On January 2, 2013, the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a $50,000 settlement with Hospice of North Idaho for a data breach involving the theft of a lost, unencrypted laptop computer containing the health information of 441 patients.
This settlement is the first for a reported breach affecting fewer than 500 individuals.
Just a reminder to New York State Medicaid providers that certifications under the NYS Social Services Law and the Federal Deficit Reduction Act are due no later than December 31.
All New York State Medicaid providers who are required to have a compliance program under Social Services Law Section 363-d must certify that their compliance
On December 2, 2012, Interfaith Medical Center, Inc. (“Interfaith”) filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York, becoming the latest New York hospital to fall victim to the current economic downturn. It remains to be seen whether Interfaith will be able to
In late October the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York announced the settlement of a False Claims Act case against Westchester Medical Center (“WMC”) for $7 million, for submitting false reimbursement claims to Medicaid from August 2001 through June 2010 involving outpatient behavioral health services. The settlement is to be
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH”) Act of 2009 aims to have all hospitals and physicians use electronic health records (“EHRs”) for all persons in the United States by 2014. Federal and State financial incentives, electronic billing requirements, and the need for ever-increasing collaboration and sharing of information among
In this election season, both presidential candidates offer plans to deal with the rising cost of providing health care services, the President’s “Obamacare” by increasing the number of insured individuals through Health Insurance Exchanges, and reducing costs for a continuum of services through Accountable Care Organizations; and Governor Romney by a consumer-driven approach through Medicare
The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (“OMIG”) recently finalized regulatory changes to New York State law which relate to the withholding of payments to Medicaid providers when there is a “credible allegation of fraud.” A credible allegation of fraud is defined as an “allegation that has indicia of reliability and has
Historically, health care services have been paid for by health insurance companies which accept monthly premium payments from employer groups and individuals. The premium for defined health care services is due whether the insureds under the policy use the benefits or not. Built into the premiums are additional administrative costs including fees paid to insurance
In United States ex rel. Feldman v. van Gorp , decided last week, the Second Circuit ruled on an issue of first impression concerning False Claims Act (“FCA”) damages in the context of a federal grant for medical research funding, and also addressed the FCA’s materiality standard.
In Feldman, Cornell University and a psychiatry
In order for an accountable care organization to succeed, there must be a workable method for collaboration among the providers. How do providers of care effectively communicate amongst one other? What is the optimum means of memorializing a patient’s medical history and present health status so that all providers of care are basing their decisions