By legislation enacted last month, on June 9, 2021, amending the New York Finance Law, Mental Hygiene Law and Executive Law, New York State established an opioid settlement fund (“OSF”). Finance Law §99-nn(1). The purpose of the OSF and the OSF advisory board created by the statute is to ensure that all opioid settlement monies
New York Court of Appeals Rules that an Insurer May Withhold Payments to a Medical Service Corporation Improperly Controlled by Non-Physicians without A Finding of Fraud
On June 11, the New York Court of Appeals, in Andrew Carothers, M.D., P.C. v. Progressive Insurance Company, 2019 NY Slip Op 04643, decided that an insurer may withhold payment for services provided by a medical services corporation improperly controlled by non-physicians whether or not the medical services corporation acted fraudulently or with fraudulent
Is the Bankruptcy Code Provision on Disposal of Patient Records Useless?
Section 351 of the Bankruptcy Code permits a health care business in bankruptcy to dispose of patient records if it lacks sufficient funds to pay to store the records in accord with applicable state or federal law. Although section 351 was enacted in 2005, the provision appears to be little used. That’s because the procedures
When Should the Appointment of a Patient Care Ombudsman for a Health Care Business in Bankruptcy Be Excused?
When a health care business files for bankruptcy, the appointment of an ombudsman to monitor the quality of patient care and represent the interests of the patients is required unless the bankruptcy court finds that an ombudsman “is not necessary for the protection of patients under the specific facts of the case.” Bankruptcy Code §333(a)(1).
Should New York State Require Hospitals To Insure Medical Malpractice Claims?
New York State does not require hospitals to insure medical malpractice claims, either through the purchase of commercial medical malpractice insurance or the establishment of an adequately funded self-insurance program. New York has never required such insurance. There are many hospitals which did not insure medical malpractice claims in the past, and a number
Worker Cooperatives and Health Care
New York State healthcare policymakers have always had a lukewarm relationship with for-profit providers. While in some sectors the for-profit provision of care is common (e.g., nursing homes and home care), in others, there are few to no for-profit providers (e.g., hospitals and primary care clinics). In fact, some in the industry are under the