - July 2, 2009
A person whose hand function has been affected by a stroke can release an object more quickly when the affected arm is supported on a platform. Muscle-stretching exercises improved how quickly the stroke survivor could grip an object. The findings show how a stroke affects hand function, and provide a roadmap for rehabilitation....
New back pain treatment technology to get trials at Long Beach Memorial - July 2, 2009
A new technology that hopes to streamline the treatment of neck and back pain will be tested in clinical trials at the hospital beginning in late July or early August. ...
Office manager faces theft charges - June 30, 2009
The lack of a checks-and-balances bookkeeping system allowed a Medford office manager allegedly to embezzle $250,000 of her employer's money, police said....
Measurable Solutions Teaches Private Practice Physical Therapy Owners to Expand Despite the Economy - June 30, 2009
On July 13th Measurable Solutions will be hosting a conference for private practice physical therapy owners from all over the county on the subjects of public relations, marketing and promotion....
Excell Home Care & Hospice, Inc. Selects Cardiocom Telehealth Technology - June 30, 2009
Excell Home Care & Hospice, Inc., a leading provider of home care and hospice services in Oklahoma, announced it has entered into a business relationship with Cardiocom(R) to provide advanced home telehealth technology to patients with chronic illness....
Physical therapy helps toddler recover - June 30, 2009
Nearly a year after Brock Cherek sustained a life-changing brain injury, the Portage County toddler is bouncing and jumping with help....
The American Physical Therapy Association Endorses the Ness L300™ Foot Drop System - June 30, 2009
Bioness Inc. and the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) announced today that the NESS L300™ Foot Drop System received official product endorsement from APTA...
New Online Home Health Service Launched in California to Expand Direct Patient Care Time While Lowering Costs - June 30, 2009
Today, HealthCare California announces that it is the first home health agency in California to implement an online service that answers the call from national leaders to utilize technology to improve health care....
The disappearing independent doctor - June 30, 2009
Across the nation, large health care groups are acquiring physicians - and the number of independent physicians is shrinking, said Mike Jurgensen, senior vice president of health policy and planning for the Medical Society of Virginia....
G.O.P. Senators Question Obama's Health Reforms - June 30, 2009
Republicans on Sunday continued to express strong concerns over the Obama administration's plan to reform health care and its call for a public insurance option....
Stakes Are High for Obama on Fixing Health Care - June 30, 2009
If a major overhaul of the U.S. health care system, now President Barack Obama's top priority, doesn't clear the House or Senate - the two bodies are jockeying over who goes first - by the early August congressional recess, prospects of anything happening are dim....
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request - June 30, 2009
In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publishing the following summary of proposed collections for public comment....
State wants Oak Lawn nursing home closed - June 30, 2009
Illinois public health officials plan to try to close an Oak Lawn nursing home despite the fact that Regal Health and Rehab Center now is complying with state regulations....
W. Texas renal center lacking
Risk to patients called life-threatening; corrective steps taken - June 30, 2009
The West Texas Renal Care Center in San Angelo is under state and federal corrective action plans after an investigation confirmed that dialysis patients at the center faced treatment risks that are "serious or life-threatening."...
Obama eyes $313 billion more cuts for healthcare reform - June 30, 2009
President Barack Obama on Saturday proposed an additional $313 billion in cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other programs to pay for healthcare reforms expected to cost about $1 trillion over the next decade....
Officials probe potential Medicaid abuse in Escambia - June 30, 2009
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration announced today an investigation of Durable Medical Equipment providers in Escambia County for the potential abuse of Medicaid billings....
Can Information Technology Cut Healthcare Costs? - June 30, 2009
As U.S. President Barack Obama refocuses efforts on universal healthcare, the burdensome question of how to fund it all returns. But without a handle on the rising costs in the current healthcare system, the possibility for new coverage seems a pipedream....
Connecticut Better Business explains methods used to perpetrate health insurance fraud - June 30, 2009
As baby boomers enter their silver years, they are becoming targets of sophisticated medical insurance fraud. Connecticut Better Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says victims are easy prey for fraudsters....
Top Ten Elder Fraud Prevention Methods - June 29, 2009
Elder fraud often goes unreported, but it's estimated that over $40 billion is stolen from America's seniors every year (1), and, due to a lack of proper senior citizen fraud protection in place, this figure is increasing. Families and friends are fighting back and providing their loved ones with senior citizen fraud protection tips and tools to combat these elder fraud scam artists....
CollaborateMD Announces Agreement With 3M Health Information Systems The 3M Medical Necessity and Compliance Content - June 29, 2009
CollaborateMD has signed an agreement with 3M Health Information Systems to offer 3M's medical necessity coding content integrated with the CollaborateMD medical billing software application....
Finding Money for Health Care Reform - Rooting Out Waste, Fraud, and Abuse - June 29, 2009
As the administration and its congressional allies pursue revenue sources to pay the estimated costs of near-universal coverage ($1.2 trillion over a decade), one potential source that Obama has emphasized is an acceleration of government efforts to pursue waste, fraud, and abuse that sap the health care system of billions of dollars every year....
Florida Medical Equipment Supplier Receives Top Honors From Medicare - June 29, 2009
Recent Medicare fraud crackdowns initiated by the Obama administration have targeted South Florida, initiating the creation of task-forces targeting durable medical equipment suppliers in Miami-Dade and the surrounding counties....
Beaver County Chiropractor, Dr. Michele M. Askar, Introduced a New Service to Her Practice for Neck and Back Pain Sufferers - June 28, 2009
Dr. Michele M. Askar, clinic director and founder of the Spinal Disc Center (www.spinaldisccenter.com) offers one of the most advanced methods of non-surgical decompression available today in the Western Pennsylvania counties of Beaver, Butler and Allegheny. ...
Chiropractor says company 'cold called' potential patients - June 28, 2009
An Ohio County chiropractic business is suing a referral service because it "cold called" potential clients in violation of the agreement....
Multiple personality raised at LI woman's fraud trial - June 28, 2009
Michel is charged with operating a $26-million Medicaid fraud and violating the privacy of patients at nursing homes around Long Island by stealing their records....
Cumming chiropractor guilty of tax fraud - June 27, 2009
A Cumming, Ga., chiropractor pleaded guilty Tuesday to filing a false income tax return, after his trial revealed he hid income from the IRS by writing checks to fake companies....
Chiropractor takes holistic approach to healing - June 27, 2009
As a chiropractor, Chad Messina encounters his share of skeptics. "Patients will tell me, "I don't believe in chiropractic, as if it's a religion," says the Marlborough-based practitioner. "But it's not a matter of belief, but having the structures of the body -- the joints, bones, and muscles -- in the right place."...
Workers' comp insurance about to jump - June 27, 2009
Five years after California reined in skyrocketing workers' compensation insurance rates, employers are facing another round of rate increases, blamed largely on rising medical costs....
The Nursing Home Complaint Center Wants To Team Up With Personal Injury Law Firms To Stop Nursing Home Abuse & Medicare Fraud - June 27, 2009
The Nursing Home Abuse Center intends to go after nursing homes, that abuse their patients, and wants to assist law firms that also have an interest in Medicare-Medicaid fraud, Class actions, and employee wage and hour issues. According to the group, "we want to align ourselves with larger personal injury law firms in specific cities, where we know nursing home abuse, Medicare or Medicaid fraud, and employee wage, and hour issues are wide spread, to stop these types of practices." ...
HCCA Web Conference Offers Forum on Medicare's Nationwide Rollout of the Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) Program - June 27, 2009
As the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC) prepare to contact health care providers as early as late June or early July, the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) announced it will hold a critical and timely web conference on June 23, 2009, Advance RAC Forum: Questions and Answers with CMS and Leading Providers about the New RAC Rollout. Click on the following link to register: http://www.hcca-info.org/RAC....
Versus Introduces Automated, Real-Time Hand Hygiene Compliance Solution - June 27, 2009
Hand Hygiene Compliance (HHC) is paramount to patient safety and the reduction of hospital acquired infections -- but monitoring adherence to HHC policies has traditionally been done through observation, which is difficult and inaccurate, if not downright impossible....
Day programs for seniors and Alzheimer's patients may be eliminated - June 26, 2009
Caregivers throughout California are up in arms over proposed state budget cuts that would eliminate day programs for seniors and those with Alzheimer's disease....
Physical therapy patients love being in hot water - June 26, 2009
For people in pain, comfort is often a matter of degrees: The warmer the better. Carr relies on that water to help her with her ongoing rehabilitation from a terrible car accident in 2002....
ATI Physical Therapy sets bar with outpatient transportation program - June 26, 2009
ATI Physical Therapy (ATI) continues to enhance their ongoing Transportation Program in an effort to enhance their patient's overall experience and successful physical therapy....
Therapist stole ring from dying woman - June 26, 2009
Physical therapist Michelle Colone, 33, of Berwick, had been charged with stealing the ring during a therapy session in Olive's room, according to a criminal complaint filed by Mahoning Township police at District Judge Marvin Shrawder's Danville office....
New York Physical Therapy Association Launches Campaign Against High Co-Pays - June 26, 2009
The New York Physical Therapy Association (NYPTA) has launched a campaign to end unfair and excessively high physical therapy co-payments known as "specialty co-pays."...
AthletiCo Physical Therapy Partners with Arthritis Foundation - June 26, 2009
AthletiCo, an Illinois-based leader in rehabilitation, fitness, and performance services, recently partnered with the Arthritis Foundation to provide community outreach and education on the benefits of physical and occupational therapy and preventative fitness solutions for those suffering from arthritis....
Families plead for disabled program
Board challenged to look beyond numbers - June 26, 2009
Dozens of anguished families and caregivers begged top state officials not to cut in-home services such as adult companions and respite care Thursday and blasted the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs for failing to tell them of the proposed changes and the public hearing until cuts were imminent....
Gov. Corzine's proposed budget cuts to Medicaid threatens adult day care centers - June 26, 2009
In an effort close a multibillion-dollar budget gap, the Corzine administration has proposed reducing the daily reimbursement rate for adult medical day care facilities by 19 percent, from $86 to $70....
Chiropractor giving a taste of his own medicine - June 26, 2009
When a waterskiing accident left Richard Thomas with severe lower back pain for six months, he said he was "reluctant" to try chiropractic treatment. Eleven years later, the Wilmington-area native opened his own chiropractic practice in Gastonia....
Wyoming chiropractor facing sex charges waives Kent County Circuit Court hearing after learning of four separate counts - June 26, 2009
A chiropractor already standing trial on three charges of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct was hit with four more charges Wednesday that will come to Kent County Circuit Court....
Chiropractor tackles allergy symptoms - June 26, 2009
It's the strong urge to help his patients that has kept Dr. Lyle Tvedt passionate about his chiropractic practice in Ripon. Now with a new goal to make a difference for allergy sufferers as well, he is expanding his practice....
Advanced Arm Dynamics Fits Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) Patient in Indiana - June 26, 2009
A few weeks ago, Hank Esmond would not have dreamed that he would be operating his prosthetic arms through his thoughts. Mr. Esmond is the first upper extremity amputee in Indiana to be fit with the DynamicArm TMR manufactured by Otto Bock....
Patel to serve 10 years - June 24, 2009
Lafayette cardiologist Dr. Mehmood M. Patel was sentenced Thursday to the maximum 10 years in federal prison for his conviction on 51 counts of health care fraud....
Consumer Watchdog to Congress: Put Patients' Bill of Rights Back on the Table - June 24, 2009
As the nation's health insurance companies met in San Diego, California to discuss how to "make health care reform a reality," Consumer Watchdog called on Congressional leaders to include key patient protections and legal accountability measures for health insurers and HMOs currently missing from the debate....
Capture Billing Poised to Help Physician Offices Implement ICD-10 Coding - June 24, 2009
Capture Billing & Consulting, an Outsource Medical Billing Company, takes on the burden of complex healthcare regulations and the costs of implementing ICD-10 to keep Medical Practices in compliance....
Health Plans Prepare for Health Care Reform: Comparative Effectiveness, Consumerism Drive Future Changes, According to Deloitte Study - June 24, 2009
As the administration moves forward with health care reform, U.S. heath plans are bracing for change. New research released this week by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions at America's Health Insurance Plans Institute conference in San Diego highlights how comparative effectiveness and consumerism will challenge the status quo of the existing health care system....
Zotec Partners Incorporates Natural Language Processing to Improve Coding Efficiencies - June 24, 2009
Zotec Partners, an industry leader in medical billing, practice management and Radiology Information Systems (RIS) software, announces today a partnership with Language and Computing, Inc. (L&C), a leading Natural Language Processing (NLP) solutions provider for the healthcare industry....
RehabCare sells consulting division to Premier - June 24, 2009
RehabCare Group Inc. has sold its health-care management consulting division to Premier Inc., a national health-care alliance based in Charlotte, N.C., for an undisclosed amount....
United Hebrew Celebrates New Nursing and Rehabilitation Center - Single-Bedded Rooms Advance the Art of Caregiving - June 24, 2009
United Hebrew recently hosted a grand opening celebration in commemoration of its new nursing home and rehabilitation center. ...
How Safe Are Your Medical Records? - June 24, 2009
In October 2008, hackers broke into a data goldmine at the University of California, Berkeley. They infiltrated 20 separate databases kept on a server at the health services center and over a span of six months, stole Social Security numbers, birth dates and addresses....
Sen. Martinez requests briefing on joint DoJ & HHS health care fraud plan - June 24, 2009
Senator Martinez is asking for the departments to provide information about the data-driven approach to prevent and detect Medicare fraud, plans to identify new geographic areas requiring targeted enforcement, the strategy to conduct on-site verification of medical equipment suppliers, compliance training for Medicare providers, and efforts to strengthen compliance and enforcement in Medicare Parts C and D....
Practitioners Face $3 Billion Loss to Silent PPOs - June 24, 2009
The American Medical Association estimates that health care providers are losing up to 3 billion dollars each year to the stealthy practice of PPOs. Providers sign agreements with Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO). The PPO steers patients to the provider, and the provider accepts discounted insurance reimbursements....
Tacoma's deal for DaVita will include neighborhood facelift - June 24, 2009
DaVita, which operates a network of 1,400 kidney treatment centers nationwide, last week announced it will sign a new lease on the former Schoenfeld Furniture Store at South 15th Street and Pacific Avenue, and lease three floors of the nearby Columbia Bank Building to house its accounting and billing staff....
Kidney patients face travel delays - June 22, 2009
People needing kidney dialysis are waiting "unacceptable" lengths of time for transport to take them to hospital, a survey has found....
Insurers ranked on payment records
Bay State doctors waited longest for MassHealth funds - June 22, 2009
The state government Medicaid plan known as MassHealth, which covers low-income patients who can't afford insurance, was the slowest payer of health claims to Massachusetts doctors last year, averaging 56 days, and denied the highest share of claims, 23.8 percent, according to rankings set to be released today....
Family claims fraud in nursing home lawsuit - June 22, 2009
The family of an elderly Bridgeton woman claims a Millville nursing home intentionally misled them by promising she could remain in the facility after she depleted her personal savings, and then threatening her with eviction when she did, according to a lawsuit....
Goodyear chiropractor cleared by board in sex abuse case - June 22, 2009
Goodyear police are still investigating sexual-abuse allegations against a local chiropractor, more than a year after his case was dismissed....
Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center sued over resident's care - June 22, 2009
Velma H. Penberthy filed a lawsuit May 18 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Cahokia Nursing and Rehabilitation Center....
Blowing whistle pays off big for fortunate few - June 22, 2009
Since 1986, more than $20 billion has been paid out in fraud lawsuits brought by whistleblowers. It has made some midlevel bureaucrats very rich....
Turning a Blind Eye: Hospitals Fail to Discipline Doctors, Exploit Loopholes to Avoid Requirement to Report Doctors - June 22, 2009
Though a federal law requires hospitals to report physicians who have had their admitting privileges revoked or restricted for more than 30 days, a Public Citizen report released today found that in addition to inadequate discipline of physicians, hospitals routinely exploit loopholes to avoid government requirements, with nearly half of all hospitals not submitting a single doctor's name to the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) in the more than 17 years it has existed....
Vanguard Healthcare Solutions Acquires Rights to Rehab Integrity Pro Software - June 22, 2009
Vanguard Healthcare Solutions today announced it has acquired the rights to Rehab Integrity Pro, the health care industry's leading physical medicine compliance software. ...
Hospitals Set Strict Limits on Employees Accepting Gifts Amid Greater Government Scrutiny - June 22, 2009
The goal of gift and entertainment restrictions is to avoid the appearance of impropriety and to prevent improper influence over decision makers at the hospital, according to compliance experts who were interviewed by RMC and who spoke in a May 12 HCCA/SCCE audioconference....
North American Seminars, Inc. Introduces a New Physical Therapy Continuing Education Course, an Algorithmic Based Treatment Approach to Vestibular Dys - June 21, 2009
North American Seminars, Inc., www.healthclick.com introduces An Algorithmic Based Treatment Approach to Vestibular Dysfunction. This physical therapy continuing education course is a two day training event created to assist rehab professionals evaluate and treat dizziness and imbalance....
Physical Therapists Advocate for Access to Rehabilitative Services on Capitol Hill - June 21, 2009
Two hundred physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy marched on Capitol Hill Tuesday to educate lawmakers about the critical need for patients to have improved access to physical therapy services....
Results Physiotherapy offers unique PT - June 21, 2009
Results Physiotherapy owner Graeme Keys hopes his innovative business will help local citizens with musculoskeletal and orthopedic pain....
Robert Matthew Nolan could face more charges in Clark County - June 21, 2009
The Clark County prosecutor says more charges are likely against a chiropractor already charged with four misdemeanors related to alleged improper touching of female patients....
Healthcare challenge:Administrative ripple effects - June 21, 2009
The sheer complexity of health insurance fosters myriad cost ripples at the provider level almost like the tsunami that follows an earthquake on the ocean floor. Almost half of staff members (43.6 percent) at a typical physician's office are devoted to clerical rather than clinical tasks....
Short's RehabCare flush with cash - June 21, 2009
The shaky economy prompted RehabCare Group Inc. to build up its cash reserves, and now the rehab program provider is in an enviable position in today's market: It can either pay off all its debt this year or pursue acquisition targets....
Hearing begins on Olathe chiropractor Wasse Zafer's license suspension - June 21, 2009
Three weeks ago, the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts issued an emergency suspension of Zafer's license and filed a petition alleging that he obtained fees through fraud, deceit or misrepresentation; falsified records; and committed acts of unprofessional or dishonorable conduct or professional incompetency....
Fairness hearing set for Tuesday in First Health class action settlement - June 21, 2009
A fairness hearing is set for Tuesday to determine whether a charitable contribution of more than $1.2 million is a fair end to a 2004 chiropractor class action suit against an insurance company over claims adjustments....
Texas-Based Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers to Pay U.S. $4 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations - June 21, 2009
Regency Nursing and Rehabilitation Centers Inc. nursing home chain will pay the United States $4 million to settle allegations that Regency submitted false claims to Medicare and the Texas Medicaid program....
Occupational therapist has license suspended - June 21, 2009
A Forest City occupational therapist has lost her license to practice for 14 days, agreed to complete continuing education and received a fine of $1,000 in disciplinary action by the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy....
11 home healthcare providers charged with fraud - June 21, 2009
Eleven home healthcare providers from Long Beach and surrounding communities were facing felony charges Thursday after investigators caught them reportedly billing the state on behalf of dead and imprisoned clients. ...
Panama City Office Under Investigation by Medicaid - June 21, 2009
Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) today announced an investigation into Medicaid billings by Durable Medical Equipment (DME) providers in Bay County....
Federal Lawsuit Regarding Alleged False Claims Dismissed Against Axiom and All Defendants! - June 21, 2009
n May 20, 2009, United States District Judge Virginia Hernandez Covington dismissed, with prejudice, the lawsuit styled United States of America ex rel., Greg Westfall and Suzanne Westfall vs. Axiom Worldwide, Inc., Axiom Worldwide, LLC, James J. Gibson, Jr., Nicholas Exarhos, Timothy Exarhos, Peer Review Network, Inc., Case No. 8:06–CV–571–T–33TBM. The lawsuit, filed by Greg and Suzanne Westfall on behalf of the United States under the federal False Claims Act, had been pending in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, since 2006....
Surprise man pleads guilty in wheelchair fraud case - June 20, 2009
The owner of a Cave Creek medical-supply business pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud after filling unnecessary prescriptions for motorized wheelchairs, making about $2,000 profit from each chair....
Feds claim fraud by health care CEO - June 20, 2009
Major donor to local causes, from a family renowned in Nashville business lore, is at center of $18M suit over alleged scheme to overbill Medicare for nearly 20 years...
Physician Compliance Network Provides Programs That Help Hospital Board Directors Comply With Their Responsibility for Patient Safety and Quality of C - June 20, 2009
Physician Compliance Network Provides Programs That Help Hospital Board Directors Comply With Their Responsibility for Patient Safety and Quality of Care, as Noted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...
Hospital strains to cut elder care costs - June 20, 2009
Massachusetts General Hospital launched a pathbreaking effort to cut medical costs by reducing hospital stays and emergency room visits by the frail elderly - an initiative that underscores just how hard it will be for the medical industry to make good on its promise to President Obama to pare healthcare spending by $2 trillion over the next decade....
Southern Indiana chiropractor investigated for sexual misconduct - June 20, 2009
A New Albany chiropractor with a practice in Clarksville is under investigation for sexual misconduct after four female patients have filed complaints with police since 2007....
A Holistic Approach to Irritable Bowel Syndrome - June 20, 2009
Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common disorders that doctors see in practice. One in 5 Americans experiences this disorder, yet it is not talked about very often because of embarrassing signs and symptoms....
Help for Improved Walking in Bend, Oregon: Physical Therapy Practice Now Offers State-of-the-Art Gait Training - June 18, 2009
Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke and other movement disorder patients are now offered a new, breakthrough treatment for improving walking balance....
Accounting for Disclosures in Electronic Health Records Could Be a Time Bomb Waiting for HIPAA Covered Entities - June 18, 2009
The new accounting of disclosures requirements for EHRs under the HITECH Act dictates that providers log all disclosures made through EHRs - including those made for treatment, payment and health care purposes - and report them to patients when requested....
U.S. and 16 States Join Suits Against Pharmaceutical Giant, Wyeth - June 17, 2009
Drug Company Allegedly Failed to Pay Hundreds of Millions In Rebates to Medicaid Program...
Chiropractor charged with insurance fraud - June 17, 2009
State Attorney General Anne Milgram has a bone to pick with a Clifton chiropractor who allegedly billed insurance companies for more than $230,000 for tests he did not personally perform. ...
NASA-developed technology aiding chiropractors - June 17, 2009
Chiropractic is an alternative form of medicine with treatments involving adjustments to the spine and other parts of the body.With technology developed by NASA, advances are being made in the effectiveness of treatments....
Chiropractor Writes Timely Book About Economic Crisis - June 17, 2009
Chiropractor and best selling chiropractic author, Dr. John Reizer, has written and published his 6th book on the subject of chiropractic and his 9th book overall....
Insurance costs for chiropractors won't drop - June 17, 2009
State lawmakers won't move to make it cheaper for most North Carolinians to see a chiropractor. Chiropractors want the state to ban insurance companies from charging higher co-pays to patients of chiropractors than those who go to general practioners....
State-of-the-Art Technology and Hotel-Like Environment Get CareOne's Rehab Patients Home Quicker - June 17, 2009
CareOne, New Jersey's largest family-owned and operated senior care provider reports that newly designed hotel-like Centers, and the use of computer technology account for speedier recovery and discharge in rehab patients compared to national averages....
Grand jury indicts woman on Medicaid fraud - June 17, 2009
A federal grand jury has indicted a former preschool owner from Eagle on 51 felony counts of defrauding state and federal Medicaid programs out of at least $100,000....
In patients' hunt for care, doctor database 'a place to start' - June 17, 2009
The company's approach exploits a wealth of commercially available information. Unbeknownst to most patients and many physicians, countless details of a doctor's professional activities - from procedures to referrals to prescribing records - are readily available, at a price, to marketers, medical information firms and drug companies....
The American Academy of Professional Coders Revamps Payer Coding Credential - June 16, 2009
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) has released an updated, revamped version of its Certified Professional Coder--Payer® (CPC-P®) medical coding credential. The AAPC updated the certification to cover the full spectrum of the payer role, placing more emphasis on the specific skill set needed in a payer environment....
Chiropractic Is Past the Demonstration Project Stage - June 16, 2009
On Jan. 5, 2009, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced yet another chiropractic demonstration project. Haven't we been there before? Isn't this the third demonstration project?...
Alternative treatment for allergies finds takers and skeptics - June 16, 2009
Over-the-counter remedies failed to relieve her 8-year-old son's severe allergies. The smallest sip of milk caused Bryson's throat to close and sent him into sneezing fits. When her chiropractor mentioned an alternative laser therapy treatment, the Wesley Chapel stay-at-home mom jumped at the chance....
Davita Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-Q) - June 15, 2009
Davita Inc. (DVA) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-03-31....
DaVita Announces Completion of Government Investigation - June 15, 2009
DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA) announced that the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York has informed the company that it has completed its investigation without taking any action against the company. ...
TriZetto Survey: Health Plans Using ICD-10 to Drive Strategic IT Initiatives and Create Foundation for Integrated Healthcare Management - June 15, 2009
A growing number of health plans believe the transition to the ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure coding system presents an opportunity to achieve competitive advantage by using the migration as a catalyst to make strategic organizational improvements. ...
Nursing Home Sexual Abuse Committed by One Nurse Aid at Two Facilities - June 15, 2009
A New York nursing home worker, who was already facing criminal charges for sexually abusing residents last summer, now faces new charges related to alleged abuses that occurred at another nursing home where he worked months earlier....
Care Point had state OK, Westchester says - June 15, 2009
A pediatric clinic accused of using unlicensed special-education therapists was on a list of state-approved providers, Westchester County officials said this week....
Medicare DME bidding program set to relaunch in 2010 - June 15, 2009
The White House gives the green light to competitive bidding over vigorous objections from equipment suppliers and some lawmakers....
Senate Introduces Legislation to Increase Access to Physical Therapist Services - June 15, 2009
The US Senate recently introduced legislation that would increase access to physical therapy services for Medicare beneficiaries by removing the need for a physician's referral or certification of the plan of care in those states in which direct access is authorized, says the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)....
Pasadena Chiropractor Offers Chiropractic Promotion for "Economic Stimulus" - June 15, 2009
Pasadena Chiropractor Michael Mendoza offers reduced-cost chiropractic care plan especially for residents of the north-east community of Pasadena, CA. This is to make chiropractic care more affordable for those affected by the recession....
Chiropractor Accused Of Molesting Patients - June 15, 2009
A Northampton County chiropractor who's also a Nazareth Area School Board member is accused of molesting four female patients....
Undercover sting targets lawyers, chiropractors - June 15, 2009
Seven people – including chiropractors, attorneys and a paralegal – have been charged in an undercover sting operation targeting insurance overbilling and the illegal practice of law, prosecutors announced today....
Improve Medicare oversight, Miami's U.S. attorney tells Senate - June 15, 2009
Miami's R. Alexander Acosta told a U.S. Senate panel that fixes need to be made at the top to stem the tide of Medicare fraud....
Remington College-Cleveland West Campus Offers New Physical Therapist Assistant Program - June 8, 2009
Remington College-Cleveland West is now enrolling students for its new Physical Therapist Assistant Degree Program. The program is designed to prepare students to practice as physical therapy assistants under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. ...
ProVation Medical Clients Positioned for Easier ICD-10 Transition - June 8, 2009
ProVation software for procedure documentation and coding puts healthcare organizations ahead of the curve in switch to expanded code set. ...
Illegal physical therapist gets jail - June 8, 2009
An Industry man changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced Monday on charges stemming from his practice of physical therapy without a license at a Farmington nursing home....
West Tennessee Healthcare Adopts Quality and Compliance Solution from MedeAnalytics - June 5, 2009
MedeAnalytics, a leading healthcare performance analytics company, announced the successful adoption of its Quality and Compliance Analytics solution at West Tennessee Healthcare....
Former New Albany couple sentenced in wheelchair scam - June 5, 2009
The wife and business partner of a former Worthington businessman connected to a wheelchair insurance scam were sentenced today in a Virginia courtroom....
Former HealthEssentials business manager indicted - June 5, 2009
A federal grand jury has indicted the former business manager of bankrupt Louisville company HealthEssentials Solutions for health-care fraud....
Care Facility Operating Without License - June 5, 2009
A Broward County woman has been arrested for operating an assisted living facility without a license and abusing a disabled adult in her care....
Chiropractor is back in a battle for bail - June 5, 2009
A Lower Merion chiropractor accused of attempting to hire a hit man to kill his estranged wife, a Haverford School District teacher, isn't letting a state court ruling stop him from trying to be released from jail while he awaits trial....
North American Seminars, Inc. Introduces Oncology Rehabilitation and Cancer Survivorship, a New Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Continuing E - June 4, 2009
North American Seminars has introduced Oncology Rehabilitation and Cancer Survivorship, a new physical therapy and occupational therapy continuing education course directed at helping rehabilitation professionals provide better care for their cancer patients....
Three approaches to holistic rehabilitation - June 4, 2009
While some chiropractors may apply an abrupt force on the joints, a technique known as High Velocity Low Amplitude (HVLA), many practitioners use gentler methods and combine other treatments to relieve pain....
AthletiCo Employees Volunteer Time And Talent To Support Global Medical Brigades - June 4, 2009
AthletiCo, an Illinois-based leader in physical therapy, fitness, and performance services, recently supported Global Medical Brigades on a medical mission trip to Honduras. ...
Rehabilitation system supports stroke patients - June 4, 2009
To assist patients with their physical therapy, researchers in the Arts, Media and Engineering (AME) program at Arizona State University have utilized cutting-edge research to develop a computerized Mixed Reality Rehabilitation system....
Government-Run Health Insurance Program Made Almost $19 Billion in Improper Payments in 2008 - June 4, 2009
Medicaid, the government-run health insurance program for low income people that is administered by state governments and funded by federal taxpayers, made almost $19 billion in improper payments in 2008....
Health care jobs projected to grow - June 3, 2009
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of nursing, psychiatric and home health aides is projected to grow 28 percent from 2006 to 2016. Employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 23 percent, and licensed practical nurses 14 percent....
Healthcare IT Provider MedPlexus Releases "Three Things Every Doctor Should Know About the Stimulus Bill Incentives" - June 2, 2009
Following the stimulus bill's passing, the medical community is seeking to understand how the more than $19 billion in healthcare IT implementation incentives will be distributed and what is required to receive them. Based on queries from its customers, MedPlexus, a leading provider of software solutions to medical practices, released today a brief guide entitled "Three Things Every Doctor Should Know About the Stimulus Bill Incentives." ...
Six in Ten Say Family Put Off Medical Care Due to Cost - June 2, 2009
Public continues to support action on health reform, including public plan and some tax changes. But argument testing shows opinion is malleable and will hinge on actual debate...
American Association for Homecare Applauds Senate Subcommittee Efforts to Prevent Waste and Fraud in Medicare - June 2, 2009
Today the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security held a hearing on waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare. The American Association for Homecare submitted a formal statement supporting the Subcommittee's efforts to reduce waste in Medicare....
AAPC Upgrades 18 Medical Coding Specialty Credentials - June 2, 2009
To better meet the growing demand in the health care industry for specialty-specific medical coders, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) announces that it has redesigned its medical coding specialty certifications....
California Community Clinics File Lawsuit Against State Over Budget Cuts to Critical Medi-Cal Benefits - May 30, 2009
The California Primary Care Association today announced that it is filing a lawsuit against the state of California to prevent the elimination of certain critical Medi-Cal benefits currently being provided by California's Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs). ...
Body work - May 27, 2009
As we live and stay active longer, more of us need physical therapy ...
Chiropractor, Dr. Peter A. Holst, Partners Up With CarbonCopyPRO! - May 26, 2009
Dr. Peter Holst, a chiropractor in Middletown, New York, had become one of the newest marketers at CarbonCopyPRO. Peter Holst, an expert internet marketer, joins an already power-packed lineup of entrepreneurs in the CarbonCopyPRO stable....
Weed chiropractor sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for bankruptcy fraud - May 25, 2009
On June 5, 2008, a jury found Klassy guilty of making false declarations under penalty of perjury in a bankruptcy case, fraudulently concealing property in a bankruptcy case, and 26 counts of money laundering....
Middletown chiropractor pleads guilty in molesting case - May 23, 2009
Chiropractor Christopher King has pleaded guilty to attempted forcible touching, a misdemeanor, in a case where patients said he molested them during treatment....
Ohio Chiropractor Sentenced for Workers' Compensation Fraud - May 22, 2009
A Cleveland, Ohio, chiropractor who has been under investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation's (BWC) special investigations department (SID) has been sentenced after pleading guilty to workers' compensation fraud and intimidation, the BWC announced....
Prebiotin Offers Chiropractors A New Research-Backed Tool to Enhance Bone Health: Prebiotics Fiber Supplement - May 22, 2009
Previously available only through selected gastroenterology practices, Chiropractors can now offer patients the bone-health enhancing benefits of Prebiotic fiber directly in their practice as part of the Chiropractor Partner Program announced by Jackson GI Medical....
Lost in the system
Lawmakers, physicians work to resurrect program for medically fragile children - May 22, 2009
The Medical University of South Carolina program in North Charleston served young patients with a one-stop shop for numerous services, such as primary care, social work and occupational and speech therapies....
Physical therapy careers booming for students - May 21, 2009
Most physical therapy students have a job lined up before they graduate, say college educators for this field. Starting salaries range from $60,000 to $70,000 annually and demographics favor increased demand for the profession in coming years. ...
Glendale therapy whistleblower case settled - May 21, 2009
A Glendale physical therapy company that contracts with Southern California Hospitals to operate hospital therapy departments, as well as its owners and operators, have paid the government $233,345 to resolve allegations in a "whistleblower" lawsuit that they caused the submission of false claims to Medicare....
Assisted living homes assailed - May 21, 2009
The 48-page report tells the stories of several elderlyresidents like Hunisch, who were allegedly involuntarily discharged or threatened with discharge from the company's facilities when they drained their personal savings and became eligible for Medicaid....
9 arrested in Medicaid fraud scheme - May 21, 2009
Nine people were arrested Wednesday in an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme that cost the federal program thousands of dollars for services not rendered, state Attorney General's Office officials said Thursday....
Former Lower Burrell office manager ordered to repay $12M in fraud case - May 19, 2009
The former office manager for the chiropractor who admitted masterminding a massive health insurance fraud case was sentenced Friday and ordered to pay more than $12 million restitution....
Therapy company to pay in fraud claims - May 16, 2009
Business' resolution represents growing number of cases in which health-care fraud is suspected....
Man Charged With Practicing Medicine Without License - May 16, 2009
Even though he has no medical license in California, Donsbach claimed to be a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor, and through a weekly, online radio broadcast from Chula Vista, offered "alternative, natural and nutritional" remedies for many conditions and ailments, including cancer and auto-immune disorders, according to the prosecution....
Chiropractor accused of blackmailing boys over nude photos - May 13, 2009
A Marietta chiropractor and former martial arts instructor has been indicted on sex charges for allegedly enticing teenage boys to send him pictures of themselves naked using Myspace, AOL Instant Messaging and another site....
Man who told patients he could cure cancer charged - May 13, 2009
Donsbach claimed to be a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor on his Web site, LetsTalkHealth.com, where he sells alternative remedies for many conditions, from cancer and autoimmune disorders to joint pain and stress....
Woman who sought treatment then sued chiropractor for 'unwanted contact' gets day in court - May 13, 2009
In June 2007, the Record reported on a suit filed by a woman who sought a neck adjustment then turned and sued the chiropractor for "unwanted, intrusive contact." Now, the case has gone to trial....
New York City Chiropractor Becomes First In North America to Offer Innovative SpiderTech Tape Therapy - May 13, 2009
Manhattan Chiropractor Dr. Steven Shoshany's office has always been synonymous with being at the forefront of integrating the newest and best technology to his practice. His latest addition is the highly anticipated SpiderTech line of pre-engineered Kinesiology Tape applications. Developed by Nucap Medical, SpiderTech is a new therapeutic product that supports muscle recovery that is precut for different body parts to save time for the doctor and energy for the patient. Dr. Shoshany is the first chiropractor to offer SpiderTech in North America....
Chiropractic Online Marketing Expert, Dr. Matthew Loop, Leads Web 2.0 / Social Media Charge - May 13, 2009
The economy has fallen, much to the dismay of those who have been investing their money into share market and other financial services. But, then there are entrepreneurs like Dr. Matthew Loop, who have been making a small fortune all by their own hard work and empowering others to thrive during this tough time...
Red Flag Rules apply to doctors of chiropractic - May 8, 2009
Based on legislation passed by Congress in 2003, in 2007, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) first issued regulations stating that financial institutions and creditors are required to develop and execute written "identity theft prevention programs" that must provide for the identification, detection, and response to patterns, practices, or specific activities....
Local chiropractic firm to pay $95K in discrimination lawsuit - May 6, 2009
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Wednesday reported that a Delaware County chiropractor's company will pay $95,000 to settle a pregnancy discrimination lawsuit involving a former associate chiropractor employed there....
Legislation Aims to Increase Access to Physical Therapist Services By Eliminating Physician Referral Requirement - May 6, 2009
Medicare beneficiaries who need physical therapist services would find it easier and more efficient to obtain treatment under legislation introduced yesterday in the US House of Representatives....
Nursing Home Abuse Continues to be a Scourge - May 6, 2009
Last inspected on May of 2008, Pinelake was given an overall five-star rating, which translates into 'much above average.' However, the same cannot be said for many other nursing homes across the country, or the nursing home industry as a whole....
St. Paul Chiropractor Sentenced To Workhouse Time - May 6, 2009
A St. Paul chiropractor convicted of giving a female co-worker a massage and touching her inappropriately was sentenced Thursday to 90 days in the workhouse....
Cases involving Houston physical therapy clinics show scope and cost of Medicare and Medicaid fraud - May 6, 2009
The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has affirmed the sentence of Wesley Alford Boyd, Jr., in a criminal case that arose out of Medicare and Medicaid fraud at six Houston-area physical therapy clinics....
Synergy Physical Therapy raises awareness about plight of uninsured - May 6, 2009
There is a national call to health-care reform, and locally, Synergy Physical Therapy and Wellness, 4510 Collins Blvd., is leading the charge to raise awareness during Cover the Uninsured Week....
AthletiCo Opens 50th Physical Therapy And Rehabilitation Center In Hyde Park - May 6, 2009
AthletiCo, a Chicago-based leader in physical therapy, rehabilitation, and fitness services, opens its 50th center in Hyde Park. The Hyde Park center is located at 1644 E. 53rd Street in Chicago....
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy Intervention Extends Lifespan and Quality of Life - May 6, 2009
Occupational therapy and physical therapy intervention can extend the length and quality of life for older adults by up to 3.5 years, according to recent findings from a follow-up study of Project ABLE....
Costly Home Health Care - May 6, 2009
Health care reformers have long advocated providing more care to patients in their own homes or communities instead of treating them in costly institutions like hospitals and nursing homes. The problem is compounded by fraud. ...
Chiropractic Patients Need To Know Treatment Risks - May 6, 2009
State chiropractors are fighting the proposed informed-consent law. The chiropractors say they are all for doing this, but they want it to apply to anyone who performs a procedure involving the neck, such as hairdressers. This is an obvious smoke screen....
Local Chiropractor Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison - May 6, 2009
Dr. William Stearns, DC, 47, of Marietta, was sentenced late last week to five years in prison for participating in a $2 million health care fraud scam at the network of back pain clinics that he operated with two co-conspirators. ...
APTA's Multidisciplinary Summit Establishes Opportunities for Physical Therapists to Drive Health Care Change - May 6, 2009
As the nation sits on the cusp of massive health care reform, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has taken a unique approach to leading the charge to control costs, improve quality, and expand access to health care for all Americans....
Marietta chiropractor gets jail time - May 6, 2009
Marietta, Ga., chiropractor Dr. William Stearns was sentenced late Thursday to five years in federal prison and fined $1.2 million for his role in a health-care fraud and money laundering scam....
Valley chiropractor accused of stalking woman for 3 years - May 6, 2009
According to police, surveillance on the doctor revealed that he was following the victim all over the Valley. ...
Stroke Victims Push For Chiropractor Bill - May 6, 2009
Two women who claim they suffered a stroke at the hands of their chiropractors are now pushing for change....
Fraud, abuse up cost of Medicare - May 6, 2009
Fraud and abuse helped boost Medicare spending on home-health services 44 percent over five years because some providers exaggerated patients' medical conditions and others billed for unnecessary services or care they did not provide, a Government Accountability Office report out today says....
10-K: GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC - May 6, 2009
The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of Gentiva's results of operations and financial position....
The five-star nursing home rating system is bad policy, hastily implemented - May 6, 2009
CMS intended for this system to make it easier for residents and their families to shop for care based on a "quality rating." Unfortunately, the hastily implemented system is far from easy to understand and, based on our analysis, it often does a poor job of accurately identifying "quality" facilities. ...
Chiropractor accused of sexual assault to continue practice with restrictions - May 4, 2009
An Indio chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting several patients under the guise of performing examinations is allowed to continue practicing -- with restrictions -- while his criminla case is pending, a state official said today....
New Chiropractic Directory Helps Patients and Generates Leads for Chiropractors - May 4, 2009
Chiropractors Are Invited to Contribute Their Health and Pain Treatment Articles within a Chiropractic Library Designed to Meet the Growing Demand for Consumer Health Search....
Veteran Rehab Specialist, Donna Cole, Joins Fast-Growing Alliance Seating & Mobility in California - May 4, 2009
Donna Cole, a complex rehab specialist with 15 years of experience, has joined Alliance Seating & Mobility (ASM), one of the nation's fastest growing accredited complex rehab companies....
New site offers healthy living tips - May 2, 2009
Georgians looking for a healthier lifestyle now have a new tool to help. FindGeorgiaChiropractors.com, the official patient site of the Georgia Chiropractic Association, is packed with useful healthy living tips and information on how chiropractic care fits perfectly into routine wellness care, improves athletic performance and relieves pain. ...
Chiropractors' from around the World to Gather at the California Jam 2009 Festival at the OC Performing Arts Centre - May 2, 2009
Dead Chiropractic Society, founder and leading Orange County chiropractor, Dr. Bill DeMoss, will gather the next generation of movers, shakers, and motivators of the chiropractic profession, to celebrate the California Jam 2009 festival....
Nava Spearheads Legislation to Increase Access to Health Care Services - April 23, 2009
AB 721 will allow physical therapists to act within their scope of practice and initiate immediate treatment to patients seeking relief from pain and injury without the need for a physician diagnosis....
'Direct Access' Can Save Patients Time, Money For Physical Therapy - April 23, 2009
Under Direct Access, a patient can go directly to a physical therapist without a doctor's referral, and in most cases, insurance will pick up the tab....
More abuse by care-givers - April 22, 2009
As reported in Sunday's Saginaw News, state inspectors determined this really happened to a resident at St. Francis Home in Thomas Township, leaving him with a mark on his nose and in a state of "increased anxiety." It also left his family "amazed."...
Former Brooklyn Chiropractor With Criminal Past Arraigned on Manslaughter Charge - April 22, 2009
A Brooklyn chiropractor charged in the fatal assault of an elderly Connecticut man threw one punch that knocked the victim down, then left the scene as the man lay bloodied in a Stamford parking garage....
Group Claims Chiropractry Gave Them Strokes - April 22, 2009
Two women have launched a billboard campaign, warning about risks associated with chiropractry. Both suffered from strokes, and believe their treatments led to their conditions....
Growing acceptance yields insurance dilemma for alternative providers - April 11, 2009
The use of alternative medicine is on the rise nationally. According to a study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control, 38 percent of adults had used some type of complementary or alternative medicine in 2007, up 5 percent from 2002....
Family of abused patient forgives living center fined $129,000 - April 11, 2009
Now, his family, who asked The Saginaw News not to use names out of concern for the patient's privacy, is forgiving the nursing home after learning that two workers abused him in December....
Inspections revealing -- State Web site posts ratings of Saginaw County nursing homes - April 11, 2009
Choosing a nursing home is an emotional decision, and families should do so using state inspection data as well as their eyes and ears, professionals advise....
Corte Madera chiropractor ordered to pay 2 patients more than $7,000 - April 11, 2009
Donald Harte, a Corte Madera chiropractor, has been ordered to pay two of his former patients a total of more than $7,000 after they took him to small claims court alleging he used false advertising and scare tactics....
Chiropractor charged with sexual abuse of client, 42 - April 11, 2009
A prominent Sullivan County chiropractor was arraigned Thursday on a charge he sexually abused a 42-year-old female client....
Gordon's massage licensing bill approved by House - April 11, 2009
The Alabama House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a measure to relax licensing requirements for chiropractors who employ massage therapists. ...
Branchburg chiropractor practices alternative methods - April 11, 2009
Dr. Eugene O'Neill, whose practice is based in Branchburg, says this upper-cervical approach is unique for several reasons....
Wheeling Hospital Offers New Pediatric Rehab Services - April 11, 2009
Wheeling Hospital's Center for Pediatrics announced a wide range of new rehabilitation services for children. Officials said, in addition to the center's regular and specialized pediatric care, the rehabilitation services will focus on physical, speech and occupational therapy....
Breast Cancer Patients Find New Form of Physical Therapy - April 11, 2009
In Peachtree City, Georgia on Lake Peachtree, the Steel Magnolias practice their rowing. One of the team members, Jill Binkley, a breast cancer survivor herself, tells CNN how the strenuous activity helps breast cancer patients heal. ...
EDUCATA and the World Confederation for Physical Therapy Partner to Provide First Global Online Continuing Education for Physical Therapists - April 11, 2009
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and EDUCATA, the first company to offer a global continuing education platform for physical therapists, have partnered to provide online courses starting in February 2009. The WCPT is an international professional organization whose members are national physical therapy associations. ...
Fraud probers seize chiropractor's files in Old Forge - April 11, 2009
Authorities on Friday seized computer records and medical files of a borough chiropractor suspected of insurance fraud....
Individual Sentenced for Practicing Physical Therapy Without A License - April 11, 2009
An investigation initiated by special investigators with the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) ended with today's federal sentencing of Michael W. Stinson, owner of Reconditioning & Exercise Physiology Specialists (REPS) in Loveland. ...
Man Sentenced For Illegally Performing Physical Therapy - April 11, 2009
A man who pleaded guilty to performing physical therapy on injured workers without a license will spend more than three years in prison....
Area's First Advanced Rehab System Arrives
Nathan Littauer Hospital Introduces High-Performance Rehab System - April 11, 2009
Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home announced today the acquisition of a new high-performance computer aided rehabilitation system aimed at helping return people to work or return to their sport of choice....
Indio chiropractor accused of sexually assaulting patients - April 11, 2009
A chiropractor who practices in Indio was arrested today on suspicion of sexually assaulting patients while performing medical examinations, authorities said....
3 charged in Medicare fraud, identity theft case - April 11, 2009
A husband and wife who ran a physical rehabilitation center in San Diego allegedly defrauded Medicare of more than $1.3 million by stealing the identities of seniors and filing false claims under their names, state regulators said yesterday....
Chiropractor waives felony fraud charges - April 11, 2009
A Mountain Top chiropractor, who prosecutors say defrauded patients and insurance companies out of nearly $35,000 over five years, waived charges during a preliminary hearing Monday in Central Court....
Former therapy assistant denies charges - April 11, 2009
An Industry man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he practiced physical therapy without a license at a Farmington nursing home....
12 charged in Orange County district attorney's fraud sting - April 11, 2009
The Orange County District Attorney's Office said Wednesday it arrested and charged 12 people in an undercover insurance over-billing scheme. Eight of the persons arrested were chiropractors, and one was an attorney. The arrests took place Monday and Tuesday....
Exercise Is Neglected Therapy for Chronic Low Back and Neck Pain - April 8, 2009
In a survey of nearly 700 patients with chronic low back or neck pain, only 14.4% were prescribed exercise by their physicians, Janet Freburger, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and colleagues reported in the February issue of Arthritis Care & Research. ...
Fibromyalgia is tough to pin down, tough treat - April 8, 2009
Plotnick specialized in aggressive treatment of the condition, and his case shows the high stakes for doctors and patients in managing chronic pain....
Two patients of Corte Madera chiropractor seek refunds in small claims court - April 8, 2009
Two former patients took a Corte Madera chiropractor to small claims court Friday, alleging false advertising and scare tactics and demanding refunds....
Increasing Number of Children Receive Pediatric Chiropractic Care - April 6, 2009
Chiropractors offer a drug-free approach to common childhood ailments, complement pediatricians....
Local chiropractor given prestigious 5-star award - April 6, 2009
The Five Star Quality Service Award was developed by Integrity Management as a means of promoting and publicizing superior chiropractic clinics that excel in patient treatment, customer service and professionalism. ...
St. Paul chiropractor convicted of sex charge - April 6, 2009
A jury found that Dr. Christopher Thaemert, 43, sexually touched employee without her consent at his St. Paul office....
Physical therapists, chiropractors square off over bill - April 6, 2009
The campus is heating up today with supporters and opponents Senate Bill 5230 descending on the Capitol. The bill sponsored by Sen. Fairely, D-Lake Forest Park, would allow physical therapists in Washington to perform spinal manipulation, which chiropractors currently perform....
St. Paul chiropractor faces criminal sexual conduct charges - April 6, 2009
He is accused of touching an employee in a sexual way without her consent during a massage. His lawyer says all he did was kiss her leg....
Wii takes therapy thinking outside the box - April 6, 2009
At Lake County Nursing and Rehabilitation in East Chicago, instead of mundanely hoisting dumbbells to keep up his upper body strength, a man without legs throws jabs at his animated opponent on Nintendo's Wii video game system....
Economy's aches and pains have not slowed growth of rehabilitation services - April 6, 2009
While the economic downturn has hit some business sectors hard in recent months, more physical therapy and similar types of rehabilitation practices continue to open in the area, underscoring the demand for such services....
State clears nursing home
Texan Nursing and Rehab in compliance, says report - April 6, 2009
Texan Nursing and Rehab of Amarillo has been cleared by the state after a trouble-filled August inspection put the home in jeopardy of closing....
Kids find a new way to adjust: Chiropractors - April 3, 2009
Booth, a university professor in Portland, Ore., found that her lactation consultant and several friends also endorsed chiropractic care for kids....
Chiropractor uses own medicine to heal terminal cancer - April 3, 2009
In 2000, Dr. Greg Ling -- a traditionally trained chiropractor practicing in Norton Shores -- was issued a death sentence by the medical world. He was diagnosed with terminal melanoma and told there was "no hope" of recovery and "no need" for treatment....
EDUCATA(TM) Debuts Online Learning Center for Physical Therapists - April 3, 2009
Recognized Subject-Matter Experts, Coupled With Highly Interactive Technology, Make Continuing Education Easy and Effective...
Chiropractor can continue practice, but must tell patients he is going on trial for criminal sexual conduct - April 3, 2009
A chiropractor accused of inappropriate sexual behavior toward his patients can continue to practice out of his house-turned-office on 36th Street SW -- but only after revealing to his patients that he is charged with fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct....
Parties Settle Libel Lawsuit Over Yelp Review - April 3, 2009
A San Francisco chiropractor and his former patient, Christopher Norberg, have settled a libel lawsuit arising out of a bad review that Norberg posted on Yelp. ...
Metro chiropractor gets prison for fraud - April 3, 2009
A Norcross, Ga., chiropractor was sentenced to prison late Wednesday for health-care fraud and possession with intent to distribute testosterone....
Evidence In Motion and San Luis Sports Therapy Team Up - April 2, 2009
As part of the agreement, SLST becomes a Network Partner for Evidence in Motion's Orthopedic Residency and Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy Fellowship training in the communities they serve. ...
Yelp user faces lawsuit over negative review - April 2, 2009
Eric Nordskog, the attorney for chiropractor Steven Biegel, said the case comes down to whether Norberg's comments are considered statements of fact or opinions....
Revolving Audit for Inpatient Consultation Services (99253-99255) by Specialty 39 (Nephrology) in Louisiana - March 31, 2009
Consultation Evaluation and Management (E/M) services was one of the problems listed in the FY2007 Strategy and has been carried over to the 2008 Strategy. This issue ranks 3rd among all identified problem areas for fiscal year 2008. During the preparation of the 2008 Strategy, specialty (SP) 39 was identified as outliers through local data in Louisiana for CPT codes 99251 - 99255. Widespread probe reviews including all specialties, based on Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) errors, national aberrancies, and/or local aberrancies, were completed in Louisiana in 2007 and early 2008 for Inpatient Consults (99251 – 99255). SP 39 was identified as having a high denial rate....
Patients Seeking Alternatives to the Long Waiting List - March 29, 2009
The need for deceased donor organs for kidney transplantation in the United States continues to increase. The increasing demand has fueled desperate attempts by patients to circumvent the long waiting list of the United Network for Organ Sharing....
New Hope On Organ Donation? Or False Hope for Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease - March 29, 2009
Senator Specter (R-PA) has entered the arena of the payment for organ donation controversy with the Organ Donation Clarification Act of 2008 that if passed will eliminate some of the prohibitions against financial incentives for organ donation established in the The National Organ Transplant Act of 1984....
DOH Shuts Down Manhattan Dialysis Center - March 29, 2009
A Manhattan dialysis center has closed its doors after a New York State Department of Health investigation uncovered poor infection control practices and indicated that at least one patient has contracted hepatitis C after undergoing dialysis there. ...
Nephros Receives Non-Compliance Notification from AMEX - March 29, 2009
Nephros, Inc. (Amex: NEP) today announced that the Company has received notice from the staff of the American Stock Exchange (AMEX) indicating that the Company is not in compliance with certain conditions of the continued listing standards of Section 1003 of the AMEX Company Guide....
Nephros Appoints James S. Scibetta as Chairman of Board of Directors - March 29, 2009
Nephros, Inc. (Amex: NEP), a medical device company focused on developing advanced filtration products for ESRD therapy and water purification, announced today that Mr. James S. Scibetta was appointed to serve as Chairman of its Board of Directors....
RSN and NRAA to Launch Sponsorship and Marketing Collaboration at Fall Conference in Cleveland - March 29, 2009
Getting the word out about The Renal Support Network's (RSN) HOPEline call-in support program will become easier this month when RSN launches a two-year sponsorship/marketing collaboration with the National Renal Administrators Association (NRAA). ...
Fresenius Medical Care Opens New/Relocates Facility in New Jersey - March 29, 2009
Fresenius Medical Care North America, operator of the nation's leading network of dialysis clinics, today announced the opening of Fresenius Medical Care Atlantic City Dialysis, a new advanced dialysis treatment center....
New Solution For Malnourished Dialysis Patients - March 29, 2009
The number of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients requiring hemodialysis, considered Stage 5 CKD, is growing every year in spite of medical advances. This growth is fueled by the aging baby boomer population and the diabetes epidemic in the United States....
Renal Physicians Association and Forum of ESRD Networks Launch Keeping Kidney Patient Safe Web Site - March 26, 2009
The Renal Physicians Association (RPA), in partnership with the Forum of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Networks, today launched Keeping Kidney Patients Safe (), a web site designed to serve as a resource for nephrology professionals to improve patient safety and assist them in meeting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ESRD Facility Conditions for Coverage....
Novel Diagnostic Marker for Acute Kidney Injury Previewed at Abbott-Sponsored Scientific Workshop - March 26, 2009
Data Presented at American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Meeting Show Urine NGAL Can Potentially Save Lives by Enabling Faster Detection of Acute Kidney Injury ...
BioTrends Releases Quarterly TreatmentTrends(TM): Nephrology Report Highlighting Market Trends for Renal Anemia, Hyperphosphatemia, and Secondary Hype - March 26, 2009
BioTrends Research Group, Inc. released its 10th quarterly Nephrology TreatmentTrends(TM) publication, a syndicated report offering comprehensive insight into the management of renal anemia and bone and mineral metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and Dialysis. The report provides information from 182 US Nephrologists -- data were collected through an online survey fielded in June 2008. ...
S.F. Yelp user faces lawsuit over review - March 26, 2009
In a case that could chill free speech online, a San Francisco chiropractor has sued a local artist over negative reviews published on Yelp, the popular Web site that rates businesses. ...
Chiropractor sentenced to prison in $12 million insurance fraud - March 26, 2009
Based in part on the cooperation of former Lower Burrell chiropractor Douglas Henderson, the U.S. attorney's office won convictions of 15 other people in a $12 million healthcare fraud scheme....
Ex-chiropractor gets 4 years in prison for billing fraud - March 26, 2009
After more than two years of delays, a federal judge Friday sentenced a former Westmoreland County chiropractor to prison for masterminding the largest health care fraud in Western Pennsylvania history. ...
ACOM Healthcare Business Division Consolidates Chiropractic Software, Billing Activities in ACOM's Atlanta Regional Office - March 26, 2009
In a combined effort to streamline customer service and attain significant economies of scale, the ACOM Healthcare Business Division has moved its RAPID software operations and call center and its ACOM Medical Billing Service from Jacksonville, Florida to the Atlanta regional offices of its parent company, ACOM Solutions, Inc., it was announced today by Senior Vice President and General Manager Mark Firmin....
Woman says chiropractor touched her inappropriately, suggested she get naked as payment - March 26, 2009
As Gregory Alan Freeman finished a chiropractic treatment of a female patient, police said he invited the woman to get naked as payment for the service. ...
Chiropractic acceptance growing - March 26, 2009
In the 15 years since he finished school and opened a practice in Mishawaka, Dr. Steve Obert has seen a growing acceptance of chiropractic based on scientific studies that show success in solving medical problems beyond the usual muscle pains. ...
Warren County chiropractor implements new treatment - March 26, 2009
Village Family Chiropractic announces the addition of Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA) to its growing roster of medical treatments. Dr. James R. Fedich has recently been certified in Manipulation under Anesthesia, which gives patient another treatment option for difficult and chronic conditions, by Southern California University of Health Sciences....
Our view: Auto fraud fight must continue - March 26, 2009
Last week, automobile insurance fraud charges against a Lawrence attorney and a Haverhill chiropractor were thrown out of court...
Houston chiropractor sent to prison for money laundering - March 26, 2009
A Houston area chiropractic clinic owner has been sentenced to federal prison for money laundering. Theresa Williams, 48, laundered the proceeds of an insurance fraud scheme, according to acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson. ...
Canyon Country Chiropractor Arrested For Insurance Fraud - March 26, 2009
Canyon Country chiropractor Bassam Michael Naber, 48, was arrested this morning at his home on six felony counts of insurance fraud and creating false documents. ...
Many Children Now Rely on Alternative Remedies - March 26, 2009
One of every nine children under age 18 practices yoga, goes to a chiropractor, takes a supplement like fish oil or uses some other alternative treatment, according to a new government survey that for the first time included questions regarding children's use of complementary medicine. ...
Judge dismisses auto fraud indictments against Lawrence lawyer and Haverhill chiropractor - March 26, 2009
Lawyers for popular Lawrence attorney Socrates De La Cruz and Haverhill chiropractor Troy Wheelwright proclaimed they had been exonerated of auto insurance fraud allegations yesterday after a judge dismissed their April indictments. ...
Chiropractor accused of improper touching sanctioned - March 26, 2009
A Janesville chiropractor twice sanctioned for improper sexual contact continues to practice....
New York chiropractor arrested for insurance fraud - March 26, 2009
A New York chiropractor who allegedly continued to submit claims for treating a patient four years after he stopped treatments was arrested for insurance fraud. ...
AG responds to chiropractor's claims - March 26, 2009
A South Lake Tahoe chiropractor who claims to have discovered a quick fix for a painful, incurable condition is now facing the possible loss of his license. It comes after an I-Team investigation two weeks ago. Now, his attorney is unveiling the defense he plans to use. ...
Suffolk County Chiropractor In Fraud Bust - March 26, 2009
A Suffolk County chiropractor who continued to submit claims for treating a patient four years after he stopped the treatments was arrested Thursday for insurance fraud, the New York State Insurance Department reported....
No second trial in fraud case
Chiropractor had been accused of bilking insurance - March 26, 2009
Prosecutors announced Thursday they will not retry Wilmer Origel, a Central Valley chiropractor arrested five years ago in what was heralded at the time as Northern California's biggest medical billing insurance fraud case, topping $20 million....
Stack takes insurance class certification under advisement - March 26, 2009
Madison County Circuit Judge Daniel J. Stack has given lawyers 21 days to file supplemental pleadings after hearing arguments on whether to certify a 15-state class action. ...
Chiropractor gets two years for insurance fraud - March 26, 2009
A Morgan Hill man was convicted for defrauding insurance companies at his Los Gatos chiropractic office to the tune of a quarter-million dollars earlier this month, according to a press release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney's office. ...
Atlanta surgeon, 2 chiropractors get prison for health fraud - March 26, 2009
An orthopedic surgeon and two chiropractors were sentenced Thursday to federal prison for cheating insurance companies out of $3 million by mislabeling treatments for back pain. ...
Insurance fraud investigation leads to charges - March 26, 2009
A Waseca man has been charged with felony insurance fraud after an investigation into a 2005 incident. ...
hiropractor Bends Law and Heads to Prison - March 26, 2009
A San Diego chiropractor convicted of defrauding the government and failing to file income taxes for five years was sentenced Monday to 18 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution. ...
Chiropractor claims to cure fibromyalgia - March 26, 2009
A south Lake Tahoe chiropractor claims he has discovered the cause of a painful, chronic condition. He charges patients thousands of dollars for his cure....
Doctor's sentencing postponed - March 26, 2009
Lingering questions about how much money a local chiropractor owes to insurance carriers he overbilled pushed back the doctor's sentencing again Monday. ...
NYC Chiropractor Dr. Steven Shoshany Now Certified in Kinesio Taping. Chiropractor NYC - March 26, 2009
Dr. Steven Shoshany, a chiropractor at Manhattan's Living Well Medical, PC, is now a certified Kinesio Taping® practitioner. Dr. Shoshany's certification is a unique addition to the physical therapy and rehabilitation services offered at Living Well Medical....
Marietta doc guilty in $3M fraud scam - March 26, 2009
Marietta, Ga., chiropractor Dr. William Stearns was found guilty Monday of 18 charges of health-care fraud and five charges of money laundering in a $3 million scam. ...
Medical fraud mistrial declared
Jury deadlocks 10-2 in favor of chiropractor facing 11 felony counts - March 26, 2009
The criminal trial of a Central Valley chiropractor ended Friday with a hung jury, putting Wilmer Origel's fate back in the hands of prosecutors, who now have to decide if they will try him again or drop the charges. ...
Los Gatos chiropractor sentenced to two years for insurance fraud - March 26, 2009
A Los Gatos chiropractor convicted of defrauding insurance companies of more than $250,000 by overbilling them for services he didn't perform will pay an unusually steep price: two years in state prison....
Eight charged with auto insurance fraud - March 26, 2009
Investigators from an auto insurance fraud task force in Lawrence, Mass., say participants in phony crashes allegedly set up by Leo Lopez usually felt safe. ...
Revolutionary medical testing offered by Beckley chiropractor - March 26, 2009
Dr. Rocky Sexton of Integrity Chiropractic has recently introduced innovative bio-electrical impedance testing into his practice. ...
ACOM Consulting Group Offers Compliance, Profitability Guide for Chiropractic Offices: "Practice Scorecard" Free for Limited Time - March 26, 2009
Doctors who may be fearful of audits and potential paybacks or who may simply feel that their practices are not as efficient or productive as they should be now have a new service at their disposal in the form of a Practice Scorecard offer from the Healthcare Business Division of ACOM Solutions, Inc....
Former Maine chiropractor sentenced in tax case - March 26, 2009
A former Maine chiropractor is going to prison for two years for health care fraud and tax evasion. ...
Investigators raid W-B chiropractor's office - March 26, 2009
Authorities raided a city chiropractor's office Friday to seize records amid allegations he fraudulently billed patients and insurance companies for made-up visits and treatment - even on days his office was closed. ...
Allstate sues 13 Florida firms, says they staged accidents - March 26, 2009
Allstate Insurance has sued 13 Florida companies, including auto body shops, tow truck operators, chiropractic clinics and their owners and some policyholders, alleging the group staged at least 17 auto accidents and filed fraudulent claims....
Chiropractor Concerns - March 26, 2009
The New York State Education Department licenses some 48 professionals, including chiropractors. Dr.Tom Taylor of Lackawanna contacted them about the conduct of one of his colleagues...
Chiropractor Email Account Hacked - March 26, 2009
A chiropractors e-mail account was hacked early Monday morning, resulting in an emergency e-mail request for money being sent to his family, friends, colleagues, and even clients. The perpetrator requested that funds be mailed to Nigeria....
Family speaks out about controversial medical procedure - March 26, 2009
Man unresponsive after 'manipulation under anesthesia'. He's 33, a father to three, a bit heavy, with diabetes and sore legs. And now he lies unresponsive in a hospital, his brain damaged in a controversial outpatient procedure that critics say is often done needlessly and billed excessively....
Cedar Rapids chiropractor pleads not guilty to Medicaid fraud - March 24, 2009
A Cedar Rapids chiropractor pleaded not guilty today in U.S. District Court to multiple counts of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering....
Former chiropractor faces more charges - March 24, 2009
A former chiropractor convicted of fondling his patients during office visits faces a half-dozen additional charges in the case....
Texas Law Firm Pleads Guilty to Role in Staged Accident Scheme - March 24, 2009
Trey Allen, P.C. processed personal injury cases by filing claims with insurance companies for physical injuries and medical expenses, including those for chiropractic treatment, incurred by the accident clients....
Doctor supplied drugs in fraud case
Witness says Origel covered up addiction, finances - March 24, 2009
A doctor who admitted a prolonged addiction to narcotics testified Thursday that he was a moneymaking tool of Wilmer Origel, a chiropractor on trial in Stockton for alleged insurance fraud and the illegal use of drugs on patients....
Kennebunk chiropractor cleared of 'sexual touching' charge - March 24, 2009
Clifford Faldman, a Kennebunk chiropractor who faced a charge of unlawful sexual touching, was found not guilty after a jury trial in Alfred concluded last week....
Weeping chiropractor gets 4 months for $340,000 theft - March 24, 2009
Chiropractor Matthew Nicastro wept Tuesday as he begged a Cumberland County judge not to send him to prison for a $340,000 insurance fraud that Nicastro claimed resulted from negligent bookkeeping....
Boiling Springs chiropractor gets prison in insurance fraud case - March 24, 2009
Boiling Springs chiropractor Matthew Nicastro was sentenced this afternoon to 4 to 23 months in Cumberland County Prison on insurance fraud and theft by deception charges....
2 acquitted in fraud case
Chiropractor, lawyer were accused of trying to cheat insurance companies - March 24, 2009
An Indianapolis chiropractor and an attorney were acquitted of all charges early Thursday morning in an insurance fraud case....
Chiropractor wins one case; faces further censure from state - March 24, 2009
Clifford Faldman, the Kennebunk chiropractor who had been facing a charge of unlawful sexual touching, was found not guilty after a jury trial in Alfred concluded last week....
David Singer Enterprises and Standard Process® Fight for Insurance Reimbursement - March 24, 2009
Dr. David Singer of David Singer Enterprises and Standard Process® Vitamins unite to fight for better insurance reimbursement. Dr. Singer is donating all fees from his live two-hour training teleconferences to the National Chiropractor Legal Action Fund (NCLAF)....
MedBack co-owner sentenced for perjury
Temperance man gets 10-month term - March 24, 2009
The second of two brothers serving prison time for their roles in a $4.8 million money-laundering and health-care fraud scheme has been sentenced in U.S. District Court in Toledo after being found guilty of perjury....
New IRC Study Documents Role of Chiropractors in Minnesota's No-Fault Auto Insurance System - March 24, 2009
Chiropractors now account for a greater share of total provider charges in Minnesota's no-fault insurance system than all other types of treating providers combined....
Chiropractor survived 9-11, but insurance fight is breaking his back - March 24, 2009
A chiropractor from Princeton disabled by falling debris after the 9-11 attack on New York is suing his insurance company for fighting his claim for years, then changing its mind after he spent $85,000 on a lawyer....
Chiropractor to re-open practice following suspension; more charges pending - March 24, 2009
A Kennebunk chiropractor whose license was suspended following charges of sexual misconduct with patients, plans to reopen his office as soon as possible, his lawyer said last week....
Kennebunk chiropractor faces additional charges - March 24, 2009
Chiropractor Clifford L. Faldman's license to practice was reactivated on August 27 following 210 days of suspension stemming from charges of inappropriately touching patients....
Detelich: Judge erred in fraud case - March 24, 2009
A former local chiropractor said a federal judge violated his due process rights by making him prove that he withdrew from a scheme to defraud a health insurance company....
Three more guilty in Pittsburgh fraud case - March 24, 2009
Three more Alle-Kiski Valley people are pleading guilty in a multimillion-dollar scheme involving 16 people to defraud Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield....
ACOM Healthcare Business Consulting Group to Create/Present Chiropractic Coding and Documentation Programs for Elite Coaching Clientele - March 24, 2009
The ACOM Healthcare Business Consulting Group and Tacoma (WA)-based Elite Coaching, LLC have entered into an agreement under which ACOM chiropractic consultants will conduct a program of activities as Elite Coaching's official coding, documentation and compliance resource, it was announced today by ACOM Senior Consultant Bharon Hoag and Elite Coaching Founder/President Dr. Fred DiDomenico....
Former Pennsylvania chiropractor charged for alleged role in staged bus accident claims - March 24, 2009
A former Bucks County, Pa., chiropractor has been linked to fraudulent injury claims submitted after two staged bus crashes in Philadelphia....
Kidney Community Applauds Senate for Passage of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Improvements - March 19, 2009
In response to the passage of the Medicare bill (H.R. 6331) yesterday, Kidney Care Partners (KCP) -- an alliance of patient advocates, dialysis professionals, care providers and manufacturers working together to improve quality of care for individuals with kidney disease and kidney failure -- applauded the United States Senate for inclusion of vital End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) provisions which recognize the importance of much needed reform surrounding the ESRD program for the hundreds of thousands of Americans suffering from kidney failure....
Time to cure what ails Medicare - March 19, 2009
Medicare currently serves as the secondary payer for a patient undergoing dialysis for end stage renal disease for the first 30 months of treatment, during which the beneficiary's own private insurance plan provides primary payment. Patients are forced to switch to Medicare as their primary payer after 30 months of treatment - regardless of their age or preferences....
Kidney Disease Marginally Linked to Poor Drug Use After MI - March 19, 2009
Chronic kidney disease patients who have a heart attack, and particularly dialysis patients, wind up underusing cardiovascular medications, a study found....
Nephros Completes Pivotal U.S. Clinical Trial for its Hemodiafiltration Products - March 19, 2009
Nephros, Inc. (Amex: NEP), a medical device company, announced today that it has completed the pivotal U.S. clinical trial for its OLpur(TM) H2H module and OLpur(TM) MD220 filter for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) therapy....
RMCH sells its dialysis operation - March 19, 2009
For more than 20 years, residents of this area relied on the doctors at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital to provide dialysis care....
Missouri court denies Fresenius appeal in Epogen billing investigation - March 19, 2009
A Missouri federal court denied Fresenius' appeal to drop or modify a subpoena regarding an investigation into the dialysis provider's Epogen billing practices toMedicare, according to a May 16 court filing....
Lufkin Dialysis probe takes a new twist - March 19, 2009
Zavilla resident Walter Metcalf is blaming Heparin - for the death of his wife - Thelma. The very drug that has recently made worldwide news....
Australia: $50,000 for a kidney? Doctor's proposal highlights desperate health, social crisis - March 18, 2009
An Australian doctor provoked a public outcry last week with a proposal that healthy young people be offered $50,000 for one of their kidneys. Dr Gavin Carney, a nephrologist at Canberra Hospital, said cash payment for organs was needed to address an urgent shortage of donors....
Nephros Reports 2008 First Quarter Financial Results - March 18, 2009
Nephros, Inc. (Amex: NEP) announced today financial results for the three month period ended March 31, 2008....
Maximizing Practice Cashflow - Medical Billing Network Presentation at Monmouth-Ocean New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Professional Coder - February 16, 2009
Frustrated by insurance carriers that continue to reduce physicians' reimbursement? Searching for new ways to increase your practice revenue and improve compliance? Yuval Lirov, PhD, author of 'Medical Billing Networks and Processes' (2009) and 'Practicing Profitability - Billing Network Effect For Revenue Cycle Management' (2007), and CEO of Vericle, will deliver a presentation titled 'Maximizing Practice Cashflow: the Modern Business Practice of Medicine,' at the March 2009 meeting of the Monmouth/Ocean NJ Chapter of The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). His presentation reviews the specific strategies and tactics insurance companies use to underpay providers and reveals innovative Internet-based methodologies to level the playing field between the two....
National healthcare rate of spending slows, for now - February 15, 2009
National healthcare spending in 2007 increased at the slowest rate since 1998 but still grew faster than the economy at large, according to a report issued by federal auditors Tuesday....
Lawsuit May have Implications for Medical Collection Agencies - February 15, 2009
It's not uncommon for medical debt collectors to inform patients that they are responsible for the full charges sent to the agency for collection. However, if the trend of states adopting laws to provide discounts to the uninsured continues, more agencies may have to revise their statements or they could be setting themselves up for a lawsuit similar to the one facing Audit & Adjustment Co....
Massage bill could increase profession\\\'s legitimacy - February 13, 2009
Legitimate massage practitioners and their clients, devotees of therapeutic, not sleazy, touching are the intended beneficiaries of legislation that takes effect later this year....
CompHealth Earns The Joint Commission Certification
Rehab and Respiratory Therapy Division Earns National Compliance Honor - February 13, 2009
CompHealth, a CHG Healthcare Services company and one of the leading providers of temporary and permanent healthcare staffing services in the United States, announced today its rehab and respiratory therapy staffing division in Grand Rapids, Mich., has achieved The Gold Seal of Approval™ for Health Care Staffing Services by The Joint Commission. ...
Nursing home checkup - February 13, 2009
More than half of San Joaquin County's nursing home residents eligible for Medicare or Medi-Cal live in facilities considered below average in quality ratings released in December by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services....
Nursing homes: Rating system a positive step - February 12, 2009
A rating system for nursing homes begun by the Bush administration may be revealing more about their quality - or lack of it - than many may wish the public to see....
Grand Junction man receives \'Stanley Cup\' of physical therapy awards - February 12, 2009
Smith was awarded Colorado's Outstanding Physical Therapist for 2008 in October by the American Physical Therapy Association. A plaque, engraved with his name along with honorees preceding Smith, arrived Saturday to Grand Junction....
New technology strives to heal injuries faster - February 12, 2009
Powell's program, ARPwave, stands for Accelerated Recovery Performance. The program claims to get to the root of an injury, help cure that injury 30 percent faster than any physical therapy, and get people back into the shape they once were....
Fort Collins nursing homes generally rank high - February 12, 2009
Some for-profit nursing homes in Fort Collins are bucking the national trend that indicates higher-quality care is received at their nonprofit counterparts, according to a newly released federal five-star rating system....
Home health agency owners charged with Medicare fraud - February 12, 2009
Owners and employees of eight home health agencies in Southeast Michigan were indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury in Detroit on charges they were part of a scheme to pay kickbacks in exchange for Medicare patient referrals, said acting U.S. Attorney Terrence Berg....
Putnam nursing homes run the gamut of scores in survey - February 12, 2009
Only three other states have a higher percentage of one-star nursing homes, and less than seven percent of Tennessee nursing homes received the five star rating....
The Ensign Group, Inc. Responds to DOJ Inquiry - February 9, 2009
The Ensign Group, Inc., the parent company of the Ensign(TM) group of skilled nursing, rehabilitative care services and assisted living companies, announced today that representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice served search warrants on its Service Center and six of its Southern California skilled nursing facilities. ...
2 Eastern Ky. therapists sentenced - February 9, 2009
Two Eastern Kentucky therapists accused of defrauding the state's Medicaid program have accepted a plea agreement....
2 men indicted for nursing home embezzlements - January 27, 2009
Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Amarillo for allegedly using a Pampa nursing home to steal $28,492.41 from the U.S. government or their employer....
Wii-hab? - January 27, 2009
Herz's research team used this system along with more traditional rehabilitation methods in a group of 30 patients with Parkinson's disease and found that it helped slow the progression of this debilitating disorder that affects an individual's ability to walk, speak and maintain balance....
Board disciplines therapist - January 27, 2009
An occupational therapist who formerly practiced in Burlington has been disciplined by the Iowa Board of Physical and Occupational Therapy....
CMS Issues Historic Star Quality Rating System for Nursing Homes - January 13, 2009
For the first time in history, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today released quality ratings for each of the nation's 15,800 nursing homes that participate in Medicare or Medicaid....
PricewaterhouseCoopers Identifies the Top Nine Issues for Health Industries in 2009 - January 13, 2009
The report is an annual review of the most pressing issues for health executives and policy makers. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute, the top nine health industry issues in 2009 are:...
Speech patholigist\'s assistant arrested for medicaid fraud - January 13, 2009
Attorney General Bill McCollum announced Dec. 8 that a St. Petersburg woman has been arrested for her role in a scheme to defraud the Florida Medicaid program....
SMC Home Care ranked as one of the state's best - January 13, 2009
Sibley Medical Center Home Care in Arlington recently ranked as one of the state's best in a federal survey of Minnesota's 202 Medicare-certified home health care agencies....
The Journal of Medical Practice Management® to become Official Journal of PAHCOM - January 12, 2009
Greenbranch Publishing announced today that effective January 2009, The Journal of Medical Practice Management® (JMPM) will become the official journal of PAHCOM (Professional Association of Health Care Office Management). In addition to the current benefits of membership, every PAHCOM member will receive the bi-monthly journal as part of their membership dues....
New Jersey-Based MedQuist Pays U.S. $6.6 Million to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations - January 11, 2009
Medical transcription service provider MedQuist Inc. has paid the United States $6.6 million to resolve allegations under the False Claims Act that it overbilled federal government clients, the Justice Department announced today....
WellMed Selects ikaSystems\\\' Full Medicare Process Automation and Intelligence Management Suite - January 11, 2009
Award-Winning Care Delivery and Management Company Will Use ikaEnterprise for Medicare to Achieve End-to-End Process Automation and Integration ...
Nursing Home Employee Arrested for Abusing 88 Year-old Resident - January 11, 2009
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of a Broward County woman on charges she abused an elderly nursing home resident under her care. Karlene Brown was arrested this morning by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit....
TROY SecureRx Revolutionizes Prescription Printing
CMS compliant prescriptions on plain paper - January 8, 2009
TROY Group, Inc. (Pink Sheets: TROY), a worldwide leader in secure on-demand printing solutions, announces the first digital printer for printing the federally mandated security features onto plain laser bond paper....
Addressing pain with massage
Therapeutic sessions are used to help headaches, side effects, more - December 31, 2008
Massage therapy is gaining ground as a legitimate medical discipline, and it's used for more than relaxation, massage therapists say....
Medical business, employees charged with health care fraud - December 31, 2008
Medic Management billed Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance for thousands of physical therapy sessions, despite the fact that the clinic never employed a licensed physical therapist, and treatment was provided by unsupervised personnel who had no physical therapy training, but all the physical therapy sessions were billed as if they were performed by Dr. Anabtawi....
Our homes: Where health care is really hurting - December 28, 2008
On quality measures compiled by the federal government, Minnesota's 202 Medicare-certified home health care agencies appear to be among the worst in the nation....
Health care fraud still a key target of federal False Claims Act - December 28, 2008
Physicians are seldom named in false claims cases but are often in a position to blow the whistle on fraud they observe...
Kids hang in balance when state won\'t pay bills on time - December 28, 2008
Now the therapists who work with children who have special needs have the additional pressure of not being paid on time....
Therapy center for special needs children a real leap - December 28, 2008
Three years ago, special-needs children at Intermediate School 180 in Co-Op City had just a single room and a tattered mat for their physical therapy....
New Medicaid plan could open state to home care fraud - December 24, 2008
Home care providers are worried a new state Medicaid program will leave seniors vulnerable to fraud and abuse, and will cut into their business....
Group offers fixes for health care system - December 24, 2008
National leaders in health care, labor and consumer issues are working to find ways to improve health care while cutting costs....
License probe leads to indictment - December 23, 2008
An Industry man has been indicted by a Franklin County grand jury for allegedly passing himself off as a licensed physical therapist at a Farmington nursing home by using a license obtained with bogus information....
Guilty plea in nursing home neglect case - December 23, 2008
The corporate owner of a Forest Park nursing home pleaded guilty today to felony gross neglect that resulted in the death of a long-term patient....
Medicare finalizes 1.1% pay raise, bonus criteria - December 20, 2008
"Medicare's new rule confirms that physicians caring for seniors would have faced a harsh payment cut of 15.1% next year if Congress had not stepped in," said American Medical Association President-elect J. James Rohack, MD....
Oklahoma state agency puts focus on abuse by caretakers - December 20, 2008
The patient abuse unit receives about 250 referrals a year from police departments, the State Health Department and private citizens, unit chief Don Brown said. ...
East Moline nursing home sued for negligence - December 20, 2008
An East Moline nursing home is facing a lawsuit from a widow who is accusing the facility of negligence that led to her husband's death....
Therapist frees folks from pain - December 20, 2008
Harmeling and his staff have contributed much to a practice that boasts more than 50 percent repeat patients, including many families. Not only do the therapists work on getting the patients better, they encourage their patients to also want to get better by helping themselves and following up with exercises at home....
Nursing home physical therapist faces charges - December 6, 2008
Dellarma was licensed as a physical therapist assistant in 1995 and has continued to renew that license, which he currently holds, said Doug Dunbar, assistant to the commissioner for the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation....
State officials defend licensing oversight process - December 6, 2008
According to the department, which licenses more than 100,000 people in Maine in about 40 professional occupations, Dellarma had a legitimate license as an assistant physical therapist....
More Than $1 Billion Recovered by Justice Department in Fraud and False Claims in Fiscal Year 2008 - December 5, 2008
The United States secured $1.34 billion in settlements and judgments in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2008, pursuing allegations of fraud against the federal government, the Justice Department announced today....
Immediate jeopardy nursing home - December 1, 2008
Allegations of abuse, stealing medicine, and doing nothing about it. A state report says one local nursing home has put some of its residents in immediate jeopardy....
Nursing home sells for $3.3 million
Springfield Manor plans changes, more residents at historic facility - December 1, 2008
Lynne Bailey, director of marketing and admissions for the home, said the buyers were a godsend to the building, which had been in danger of closing since filing for bankruptcy....
Miami Physician Sentenced to 84 Months in Prison for $26.2 Million Medicare Fraud - November 30, 2008
Clinic Administrator Sentenced to 70 Months for $11 million Medicare Fraud...
State probes fraud at adult day cares - November 30, 2008
State investigators suspect nearly one-third of New Jersey's adult day care centers have committed Medicaid fraud and recently revoked 41 operators' authority to determine if senior citizens are eligible for the program....
SourceMedical\'s TherapySource Partners with the TeleVox HouseCalls(tm) System - November 30, 2008
SourceMedical, a leading provider of outpatient information management solutions, today announced it is partnering with TeleVox to integrate their HouseCalls system with TherapySource. ...
Partnership reached : Mercy and Cornerstone Healthcare will keep outpatient therapy services intact - November 30, 2008
Kilgore, president of Cornerstone Healthcare, which currently has 70 therapists in its various locations and manages Highland Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bella Vista and Ashley Health and Rehabilitation Center in Rogers, was interested in finding a solution that would keep those services from dissolving....
Compromise Reached on Nursing Center - November 30, 2008
The survival of the John J. Foley Skilled Nursing Facility in Yaphank may still be in jeopardy, but the parties who control the future of the nursing home, which Suffolk County owns, have at least agreed on a course of action....
New Research Shows That Combining Aerobic Exercise With High-Force Eccentric Resistance Training Improves Glucose Control in Diabetes Patients - November 30, 2008
Physical therapy is a cost-effective form of treatment for Americans with diabetes....
The Physical Therapy Profession Remains in High Demand - November 30, 2008
October is National Physical Therapy month and to celebrate the Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) is encouraging Michigan residents to "Become a Physical Therapist or Physical Therapist Assistant." ...
OIG Official Lays Out Plan for Combating Fraud to Help Prepare Next Administration - November 30, 2008
A top official with the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently unveiled a five-point strategy for fighting fraud and abuse in anticipation of the transition to a Barack Obama or John McCain presidential administration....
RehabCare Group, Inc. Q3 2008 Earnings Call Transcript - November 30, 2008
We look forward to the official opening of this 35-bed inpatient rehab hospital next week. Our joint venture with Landmark Health Systems to purchase a ......
Nursing home's residents abused - November 30, 2008
Residents of a Sapulpa nursing home were subjected to immediate jeopardy because of verbal and mental abuse by its former administrator, state investigators report....
American Association for Homecare Proposes Aggressive 13-Point Plan to Stop Medicare Fraud and Recoup Billions; Calls Steps Essential to Medicare\'s H - November 29, 2008
Tough new steps must be taken to prevent fraud and abuse in Medicare, says the American Association for Homecare, which today announced 13 specific recommendations that could eliminate most of the Medicare fraud attributed to the home medical equipment (HME) sector....
Researchers Study Effectiveness of Robotic Gait-Assisted Therapies for Stroke Victims - November 29, 2008
(PhysOrg.com) -- When it comes to recovering mobility after a stroke, therapists say that every step counts. Two University of Missouri researchers recently studied robotic gait-assisted therapy to see if it is the best way to make steps count for patients with neurological injuries....
Editor of Today in PT Presents Groundbreaking Physical Therapy Book Offering Humorous and Practical Reflections on Patient Care for Therapists and the - November 29, 2008
Naked Elbows: A Physical Therapist's Reflections on Patient Care, Intuition, and Healing, by Anne Ahlman, MPT, was just published by Gannett Healthcare Group, offering a fresh personal and professional look at the world of physical therapy....
Team approach for ALS patients - November 29, 2008
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often called Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressively degenerative neuromuscular condition that paralyzes the muscles of the body, even those that affect the ability to swallow and breathe....
Pasadena Doctor With Orange County Practice Indicted in $2.3 Million Medicare Fraud - November 29, 2008
A doctor has been indicted for fraudulently billing Medicare for approximately $2.3 million in physical therapy services....
Doctors Pay Up to Settle Fraud Claims - November 29, 2008
Six Las Vegas doctors have agreed to pay over $600,000 to the federal government to settle claims of Medicare fraud....
Wichitans indicted on Medicare fraud charges - November 29, 2008
Two Wichitans and three Texans were indicted on federal charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and violations of anti-kickback statutes, the U.S. Attorney's office said Thursday....
State receives federal grants to target Medicare fraud, Alzheimer\'s interventions and nursing home diversion - November 28, 2008
The U.S. Administration on Aging (AoA) recently announced the release of $2.55 million to Ohio for four grants that will target Medicare fraud, develop interventions for individuals with Alzheimer's and their caregivers and explore effective ways to divert individuals in need of nursing home services into community-based care options....
Government enforcement of health care fraud increasingly aggressive - November 28, 2008
For years, health care enforcement has been driven by the extraordinary power of the False Claims Act. A violation of the act triggers liability of three times the amount of damages, plus a penalty of $5,500 to $11,000 per claim. Although early False Claims Act cases focused on prosecuting providers for submitting claims that were false, such as upcoding, billing for a non-covered service as if it were a covered service or billing for a service not performed at all, government theories of liability under the statute have expanded dramatically....
California Physical Therapists Promote Nintendo Wii for Core Strength and Fitness - November 21, 2008
With October being National Physical Therapy Awareness Month, expect Nintendo Wiis to be flying off the shelves. Among the first in line will be members of the California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA), who stand by the video game console and its accompanying sports and fitness games as one of the best therapeutic technology inventions to roll out in a long time. ...
AHA survey: \'Most wired\' hospitals achieve higher patient satisfaction - October 7, 2008
Patient satisfaction is higher at hospitals that embrace technology, according to the 10th Annual Most Wired Survey and Benchmarking Study of Hospitals & Health Networks magazine, which is published by the American Hospital Association....
Criminal past is no bar to nursing in California - October 7, 2008
Times investigation finds the state nurse licensing board allowed sex offenders, drug users and convicts to retain and renew their permits....
Hospital Settles With Deaf Patients on Communication ; It Will Be Required to Provide Interpreters - September 30, 2008
Concord Hospital will pay $100,000 in a settlement with six deaf people who say the hospital did not provide them with the services they needed to communicate with hospital staff, the U.S. Attorney's Office said....
Therapist convicted of assault wants new trial - September 20, 2008
A former Limerick physical therapist convicted of having inappropriate contact with two female clients wants a new trial, alleging his lawyer didn't properly prepare him to testify....
St. John's Mercy Medical Center focus is on efficiency - September 20, 2008
When executives at St. John's Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur noticed patients in wheelchairs lining the halls as they waited for physical and occupational therapy, they thought there must be a better way....
New scams targeting Medicare Part D - September 20, 2008
Seniors in Oregon and Washington have been hit with a new Medicare scam. A fake company called National Medical Office in Washington, D.C. has been contacting seniors in these states saying they need bank account information to send Medicare cards to those being called....
Feds probing complaint at Champaign County Nursing Home - September 20, 2008
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sent investigators from a Medicare/Medicaid fraud unit to the nursing home on Friday, said Administrator Andrew Buffenbarger....
Lawmakers Probe Problems At State Schools - August 22, 2008
After investigations by the federal government and hearing a growing number of concerns raised by advocacy groups, state legislators hold a series of hearings and studies into problems at Texas State Schools....
Physical Therapists Applaud President Bush For Signing Legislation To Renew Higher Education Opportunity Act - August 20, 2008
Members of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) applaud President Bush for signing into law the Higher Education Opportunity Act(HR 4137). This new law amends and extends the Higher Education Act of 1965. ...
'Never events': Utah hospitals saw nearly 60 serious errors in 2007 - August 20, 2008
Utah started tracking never events, also called sentinel events, in 2001, after a landmark study by the Institute of Medicine titled "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System." The IOM estimates medical errors may cause 98,000 deaths a year. ...
Birth to 3 program changes worry providers, parents - August 13, 2008
Proposed changes to the Birth to 3 program have parents and service providers nervous about what those changes will mean for kids like David Drolc, as well as what effect they'll have on the pocketbooks of the speech, occupational and physical therapists who work with them....
Chart Links and mBox to Develop Appointment Reminder System - August 12, 2008
Chart Links has signed an agreement with mBox USA to develop an integrated appointment reminder system for Chart Links Rehabilitation Software. This solution will help in reducing therapy appointment no-shows by sending text message (SMS), voice call and e-mail reminders to patients based on their communication preferences. Chart Links provides scheduling and documentation software for medical rehabilitation facilities....
Physical therapists offer low-cost solution to high-cost expenditures for acute low back pain - August 12, 2008
New research shows that the type of physical therapy care provided for low back pain may impact subsequent health care costs...
Three Indian students score top physical therapist awards - August 11, 2008
The MGH Institute of Health Professions, an academic affiliate of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, recently gave its top three physical therapist awards to international students from India....
Jacksonville\'s Largest Rehab Provider Acquires Largest Home Health Agency - July 31, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., July 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Brooks Rehabilitation has purchased Home Care Advantage, a Jacksonville-based home health care agency with 11 years experience in the North Florida market and more than $10 million in revenue. Home Care Advantage is the largest and fastest growing home health agency in Jacksonville. Brooks, the largest rehabilitation provider in Jacksonville, with its 143-bed acute rehabilitation hospital and 25 outpatient centers throughout Central Florida and South Georgia is expanding its services to home health. The new division of Brooks Health System has been named "Brooks Home Care Advantage."...
Life Changing Technology Helps People with Stroke - July 31, 2008
Physiotherapist Jacqueline Crosbie, who receives her PhD today, has developed revolutionary techniques to help people with stroke regain use of their upper limbs, with the help of virtual reality. Jordanstown-based Jacqueine worked in the Stroke Unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital until 1997, when she joined the University of Ulster as a lecturer in the School of Rehabilitation Science. She was keen to develop her interest in stroke rehabilitation and embarked upon a PhD that would allow her to research ways of helping people with stroke regain use of their upper limbs. ...
Foundation Awards $292,500 In Doctoral Scholarships To 25 Physical Therapists - July 28, 2008
The Foundation for Physical Therapy Board of Trustees recently awarded a total of $292,500 in Promotion of Doctoral Scholarships (PODS I & II) to 25 physical therapists....
Physical Therapists Applaud House Passage of Medicare Package - July 22, 2008
Legislation to Avoid Medicare Cuts and Caps Moves Forward ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) today hailed passage of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (HR 6331) by the US House of Representatives as a significant step forward for seniors and persons with disabilities and encouraged the US Senate to quickly follow suit....
Good communication helps speed recovery - July 22, 2008
If you're undergoing rehabilitative therapy, you're probably itching to see results and return to your old form. Zoom Occupational therapist Nikki Maxwell of Riverview Rehab & Fitness helps her patients regain independence and abilities with therapeutic exercises. RELATED INFORMATION A closer look Physical therapy works with large-motor muscle groups that help people walk, reach and stand. Therapy focuses on improving strength, balance and range of motion, lessening swelling and pain, restoring function and preventing further disability. Occupational therapy works in much the same way, but the goal is to help patients regain independence or the ability to perform daily activities. This sometimes involves using adaptive equipment to help patients reach their targets. While rehabilitating after an injury, it might be slow going to get back to where you want to be - whether it's playing tennis or hefting your toddler without pain. The key to recovery is an open, honest rela...
Physical Therapists Integrate Billing and Scheduling Systems to Win the Reimbursement Battle - New Solution Increases Collections, Improves Compliance - July 12, 2008
Billing Dynamix, a physical therapy billing service network and Spectrasoft, maker of AppointmentsPRO™ and Appointments Anywhere™ products, are teaming up to provide a completely integrated best-of-breed Practice Management Solution specialized for Physical Therapy and Rehab Practice. The integration of Spectrasoft's industry leading scheduling software and Billing Dynamix's web-based reimbursement management platform and outsourced billing service provide an end-to-end solution that covers the entire patient encounter life-cycle from appointment scheduling to documentation to claim reimbursement....
Audit: Special Ed Students Not Getting Services - June 29, 2008
The New York City Department of Education must improve the timeliness of its evaluations and placements of special education student applicants, according to report released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report also noted that the number of students who do not receive recommended support services, such as speech or physical therapy, doubled between 2003 and 2007....
New York state to start registry of home health aides - June 15, 2008
After a series of scandals in New York's home-health-care industry, legislative leaders and Attorney General Andrew Cuomo agreed on Wednesday to start a state registry of home health aides....
Utah's Nursing Homes: Compromised Care - June 15, 2008
A Salt Lake Tribune investigation of Utah's 91 nursing homes shows that ownership is probably the best predictor of quality care. But the public has no easy way to identify who owns the homes, particularly when names are changed to hide a troubled past....
AG Cuomo charges two Rochester area nursing home aides - May 29, 2008
Today Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced his office has filed charges against two Rochester area nursing home employees: one who allegedly used patients' personal information to secure utility services for her home and another who allegedly falsified paperwork to cover up his prior criminal background....
Springfield nursing home cited after resident dies - May 4, 2008
Springfield nursing home was cited after investigators determined employees had not adequately addressed the needs of a patient who later died....
DPT: Preventing Foreign Trained Physical Therapists to Work in The U.S.; New Website Creates Solutions By Providing Resources to Industry Information - May 4, 2008
Website Forum goers Weigh In: Credentialing Agencies are saying that Bachelor's Degree is not equivalent. Hospitals and clinics find it difficult to sponsor foreign-trained physical therapists for H1-b or greencard. PTSponsor.com has created an online job board where hospitals and clinics can hire foreign physical therapists directly without going through agencies. Foreign physical therapists can research articles and ptsponsor.com directory in order to get a U.S. physical therapy license....
Michigan Company May Buy Haven Nursing Homes - May 4, 2008
A Michigan company that operates 21 nursing homes and assisted-living facilities in California and the Midwest is the leading contender to buy the bankrupt Haven Healthcare nursing-home chain - a bid that would preserve all 15 Haven homes in Connecticut, but that is contingent on its ability to secure Medicaid rate increases from the state....
Therapists question referral laws - May 4, 2008
Michigan doesn't allow direct access to physical therapy, unlike 44 other states plus the District of Columbia. However, it is ahead of Indiana and Alabama, which prohibit an individual from seeking an evaluation without a referral, according to Mike Shoemaker, legislative director for the Michigan Physical Therapy Association and an assistant professor in Grand Valley State University's physical therapy program....
Feds: Taxpayers paid for lavish life - May 4, 2008
The new title paid off big when Stinson collected more than $2 million in fees. The problem, federal prosecutors say, is that Stinson isn't a physical therapist, didn't get a license to run his business and failed to report his earnings to the IRS....
Physical therapist indicted - May 4, 2008
A Spotsylvania physical therapist assistant was indicted on sexual assault charges yesterday following a patient's complaint that she was inappropriately touched during a therapy session....
Confusion Surrounds Medicare Wheelchair Policies; AAHomecare Sponsors Workshop And Webinar To Find Answers - May 4, 2008
Even though the Medicare National Coverage Determination for Mobility Related Equipment was revamped in 2005, many providers and suppliers continue to be perplexed by complex policy requirements and strict protocols for physician and clinician documentation using the algorithmic approach to qualify the appropriate level of Mobility Assistive Equipment (MAE)....
Physical Therapy Billing Services and Rehab Practice Management to be Showcased by Billing Dynamix at the American Physical Therapy Association Annual - April 29, 2008
Billing Dynamix Improves Rehab Practice Profitability and Productivity - "The average rehab and physical therapy practice earnings dropped seventeen percent over the past five years but insurance companies beat inflation several times during the same time period," says Gerilyn M. Gault, Physical Therapist and Co-Owner of G&E Therapies, who is tired of hearing horror stories about underpaid or delayed claims and frustrated practice owners who waste time fighting payers instead of treating patients. "Continuous corporate consolidation has given the payers the resources and the opportunities to stack the cards against physical therapists and rehab care providers."...
Mountain View Assisted Living receives 'no deficiency' rating - April 17, 2008
Representatives with the Arizona Department of Health Services gave a "no deficiencies" rating to Mountain View Assisted Living Facility during an inspection performed Feb. 26. The ADHS has a 20-page checklist for inspections of assisted living facilities. As a result of the inspection, Mountain View had its license extended until December 2009....
More and more healthcare providers have chosen to outsource their medical billing process - April 15, 2008
Medical billing is the process of submitting claims to insurance companies in order to receive payment for services provided to a patient by a healthcare provider. As simple as it sounds, the same cannot be said about the actual cycle of a claim....
Business owners charged in fraud - April 13, 2008
YOUNGSTOWN - A federal grand jury has indicted the owners of six businesses that transport patients in vans equipped for wheelchairs and charged them with health care fraud....
Medicare bidding disqualifies 100+ South Florida suppliers - April 11, 2008
His Miami-based durable medical equipment (DME) company is one of more than 100 in South Florida disqualified from the new bidding procedures for Medicare contracts as the government tries to cut costs and curb fraud. Brant's City Medical and others were rejected for incomplete applications....
Arizona fails to protect nursing home residents - April 10, 2008
The inspectors who license Tucson-area nursing homes showed a consistent pattern of weak enforcement, an Arizona Daily Star investigation finds. Only 15 percent of the time did they substantiate allegations of abuse, neglect or other problems in how the homes cared for some of our most vulnerable people....
Attorney General Conway Announces Indictments Of Three Therapists - April 4, 2008
Attorney General Jack Conway announced Thursday, that three Kentucky therapists from Letcher County have been indicted for Medicaid fraud....
A matter of compassion - April 4, 2008
De los Santos - whose office covers the Orange County area - makes a point of checking out the condition, setting and overall quality of service at each of the assisted living and skilled nursing facilities before recommending them to clients....
Protect aid to those living with disabilities
We must protect this aid, avoid cuts in services - March 31, 2008
More than 500 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, their family members and advocates descended on Capitol Hill this month to educate federal lawmakers on issues important to people with disabilities – from young children to adults....
Woman sentenced in health fraud case - March 28, 2008
Prosecutors said that Hayes and more than a dozen employees and family members falsified time sheets or received pay for home health care work they didn't do....
Hayes sentenced for health-care fraud - March 27, 2008
Hayes, 53, of St. Louis, pleaded guilty in January to a broad scheme to defraud the Medicaid program, which provides health-care services for the indigent. From 1999 to 2005, Hayes operated Complete Care of American, which provided homemaker and personal care services to elderly and disabled clients in their homes, according to a release....
Tax abatement for new nursing home in line for future approval - March 25, 2008
No one spoke against allowing a tax abatement for the future site of the expanding Garrison Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center at a public hearing held Tuesday prior to the Nacogdoches County commissioners court meeting, and commissioners are likely to approve the request next month....
Software Helps Insurers Profit from Denials - March 21, 2008
For the past couple years, Martin Jensen has been sounding an alarm, shouting to doctors and hospitals about the biggest danger they probably don't know about. As an independent information technology consultant to hospitals, Jensen warns that health insurers are increasingly devising more sophisticated means of denying services either upfront or sniffing out money they believe to have "mistakenly doled out."...
Therapist's Office Manager Arrested For Larceny - March 19, 2008
GLENS FALLS-The former officer manager for a Glens Falls physical therapist has been charged with stealing $2,000 from the business....
Cleveland Clinic representative visit local pain management center - March 12, 2008
An Overland Park clinic specializing in behavioral pain management was visited recently by representatives of the prestigious Cleveland Clinic in Ohio who wanted to learn from the local operation....
Sunset passes retest from state health dept., has new administrator - March 11, 2008
Problems with paperwork led to the health department revisiting the local facility recently, and that visit went well, McGaugh said. "There were compliance issues," said Deb McGaugh, the new head of the Brush nursing home. "Care was never compromised."...
Federal Jury Convicts Former Nursing Home Executive - March 11, 2008
Specifically, the jury convicted Ewing, 60, on one count of conspiracy, seven counts of tax evasion, five counts of mail fraud, seven counts of making false statements to government agencies and seven counts of making false statements regarding health care. The maximum statutory sentence applicable to the conspiracy, false statements and tax evasion counts are five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count; the maximum statutory penalty applicable to the mail fraud counts is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, per count. Restitution could be ordered. Sentencing has been set for July 21, 2008. ...
Stephen Michael Ewing Has Day In Court Over Massive Payroll Tax Fraud Nursing Home Scheme - March 7, 2008
U.S. Attorney Richard Roper said, "This case is the one of the largest payroll tax fraud cases ever prosecuted in the U.S. Mr. Trebert admitted evading more than $34 million in payroll taxes - this is nothing short of egregious. Nursing homes should be safe havens for the elderly and vulnerable, not vehicles for criminals to commit fraud."...
Rehab program charged with filing false claims - March 6, 2008
A federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted a Wichita woman on charges that she bilked Medicaid out of $3.76 million by filing false drug and alcohol treatment claims on behalf of 81 children under the age of 12....
Arrest warrant issued for man who hid camera in massage room - March 3, 2008
PORTSMOUTH - A maintenance man who was court-ordered to undergo a sex offender evaluation, after pleading guilty to hiding a video camera in a Newington chiropractic massage room, did not have the evaluation, then failed to appear in court Monday for breaching that bail condition, police allege....
Surgery 'rorts' to be probed - March 3, 2008
The Alfred hospital and its suspended trauma chief are being investigated by the Victorian Ombudsman over claims of excessive surgery and suspicious billing....
Missouri board revokes license of Wentzville physician - March 3, 2008
The Missouri Board of Healing Arts revoked one local doctor's license and suspended the license of another in the last half of 2007. In addition, two other medical doctors and a physical therapist were disciplined in that time period, according to documents recently released by the board....
Ipswich woman sent to jail on fraud charges - March 3, 2008
BOSTON - An Ipswich woman was sentenced yesterday to a year in federal prison and ordered to pay or forfeit almost $128,000....
Capozzi seeks county Medicaid bills investigation - March 3, 2008
A former special counsel for Dauphin County who has been accused of padding his bills has asked the U.S. attorney's office to investigate the county for Medicaid fraud....
Ex-CEO from Orange admits to using rehab clinic for scheme authorities say raked in $3.5 million - March 3, 2008
A former chief executive officer from Orange could serve more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty Tuesday to federal health-care fraud charges....
Bucyrus anesthesiologist in court as part of FBI fraud investigation - March 3, 2008
CLEVELAND -- Bucyrus anesthesiologist Dr. Hany Maurice Iskander Ibrahim, 47, of Powell, appeared in United States District Court here Tuesday for a detention hearing....
New Jersey court sends blow to doctor-owned surgery centers - March 3, 2008
A New Jersey trial court ruling puts most, if not all, of the 200 physician-owned ambulatory surgery centers there in violation of the state's anti-referral law....
Corporate Whistleblower Center Says Medicare/Medicaid Fraud Out Of Control - March 3, 2008
Americas Watchdog's Corporate Whistleblower Center is releasing its annual report on Medicare & Medicaid fraud, and according to the group things have never been worse. The report focuses on nursing homes, drug/medical device companies, not for profit, and boutique hospitals. The group referred to its findings as grim with respect to Medicare and Medicaid over billing & fraud....
More allegations surface against therapist - March 3, 2008
KALKASKA -- Another woman is alleging wrongdoing by a local physical therapist whose state license was suspended after he admitted to sexual contact with a patient. Mark Melton, 38, filed an appeal this week to get his license reinstated, but remains under investigation for potential insurance fraud after a state probe into an alleged sexual relationship with a patient and an employee....
Medicare Anti-Fraud Measures are Way Overdue, Says Durable Medical Equipment Industry - March 3, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association for Homecare welcomes and supports efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud announced today in another of a series of press conferences held by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the same subject. The Association continues to work with federal agencies and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity in the durable medical equipment (DME) sector....
Deering vindicated by Justice probe - March 3, 2008
Kerry Deering was in California when contacted Friday for his reaction to the conclusion of a United States Department of Justice investigation that exonerated him of any wrongdoing in a four-year long probe of Physiotherapy Associates....
Speech pathologist practicing in Coral Springs arrested for false Medicaid claims - March 3, 2008
A speech pathologist practicing in Coral Springs was recently charged with stealing more than $20,000 from the Florida Medicaid Program. Amy Heather Spielman, 32, was taken into custody by the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit after investigators revealed a scheme of submitting false billing claims to the Medicaid program for speech pathology services never rendered....
Maryland Attorney General: Bell Pleads Guilty to Felony Medicaid Fraud Company Received More Than $4,000,000 for Services Never Rendered - March 3, 2008
BALTIMORE, MD -- Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Guy Anthony Bell, 44, of the 2700 block of Tallow Tree Road in Woodstock, pled guilty in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to two counts of felony Medicaid Fraud for his role in billing the Medicaid program for more than $4,000,000 for services that were never performed. In all, Mr. Bell knowingly directed his employees to submit over 20,000 false statements to the Medicaid Program. As a result of the plea agreement, Bell will receive a jail sentence of between 24 and 30 months and will be required to make restitution payments. Sentencing is set for November 15, 2007....
Feds Fight Infusion Therapy Fraud - March 3, 2008
HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has announced an initiative designed to protect Medicare beneficiaries from fraudulent providers of infusion therapy. This two-year project will focus on preventing deceptive providers from operating in South Florida. Providers there will be required to reapply to be a qualified Medicare infusion therapy provider....
Fraud case based on CPT® codes proceeds - March 3, 2008
Billing guidance provided under the current procedural terminology (CPT®) codes was not unconstitutionally vague and, therefore, it could properly serve as the basis of health care fraud allegations, according to the Illinois district court. The complaint alleged that a psychiatrist submitted claims that did not meet CPT® code requirements because he spent little or no time with the patient; billed for individual psychotherapy services during the time that he was out of the country; and billed for services when the patient was not present....
Medicare and Its Contractors Have Failed to Combat Medicare Fraud Effectively Says American Association for Homecare - March 3, 2008
ARLINGTON, Va., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association for Homecare restated today that the homecare industry, which provides medical equipment and therapies in the home, supports stepped-up efforts to crack down on Medicare fraud and looks forward to continuing work with federal agencies and Congress to prevent fraudulent activity. At the same time, the Association said Medicare has failed to effectively exercise its already ample authority to combat fraud and abuse....
MARYLAND ATTORNEY GENERAL: Baltimore County Woman Charged with Medicaid Fraud - March 3, 2008
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Siddi Jon, 48, of the 8900 block of Greens Lane in Randallstown was indicted by a Baltimore County grand jury with 18 counts of felony Medicaid fraud and felony theft....
Dr. Solis named in scam; Rael posts bond - March 3, 2008
Dr. Rafael Solis, a psychiatrist with offices in Del Rio and San Antonio was named in an indictment alleging 14 counts related to health care fraud this morning before U.S. Magistrate Victor Garcia....
Psychiatry's Diagnostic Manual Exposed For Its Links To Pharmaceutical Industry's $76 Billion A Year - March 3, 2008
USPRwire, Mon May 22 2006 The Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a psychiatric watchdog group, said that a study published in this month's journal Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics revealing the incestuous financial relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) "billing bible," The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), is a vindication. For over a decade the group has called on governments to eliminate the DSM as a valid diagnostic manual for insurance reimbursement or for the basis of any legislation or court testimony. "It is an unreliable, pseudoscientific document with enormous power to damage lives, while being used to rake in $76 billion a year in international psychiatric drug sales," CCHR's national U.S. president Bruce Wiseman stated....
Accused physical therapist may settle
Mark Melton allegedly had sexual contact with patients and an employee - March 2, 2008
KALKASKA -- A potential settlement caused the adjournment of a hearing over local physical therapist Mark Melton's state license suspension....
Freehold man, father are indicted in health care fraud - February 28, 2008
NEWARK - A Freehold man, his father and two others were named in a 22-count federal indictment Thursday on charges of health care fraud that included the participation of several unidentified doctors to further the scheme, the indictment says....
Two care homes under scrutiny - February 27, 2008
The future of two homes in Eastbourne is under the spotlight as part of a review by East Sussex County Council....
Washington state doctors, physical therapists battle over referrals - February 25, 2008
A legal dispute in Washington state has doctors worried that their ability to employ other licensed medical professionals -- and ultimately compete in health care -- may be compromised....
Audit finds purchasing issues at Remsenburg-Speonk - February 23, 2008
District officials paid $32,633 for physical and occupational therapy and special education and $6,900 in teacher aid without written contract or board approval, said to the audit, released Thursday by Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli....
Audits hit skilled nursing providers
Caregivers join rehabilitation hospitals in fight over claims - February 19, 2008
WASHINGTON – Concerns about a Medicare auditing program that have California rehabilitation hospitals screaming about denials of claims have spread to the skilled nursing sector....
Theft case dismissed against therapist - February 18, 2008
Theft charges have been dropped against a Lakewood physical therapist who was accused of overbilling the city of Wheat Ridge for his services two years ago....
HEALTH-AIDE SCAM
PROBE TARGETS $100M MEDICAID FRAUD - January 4, 2008
August 20, 2007 -- ALBANY - The state Attorney General's Office is in the midst of an investigation into widespread Medicaid fraud in the home health-care industry, The Post has learned....
Firm Charged With Medicare Fraud - January 4, 2008
The federal government charged a South Florida company with fraudulently billing Medicare $170 million for infusions of HIV drugs....
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Pays $26 Million To Settle False Claims Act Allegations
Settlement Resolves Investigation of Hospital's Claims - January 4, 2008
12/21/2007 - Atlanta, GA - The United States Attorney's Office today announced that Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, Inc. and Saint Joseph's Health System, Inc. have agreed to pay $26 million to settle allegations raised in a so-called "whistleblower" lawsuit that the hospital violated the federal False Claims Act with regard to billing for inpatient admissions and other services....
STATE: $5M overpaid for Medicaid work - January 4, 2008
Two state comptroller's audits found New York State made $5 million in Medicaid overpayments to 135 home health care providers or medical labs statewide, including 10 on Long Island....
New York AG, DA Charge LI Home Care Agency Operators With Medicaid Fraud, Wide Range Of Financial Crimes - January 4, 2008
MINEOLA, NY (October 1, 2007) - New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo and Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen M. Rice today announced the arrest of a home care agency operator and an associate for a litany of Medicaid-related crimes that were committed to bankroll extravagant lifestyles. The arrests were the result of an investigation by the Medicaid fraud task force Attorney General Cuomo and the District Attorney Rice launched in January....
CUOMO VS. MEDICAID FRAUD - January 4, 2008
October 29, 2007 -- State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo seems to be proving the worst fears about Medicaid fraud all-too-true: For prosecutors, it's a target-rich environment....
DEFENDANT IN FAKE FLU VACCINE CASE CONVICTED - January 4, 2008
HOUSTON, TX - Iyad Abu El Hawa, 36, of Houston, was convicted of health care fraud and misbranding of a drug, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced today....
Five facing charges in body-parts scam - January 4, 2008
FOR MORE than 18 months, three "unscrupulous" funeral-home operators stole diseased body parts from the corpses of 244 Philadelphians and sold the tissue for nearly $250,000 to two "predatory" operators of a New Jersey company, a Philadelphia grand jury found yesterday....
THREE PEOPLE INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING MEDICARE THROUGH BILLING SCHEME
ONE ARRESTED AND TWO WANTED BY FBI - January 4, 2008
Two of three people indicted earlier this month for their roles in the operation of a fraudulent Medicare billing scheme at a Rancho Palos Verdes agency are currently being sought by the FBI, announced J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles....
Lab owner gets prison time - January 4, 2008
A judge has sentenced a laboratory owner who pleaded guilty in connection with a $2.5 million Medicare billing fraud scheme involving two medical labs to 57 months in prison....
Health Care Trio Busted For False Timesheets - January 4, 2008
ALBANY-Two Rochester area health care workers have been arrested for allegedly stealing taxpayers by submitting false timesheets for work they never performed. A third health care worker who was paid over $12,000 by a nursing home for hours she did not work was also charged....
U.S. Joins Case Against Healthessentials Solutions for Alleged False Claims Billings to Medicare - January 4, 2008
WASHINGTON, April 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United States has intervened in three qui tam suits accusing HealthEssentials Solutions Inc. (HES) of false claims billings to Medicare, the Justice Department announced today. Specifically, HES is accused of upcoding -- the practice of improperly assigning a diagnosis code to a patient discharge that is not supported by the medical record for the purpose of obtaining a higher level of reimbursement. Additionally, it is alleged that the Kentucky-based provider of geriatric care knowingly charged Medicare for medically unnecessary services....
Nursing Home Horror: The Dark Side Of Fraud - January 4, 2008
ST. LOUIS---The 88-year-old woman at Claywest House nursing home near St. Louis was totally reliant on staff for her care. There was nothing she could do about the ants crawling all over her. Or the waste she helplessly waited in during the weeks leading up to her death....
LAB OWNER RECEIVES 57- MONTH PRISON SENTENCE AND AGREES TO FORFEIT $2.8 MILLION - January 4, 2008
(Media-Newswire.com) - R. Alexander Acosta, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, and Jonathan I. Solomon, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, announced the April 18, 2007 sentencing of defendant Marcelo de Jesus Serrano, a laboratory owner, who previously pled guilty in connection with a $2.5 million Medicare billing fraud scheme involving two medical laboratories....
Nursing Home Owner Stole $6 Million For Illegal 'Bed Holds' - January 4, 2008
BRONX---The former owner of two Bronx County nursing homes has pleaded guilty to defrauding the Medicaid program of millions of dollars by overcharging for services at two facilities over a six-year period....
Nurse Draws 57 Months Prison For Health Care Fraud Costing $3,000,000 - January 4, 2008
Los Angeles, California – LawFuel - IRS News - Yesterday afternoon, United States District Judge Dale S. Fischer sentenced Haydee Parungao to 57 months in federal prison for her role in a health care fraud scheme that cost Medicare over $3,000,000. Additionally, Parungao was sentenced for the structuring of cash transactions, conducted to avoid IRS reporting requirements, totaling $613,710....
Fraud and Florida's multimillion-dollar wheelchair - January 4, 2008
MIAMI, Oct 22 (Reuters) - One Miami-area medical equipment supplier managed to bill the U.S. government so often for a wheelchair it ended up costing $5 million....
How To Use The False Claims Act To Prevent Nursing Home Fraud And Patient Abuse - January 4, 2008
As the baby boom generation moves from middle age to retirement, tens of millions of Americans will be entitled to Medicare benefits. Nursing home care and home health care are two of the fastest rising areas of Medicare spending....
Hatboro nursing site accused by U.S. Attorney's office - January 4, 2008
The U.S. Attorney's office today issued a complaint against a Holland-Glen nursing facility in Hatboro, which it said operated without a nursing license....
Ex-Chatham doctor settles fraud claims - January 4, 2008
CHATHAM - A physician who has practiced in town has paid $200,000 to settle allegations he defrauded Medicare by submitting false claims from 2001 to early 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Justice....
Fayette Co. facility under investigation - January 4, 2008
State Auditor Mary Taylor said Thursday a Medicaid provider audit for a Fayette County nursing facility revealed the facility may have incorrectly billed the state more than $95,000....
Auditor finds billing errors at local nursing home - December 29, 2007
The state auditor claims that the Burlington House, a Cincinnati nursing home, incorrectly billed the state for nearly $288,000 in Medicaid payments....
Four Chemical Dependency Treatment Providers Arrested in Houston on Medicaid Fraud Charges - December 29, 2007
August 21, 2007 -- HOUSTON – Four Medicaid providers who offered chemical dependency treatment were arrested today for defrauding the Medicaid system. A Harris County grand jury indicted the suspects last Friday. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit officers were assisted in the arrests by the Houston Police Department. The suspects will be prosecuted by the office of Harris County District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal Jr....
Mental health reform goals unclear, some say - December 29, 2007
HIGH POINT - Six years into North Carolina's effort to remake its mental health safety net, the system still struggles to fix the problems that came with the overhaul....
Midland doctor indicted for fraud - December 29, 2007
A Midland doctor has been arrested for charging for medical procedures that never were performed....
Suit accuses United Healthcare of fraud
It says the company enrolled a woman in a Medicare alternative she didn't want - December 29, 2007
ST. PETERSBURG - Like many older people, Charleen Edge finds today's smorgasbord of Medicare plans confusing. Last year, she says, she found herself in a private health maintenance organization she neither requested nor desired. Her repeated requests to switch back to regular Medicare went for naught....
Mom of 15 avoids jail in fraud case - December 29, 2007
A 49-year-old physician's assistant and mother of 15 children avoided jail time yesterday for stealing more than $50,000 in phony billing hours from local hospitals....
Ex-WNY doc admits $2M billing scam - December 29, 2007
A former Hudson County doctor admitted in state court yesterday that he bilked insurance companies out of more than $2 million by billing them for tests he never performed on patients involved in automobile accidents....
Testimony: Jesup doctor reguarly overbills public funds - December 29, 2007
lA Jesup physician billed Medicare at six times the proper sum for treatment not called for, a government witness testified in federal court Monday....
Texas Medical Board Disciplines Doctors - December 29, 2007
At its November 29-30 meeting, the Texas Medical Board took disciplinary action against 63 licensed physicians....
Four Miami Health Care Company Owners Sentenced to 57 Months in Prison For Medicare Fraud - December 29, 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Four members of the same family, who owned and operated a series of Miami Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) companies and Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities have each been sentenced to 57 months in prison for Medicare fraud, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney R. Alexander Acosta of the Southern District of Florida announced today....
Sugar Land Man, Three Others Busted In Drug Counseling Medicaid Scam - December 29, 2007
Houston police and Texas Attorney General Medicaid Fraud Control Unit officers arrested four people Tuesday, including a Sugar Land man, for their part in an alleged Medicaid scheme....
Bucks therapist charged with Medicare fraud - December 29, 2007
PHILADELPHIA-- A Yardley, Pa., physical therapist was charged yesterday with health care fraud for allegedly billing Medicare for $1.3 million in work that wasn't performed....
Autopsy report shows doctor died of natural causes - December 29, 2007
Toxicology results from an autopsy performed on a former Palestine physician who passed away earlier this year indicate that he died of "natural" causes, according to a Cherokee County sheriff's investigator....
American Association For Homecare Continues Partnership With Medicare To Prevent Fraud And Protect Beneficiaries - December 29, 2007
The American Association for Homecare today stressed its zero tolerance for Medicare fraud and abuse of any kind in a statement of support to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittees on Health and Oversight after the two subcommittees conducted a joint hearing this morning regarding Medicare program integrity. The statement follows....
Billing practices result in arrest - December 29, 2007
A six-month investigation into the billing practices of a Midland chiropractor has resulted in criminal charges....
Judgments against New Jersey Chiropractic Clinics, Owners and Doctors Brings Liberty Mutual's 2001 Auto Insurance Fraud Lawsuit to a Close - December 29, 2007
MOUNT HOLLY, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A lawsuit against an intricate auto insurance fraud network uncovered by Liberty Mutual investigators in the late 1990s came to a costly end last week for the owners of two now-defunct New Jersey chiropractic and rehabilitation clinics....
Federal grand jury indicts physician, chiropractor - December 29, 2007
A Savannah physician and a chiropractor have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Savannah on charges of conspiring to defraud Medicare and Medicaid....
Baltimore County Woman Charged with Medicaid Fraud - December 29, 2007
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Siddi Jon, 48, of the 8900 block of Greens Lane in Randallstown was indicted by a Baltimore County grand jury with 18 counts of felony Medicaid fraud and felony theft....
Investigative Report: Remade board treads gently
State chiropractors' overseer is light on discipline, big on license leniency - December 29, 2007
In this two-part report, we take a closer look at the state Board of Chiropractic Examiners. Stocked with a roster of the governor's appointees, the new state Board of Chiropractic Examiners has been slower to yank licenses and quicker to soften previous sanctions....
Allstate Insurance Company Wins $3 Million Judgment Against Broe Rehabilitation Services, Inc. - December 29, 2007
FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 2006--Allstate Insurance Company has been awarded a jury verdict of $3 million against Broe Rehabilitation Services, Inc., a Farmington Hills, Mich.-based rehabilitation facility, and the owners, Timothy and Eleanor Broe. The Oakland County jury found in favor of Allstate and against Broe regarding payment by mistake of fact, insurance fraud, breach of contract and unjust enrichment....
Bell Pleads Guilty to Felony Medicaid Fraud
Company Received More Than $4,000,000 for Services Never Rendered - December 29, 2007
BALTIMORE, MD (September 20, 2007) - Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler announced today that Guy Anthony Bell, 44, of the 2700 block of Tallow Tree Road in Woodstock, pled guilty in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City to two counts of felony Medicaid Fraud for his role in billing the Medicaid program for more than $4,000,000 for services that were never performed. In all, Mr. Bell knowingly directed his employees to submit over 20,000 false statements to the Medicaid Program. As a result of the plea agreement, Bell will receive a jail sentence of between 24 and 30 months and will be required to make restitution payments. Sentencing is set for November 15, 2007....
Stokes sentenced to less than maximum - December 29, 2007
GRAND RAPIDS -- Dr. Robert Stokes must serve 10.5 years in prison as well as three years supervised release for health care fraud, a federal judge ruled about 7 p.m. tonight....
Hammond health firm to settle in billing allegation - December 29, 2007
A Hammond health-care firm will pay $750,000 to settle allegations of filing improper Medicare claims. United Medical Services provided outpatient physical therapy services to Medicare beneficiaries at a clinic owned by John E. Mills....
Doctor Indicted in Verizon Billing Scam - December 29, 2007
NEW YORK - A physician whose wife vanished and was later found dead in the East River was arraigned Thursday on charges of running a "medical mill" that cheated the Verizon Communications Inc. health plan by fraudulent billing....
Businessman gets 15 years in jail for Medicare fraud
Defendant is accused of stealing around $900,000 - December 29, 2007
A Houston man was sentenced to 15 years in prison Wednesday for stealing more than $900,000 from the Medicare program....
Man Convicted for Automobile Insurance Fraud, Reports U.S. Attorney - December 29, 2007
BOSTON, Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- A federal trial jury today convicted a Shrewsbury man of mail fraud, health care fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in connection with false billings to automobile insurance companies for medical tests....
Health care fraud charged - December 28, 2007
Three men who operated two physical therapy centers on Long Island were arrested yesterday by FBI agents on charges of defrauding dozens of insurance companies and the federal Medicare program out of $2.5 million, according to officials....
1st arrest made in Medicare fraud case - December 28, 2007
Federal agents on Wednesday brought the first criminal charge in what they say is a series of complex, multimillion-dollar schemes across Metro Detroit to bilk Medicare through fraudulent billing....
Clinic owner admits Medicare fraud - December 28, 2007
TRENTON - The owner of two physical therapy clinics, including one in Cherry Hill, admitted defrauding Medicare of about $3.8 million, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced....
Houston Man Investigated By Medicaid Fraud Control Unit Receives 15 Years In Prison For Theft - December 28, 2007
December 6, 2007 -- HOUSTON – A Houston durable medical equipment provider was sentenced to 15 years in state prison Wednesday for stealing more than $900,000 from the Medicare program. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigated the case, along with the FBI and Office of Inspector General of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC-OIG). The Harris County District Attorney's Office handled the prosecution....
Chiropractor charged with Medicaid fraud - December 28, 2007
HARRISBURG - The state Attorney General's Office charged a Bartonsville chiropractor with money-laundering and medication fraud Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal pain killer prescriptions in Luzerne County....
Chiropractor, Clinic Owner and Doctor Sentenced for Health Care Fraud Reports U.S. Attorney - December 28, 2007
BOSTON, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Three men from Gloucester, Newton and Marblehead were sentenced late yesterday in federal court on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, health care fraud, and money laundering....
Newport News chiropractor charged with health care fraud
The U.S. attorney's office says a Newport News chiropractor submitted fraudulent bills - December 28, 2007
NEWPORT NEWS - - The U.S. attorney's office has charged a Newport News chiropractor with health care fraud, saying he intentionally billed health management companies for services he never performed....
Physical therapist pleads to fraud scam
His seven-month scheme stole more than $700,000 - December 28, 2007
A physical therapist has admitted scheming with his wife, a Wayne County doctor and the doctor's wife to steal more than $700,000 in government health-care reimbursements over a seven-month period....
Knowledge Is Your Best Asset When Making Medicare Choices - December 27, 2007
Established over 22 years ago, the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy (HICAP) program's mission is to serve Medicare beneficiaries or those who may become Medicare beneficiaries....
Medsphere's OpenVista EHR Goes Live at State Hospital in West Virginia First Site in Seven-Facility Contract Designed to Improve State Healthcare Prot - December 27, 2007
ALISO VIEJO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Medsphere Systems Corporation today announced the successful deployment of its OpenVista® electronic health record (EHR) platform at William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital, the first of seven state-operated hospitals in West Virginia that will be equipped with the system under a contract signed last year. More than 280 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians and other staff at Sharpe Hospital, a 150-bed acute care psychiatric facility in the city of Weston, are now using OpenVista to record and retrieve patient information electronically....
JUSTICE RECOVERS RECORD $1.6 BILLION IN FRAUD PAYMENTS - HIGHEST EVER FOR ONE YEAR PERIOD - December 25, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The United States collected a record $1.6 billion in civil fraud recoveries during the past fiscal year, Assistant Attorney General Robert D. McCallum, Jr. of the Justice Department's Civil Division announced today....
Electronic Medical Billing Software and Service Compliance in Physical Therapy Office - December 15, 2007
According to BillingWiki, thirteen articles and news items were published on the topic of medical billing fraud, during May of 2006. An environment of high volume of patient encounters creates thousands of possibilities to deviate from normal distribution of services and trigger an audit. Real time analysis requires powerful technology infrastructure and competent legal coverage. Such infrastructure must handle all compliance aspects together, which necessitates modern Vericle-type integrative approach, combining billing, monitoring, and medical record management components in a single and comprehensive system....
Businessman gets 15 years in jail for Medicare fraud - December 9, 2007
Defendant is accused of stealing around $900,000. Testimony in state District Judge Devon Anderson's court also showed that Onwuegbusi overbilled Medicaid for physical therapy services, some that were never provided....
Patterson Companies Acquires Developer and Marketer Of Industry-Leading Practice Management Software for Physical Therapists - December 3, 2007
Patterson Companies, Inc. (Nasdaq:PDCO) today announced the acquisition of Advanced Practice Systems (known in the marketplace as PTOS Software), the developer and marketer of the industry-leading practice management software for physical therapists. PTOS will become part of Patterson Medical, Patterson’s rehabilitation supply and equipment unit. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed....
Bakersfield clinic operator charged with insurance fraud - December 3, 2007
Three members of a Bakersfield family have been charged with insurance fraud, according to the state insurance commissioner's office....
Newport News chiropractor charged with health care fraud - December 3, 2007
The U.S. attorney's office has charged a Newport News chiropractor with health care fraud, saying he intentionally billed health management companies for services he never performed....
Monroe county chiropractor arrested on money laundering and Medicaid fraud charges - November 23, 2007
A Monroe County Chiropractor was arrested Thursday on money laundering and Medicaid fraud charges in connection with an ongoing investigation into the illegal prescription of painkillers in the Wilkes-Barre area, Attorney General Tom Corbett said Thursday....
Physical Therapist Charged with Medicaid Fraud - November 23, 2007
A Newington physical therapist was arrested today and charged with billing the state's Medicaid program for services he never provided to residents of a Newington group home....
The Right Stuff - An extended checklist for purchasing clinical software - November 23, 2007
Every potential physical therapy facility owner has their own reason for starting a clinic. Many like the freedom and independence that come with clinic ownership. Others like the challenge of running a busy clinic. Of course, there is always the possibility of reaping a nice financial reward. It is easy to imagine oneself as the owner of a clinic. It is harder to make the dream a reality....