administrative hearings | The Health Law Firm Blog

Arizona Appeals Court Affirms Dentist’s Suspension Over Questionable Prescriptions

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

On December 13, 2016, an Arizona appeals court affirmed the suspension of a dentist who allegedly had a history of opioid addiction and who also allegedly wrote dozens of questionable prescriptions. The Arizona appeals court held that the state dental board didn’t violate his due process rights and had substantial evidence backing its decision that it wasn’t safe for him to practice.

The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, concluded that the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners had acted within its authority by suspending Dr. Michael Wassef’s license to practice dentistry in the state. This was following Dr. Wassef’s refusal to submit to the dental board’s requests after it discovered evidence suggesting he had relapsed. The appeals court decision upheld a lower court’s decision […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:20-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: administrative hearings, appeals (and variations on appeal ) of adverse license action, appeals of emergency suspension orders, Colorado dentist defense lawyer, complaint investigation defense attorney for dentists, DEA investigation defense attorney, defense attorney for board of dentistry matters, defense attorney for dentists, defense attorney for health care professionals, dental board defense work, dental board investigations, District of Columbia dentist legal representation, emergency suspension orders, Florida dentist defense attorney, impaired dentists, impaired professionals, Kentucky legal dentist defense counsel, legal counsel for dentists and dental assistants, legal representation for board investigations, legal representation for DEA investigations, Legal representation for dentists, license revocation, Louisiana dentist defense legal counsel, physician health programs, Professionals Resources Network (PRN) attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, Virginia dentist defense lawyer|Comments Off

Nation Rx Drug Abuse Summit Held in Central Florida-Leaders Share Struggles and Triumphs in “War Against Prescription Drugs”

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

From April 2 through April 4, 2013, the country’s leading experts on the prescription drug epidemic met in Central Florida for the National Rx Drug Abuse Summit, according to the Orlando Sentinel. National leaders including the White House drug czar, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner and Florida’s Attorney General (AG) shared ongoing challenges and strides each department has made in its fight against prescription drugs.

Good News in the War Against Prescription Drugs.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) stated in its semi-annual report that oxycodone-related deaths statewide dropped between January and June of 2012, compared to the same period of time in 2011. In the first half of 2012, there were […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:39-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law, Trafficking Prescription Painkillers|Tags: accidental overdose, administrative hearings, administrative law attorney, administrative law lawyer, controlled substances, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Department of Health (DOH), doctor, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Florida health care lawyer, Florida health law attorney, Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG), Florida prescription drug abuse, Florida prescription drug crackdown, legal defense for doctors, legal defense for physicians, legal representation for doctors, legal representation for physicians, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), Medical negligence, opioid misuse, opioid use, oxycodone, pain management, pain pills, pharmacists, physician, physicians, pill mill, pill mill laws, prescription drug trafficking, prescription pain pill, prescriptions|Comments Off

Florida Department of Health and Law Enforcement Investigate School Providing Nurse Practitioner Courses

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

A subpoena purportedly issued by the Clerk of Court for Seminole County, Florida, recently requested academic records on advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) students, including preceptorship agreements for clinical courses they had taken. A follow-up inquiry revealed that the Florida Department of Health was behind the subpoena, seeking evidence concerning possible fraudulent practices involving the supervision of those clinicals.

Apparently South University, which has its main campus and headquarters located in Savannah, Georgia, but offers courses in Florida, had agreements with one or more physicians in the Orlando area to furnish training for nurse practitioner students within their medical practices. Under the terms of the agreement, the physician was required to provide a nurse practitioner to supervise the student taking the clinicals.

However, what is being investigated is […]

CVS Blacklists Second Set of Doctors Accused of Overprescribing Painkillers

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

CVS is again stepping up its own internal efforts to combat the nation’s prescription drug abuse epidemic. According to Reuters, the second largest retail pharmacy chain announced it is cutting off access to the most powerful painkillers for more than 36 doctors and health care providers around the country. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been keeping a close eye on CVS over the past few years. According to Reuters, CVS began revoking the dispensing privileges of certain providers back in 2011. CVS disclosed this round of suspensions on August 21, 2013.

To read the article from Reuters, click here.

CVS Closely Analyzed Prescription Practices of Health Care Providers Before Suspending Dispensing Privileges.

CVS said the suspension followed an analysis of prescriptions brought to its drugstores […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:40-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacist, Pharmacy|Tags: administrative hearings, blacklisted, controlled substance licenses, controlled substances, CVS, CVS pharmacy, DEA investigation, DEA raid, defense attorney, defense lawyer, doctor, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), emergency suspension order, healthcare providers, painkiller, pharmacist, pharmacist attorney, pharmacist lawyer, pharmacy, pharmacy investigation, physician attorney, physician lawyer, physicians, prescribing practices, prescription drug trafficking, registration, revoked license, the health law firm|Comments Off

Arizona Appeals Court Affirms Dentist’s Suspension Over Questionable Prescriptions

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

On December 13, 2016, an Arizona appeals court affirmed the suspension of a dentist who allegedly had a history of opioid addiction and who also allegedly wrote dozens of questionable prescriptions. The Arizona appeals court held that the state dental board didn’t violate his due process rights and had substantial evidence backing its decision that it wasn’t safe for him to practice.

The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, concluded that the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners had acted within its authority by suspending Dr. Michael Wassef’s license to practice dentistry in the state. This was following Dr. Wassef’s refusal to submit to the dental board’s requests after it discovered evidence suggesting he had relapsed. The appeals court decision upheld a lower court’s decision […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:26-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law Blog|Tags: administrative hearings, appeals (and variations on appeal ) of adverse license action, appeals of emergency suspension orders, Colorado dentist defense lawyer, complaint investigation defense attorney for dentists, DEA investigation defense attorney, defense attorney for board of dentistry matters, defense attorney for dentists, defense attorney for health care professionals, dental board defense work, dental board investigations, District of Columbia dentist legal representation, emergency suspension orders, Florida dentist defense attorney, impaired dentists, impaired professionals, Kentucky legal dentist defense counsel, legal counsel for dentists and dental assistants, legal representation for board investigations, legal representation for DEA investigations, Legal representation for dentists, license revocation, Louisiana dentist defense legal counsel, physician health programs, Professionals Resources Network (PRN) attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, Virginia dentist defense lawyer|Comments Off

Arizona Appeals Court Affirms Dentist’s Suspension Over Questionable Prescriptions

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

On December 13, 2016, an Arizona appeals court affirmed the suspension of a dentist who allegedly had a history of opioid addiction and who also allegedly wrote dozens of questionable prescriptions. The Arizona appeals court held that the state dental board didn’t violate his due process rights and had substantial evidence backing its decision that it wasn’t safe for him to practice.

The Arizona Court of Appeals, Division One, concluded that the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners had acted within its authority by suspending Dr. Michael Wassef’s license to practice dentistry in the state. This was following Dr. Wassef’s refusal to submit to the dental board’s requests after it discovered evidence suggesting he had relapsed. The appeals court decision upheld a lower court’s decision […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:45-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Dental Law Blog|Tags: administrative hearings, appeals (and variations on appeal ) of adverse license action, appeals of emergency suspension orders, Colorado dentist defense lawyer, complaint investigation defense attorney for dentists, DEA investigation defense attorney, defense attorney for board of dentistry matters, defense attorney for dentists, defense attorney for health care professionals, dental board defense work, dental board investigations, District of Columbia dentist legal representation, emergency suspension orders, Florida dentist defense attorney, impaired dentists, impaired professionals, Kentucky legal dentist defense counsel, legal counsel for dentists and dental assistants, legal representation for board investigations, legal representation for DEA investigations, Legal representation for dentists, license revocation, Louisiana dentist defense legal counsel, physician health programs, Professionals Resources Network (PRN) attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, Virginia dentist defense lawyer|3 Comments

Florida Department of Health and Law Enforcement Investigate School Providing Nurse Practitioner Courses

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

A subpoena purportedly issued by the Clerk of Court for Seminole County, Florida, recently requested academic records on advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) students, including preceptorship agreements for clinical courses they had taken. A follow-up inquiry revealed that the Florida Department of Health was behind the subpoena, seeking evidence concerning possible fraudulent practices involving the supervision of those clinicals.

Apparently South University, which has its main campus and headquarters located in Savannah, Georgia, but offers courses in Florida, had agreements with one or more physicians in the Orlando area to furnish training for nurse practitioner students within their medical practices. Under the terms of the agreement, the physician was required to provide a nurse practitioner to supervise the student taking the clinicals.

However, what is being […]

Finding a Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance Defense Lawyer

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

We are sometimes told by the health professionals we represent especially pharmacists, licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs), massage therapists and physical therapists that after they received a complaint regarding their license from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) they had difficulty finding an experienced attorney in Florida who would accept their professional liability insurance. In this case, I am speaking specifically about Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance.

Benefits of HPSO Insurance.

The professionals who are covered by HPSO Insurance have excellent insurance coverage. HPSO Insurance provides professional liability coverage that protects in the event of a lawsuit or negligence claim. But much more often the professional receives a notice of an investigation, a subpoena […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:50-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Clinical Social Worker, Intern, Marital and Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Occupational Therapist, Psychology, Resident|Tags: administrative attorney, administrative complaint, administrative hearings, administrative lawyer, Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) investigation, AHCA complaint, assisted living facility (ALF), defense attorney, defense lawyer, DOH investigation, experienced health attorney Florida, experienced health lawyer Florida, Florida defense attorney, Florida defense lawyer, Florida Department of Health (DOH), Florida license defense, health facilities, health professionals, Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance, licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs), physical therapists, professional liability insurance, psychologists, social worker|Comments Off