The prevalence of ransomware attacks is increasing. In fact, “[o]n average, more than 4,000 ransomware attacks have occurred daily since January 1, 2016,” according to a recent interagency government report. Given this known threat, contingency planning by hospitals becomes even more important. This …
Aetna Wins $37.5 Million for Overbilling Scheme
April 18, 2016 Leave a Comment
It’s easy to fall into the habit of regarding self-referrals and kickbacks as strictly a matter of federal law, governed only by the federal Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. But an April 13 verdict in California provides a vivid reminder that state law also has a role and that private insurers can be as …
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Enforcement Priorities in Minnesota
March 7, 2016 Leave a Comment
United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew Luger, spoke at a public event on March 3, 2016, at Mitchell-Hamline School of Law on the topic of health care fraud & abuse enforcement priorities in Minnesota. Luger began the discussion explaining the resource shortage issue in the white collar …
Suing the Hand that Feeds You
October 6, 2015 Leave a Comment
Jeffrey Jacobs alleges that Idaho’s Pocatello Hospital violated the False Claims Act because of physician recruitment contracts that were overly generous to his practice group. Jeff should know because he was recruited under one of the contracts and worked for the group for three years. According to the …
OIG Approves Lease of Employees to Psych Hospital
July 29, 2015 Leave a Comment
On July 28 the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of Health & Human Services gave its blessing to a health system’s lease of employees to a related psychiatric system. Under the arrangement the system would also provide management services. In return, the hospital would pay the system its “fully …
Beware of Nurses Bearing Gifts
July 21, 2015 Leave a Comment
Alisia and David blew the whistle on their former employer, Nurses’ Registry & Home Health, for sending gift baskets and ticket events to doctors who referred patients to the home health operation. Their qui tam suit alleged that the gifts violated the Stark Law. The government joined in. Nurses’ …