Health care Law | The Health Law Firm Blog

Good News and Bad News for ECFMG & USMLE Applicants: Recent Changes for the USMLE Step Exams

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

These are some recently announced changes that could significantly impact anyone seeking to take the USMLE Step exams. This could be construed as good news by many and bad news by many others. Regardless, here it is.

Step 1 Exam Changing to Pass/Fail Grade and Score Reporting.

The USMLE announced recently that it would change the scoring and reporting for Step 1 exam scores. Step 1 score reporting will transition to pass/fail only for administrations on or after January 26, 2022. All of the worry about passing with a low score and how […]

Mental Health Counselors and Psychotherapists: Follow These Simple Rules to Keep Your License and Avoid Complaints

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:13-04:00January 24, 2024|Health care Law|

COVID-19 Burn Out Causing More Resident Physicians to Unionize, Part 2

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

This is part two of a blog series focusing on the effects of COVID burnout in healthcare professionals. Don’t forget to read part one.

The Problem With Residents’ Working Conditions Existed Long Before the Pandemic.

It’s common for resident physicians to work long hours for relatively low pay. They have little or no ability to determine their schedule and are generally locked into positions for up to seven years. Certainly, medical residents have voiced concerns about their work lives long before the pandemic. Some describe […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:17-04:00November 11, 2023|Health care Law, Medical Education Law Blog|

Finding a Nurses Service Organization Insurance Attorney to Defend You in a Complaint Against Your Nursing License

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

Many nurses, nurse practitioners and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) carry professional malpractice insurance through Nurses Service Organization (NSO) or one of the other similar insurance companies. This insurance is inexpensive and provides excellent coverage. What you may not realize, however, is that such insurance provides many added benefits, other than just coverage on nursing liability law suits. It will pay for legal defense expenses if there is a complaint filed against your nursing license. It will pay legal expenses for a lwyer […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-28T11:33:11-04:00June 8, 2021|Health care Law|

Military Non-judicial Punishments or Article 15 Proceedings Are Not Criminal Convictions–Military and Former Military Physicians, Dentists and Nurses Should Know This

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:38-04:00June 3, 2021|Health care Law|

Civil and Criminal Enforcement of HIPAA Privacy and Security Regs on the Rise

Attorney George F. Indest III, The Health Law Firm

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR), a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the federal organization responsible for investigating complaints and enforcing the Privacy and Security Regulations implementing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, commonly referred to as “HIPAA.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be leveling off and more employees are going back to the office, and into the field, HIPAA complaint investigations will definitely pick up. Furthermore, criminal prosecutions for violations of HIPAA have recently been on […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:43-04:00April 9, 2021|Health care Law|

Multiple Settlements with HHS for HIPAA Security Rule Violations & Data Breaches

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In September 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced three settlements to resolve alleged violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. The settlements, totaling $10.6 million, stem from data breaches in which hackers were able to access and obtain individuals’ protected health information (PHI) from U.S. health providers. Combined, the three hacking incidents compromised the health information of more than 16 million patients.

Summary of the HIPAA Security Rule Settlements.

On September 21, 2020, the Office of Civil Rights, or OCR, the division […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:44-04:00April 1, 2021|Health care Law, Pharmacy Law Blog|

Florida Passes Law for Health Professional Background Screening

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:44-04:00April 1, 2021|Health care Law|

Colorado Board of Pharmacy Must Hand Over Patient Identifying Data to DEA

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
On April 22, 2020, a federal judge ordered the Colorado Board of Pharmacy to give the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) prescription drug monitoring program data on two pharmacies that the DEA is investigating. The data includes patient identifying information of more than 14,000 patients. The state must turn over the data by May 15, 2020, according to the order.

Pharmacy Investigations.

Citing concerns about the two pharmacies’ handling of controlled-substance prescriptions, the DEA issued subpoenas under the Controlled Substances Act in 2019. The DEA requested the information as part of an […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:47-04:00March 4, 2021|Health care Law|

10 Biggest Mistakes Dentists Make That Cause DOH Complaints

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

In representing dentists in complaints against their licenses, we see similar cases over and over again. The dentists could have avoided many Department of Health (DOH) complaints that may wind up before the Board of Dentistry.

These are the ten biggest mistakes we see dentists make, leading to DOH complaints being filed and investigations being opened against them.

1. Requiring patients to pay an outstanding dental bill before releasing a copy of their dental records. This is prohibited by law. However, the patient can be charged for the copy of the record, up to […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T09:59:50-04:00February 17, 2021|Health care Law|