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Florida Senate Delays Broadening Baker Act Powers for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants-Calls for a Study

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

Florida’s nurse practitioners and physician assistants were hopeful the Senate would vote to allow them to have the authority to order the involuntary commitment of a patient for mental-health evaluation under the Baker Act. However, instead on April 15, 2013, the Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee passed the formation of a work group to figure out how to improve the more than 40-year-old Florida mental health act.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Want to Broaden Their Powers.

Currently, nurse practitioners and physician assistants can perform an evaluation, but cannot sign off on voluntary or involuntary examination paperwork to admit someone to treatment under the Baker Act. Instead, they must wait for a physician or law enforcement official to perform another evaluation and sign the paperwork. As this process is going on, the patient is free to go, meaning that person may leave the health facility before receiving the care they need.

Work Group Will Measure the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Baker Act.

The work group established by the senate must determine the necessary revisions that need to be made to improve the Baker Act. The group must file a report on their findings by January 14, 2014.

In a Tampa Bay Times article, senators voiced their concerns about the Baker Act, but said they wanted to know exactly what happens after a person is committed and the type of treatment patients receive. In the same Tampa Bay Times article, members of the Florida Association for Nurse Practitioners said the state’s 1,300 nurse practitioners are hoping for a decision this year. To read the entire article from the Tampa Bay Times, click here.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Representing Health Professionals and Providers.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, cardiologists, CRNAs, pain management doctors, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, FBI investigations, Medicare investigations, Medicaid investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Comments?

Do you think nurse practitioners and physician assistants should have the right to order involuntary commitment of a patient? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Sources:

Koff, Rochelle and Stone, Richard. “Senate Committee Calls for Study of Baker Act Instead of Expanding Roles of Nurse Practitioners.” Tampa Bay Times. (April 15, 2013). From: http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/senate-committee-calls-for-study-of-baker-act–instead-of-expanding-role/2115307

Curington, Jennifer. “Measure Would Broaden Powers Under Baker Act.” Orlando Sentinel. (April 11, 2013). From April 11, 2013, issue of Orlando Sentinel, Local News, B3.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 1996-2012 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Florida Doctor, Clinic Owner Charged With Drug Trafficking in Orlando Area

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law
An Orlando based pain clinic that had patients from the panhandle to Miami has come under investigation according to Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation agents. The owner of the clinic, A Stop Pain Management, as well as it’s doctor were arrested on April 20,2016.

Prescribing Drugs Unnecessarily.

According to authorities, patients paid $250 to $300 per visit to see a doctor at A Stop Pain Management on East Colonial Drive and left with a prescription for hydrocodone or oxycodone.

Between November 2014 and November 2015 alone, clinic employees prescribed 800,000 such pills, MBI Director Ron Stucker said. “The doctor and the business were prescribing drugs unnecessarily, without medical necessity,” Stucker said.

Not The First Run-In With Law Enforcement.

The state’s Department of Health (DOH) shut A Stop Pain Management down in 2011, after finding out the clinic’s former doctor had dispensed more than a 72-hour supply of an opioid to a patient who was not going through an insurance company to obtain the drug. The doctor allegedly surrendered his federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration that allowed him to prescribe controlled substances. But the clinic reportedly kept operating without a properly licensed physician.

Additionally, DOH officials later allowed the clinic to re-open. DOH officials also filed an administrative complaint against the clinic’s doctor, alleging that he improperly prescribed controlled substances and did not keep proper records in 2013. The clinic’s owner is currently being held in Orange County Jail on a $1.9 million bond. The clinic’s doctor is also currently being held on a $1 million bond.

This is far from the first time pain clinics have been in the news for crimes such as this, click here to read one of my prior blogs on a similar case.

The “Big Deal” With Overprescribing.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a report in June 2013, to address prescription drug abuse which it believed to be a serious and growing problem in the United States. It reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) characterized prescription drug abuse as an epidemic. In 2010, it was found that approximately seven million people in the United States, were misusing prescription drugs. Furthermore, overdoses of prescription painkillers ranks as one of the leading causes of accidental death in the U.S.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Representation of Health Professionals and Providers.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, pain management doctors, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in different cases involving allegations of overprescribing narcotics and pain medications, in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigations, FBI investigations, Medicare investigations, Medicaid investigations and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. These include criminal investigations by local police and law enforcement authorities, investigations by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), complaints against professional licenses by the Florida Department of Health (DOH), investigations and prosecutions by the Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCU), and other types of cases. We have represented professionals in administrative investigations and administrative hearings at both the state and federal level.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Source:

Lotan, Gal. “Pain-clinic owner, doctor arrested on drug-trafficking charges.” Orlando Sentinel. (April 20, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Florida health attorney, health law attorney, Florida health lawyer, The Health Law Firm, health law defense lawyer, health professional attorney, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), physician defense lawyer, physician overprescribing, Florida Department of Health (DOH) investigations defense attorney, legal representation for pain management clinics, physician prescribing controlled substances, administrative complaint, administrative hearing defense lawyer, Florida Board of Medicine, physician license defense attorney, pain management doctor defense lawyer, disciplinary action defense attorney

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. – The Health Law Firm, a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:06-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: florida health attorney, Florida health lawyer, health law attorney, Health law defense lawyer, health professional attorney, physician defense, the health law firm, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)|Comments Off

CMS Issues Conditions of Participation for Community Mental Health Centers

By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm

On October 28, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a Final Rule establishing conditions of participation (CoPs) for Medicare-certified community mental health centers (CMHCs). The Final Rule is CMS 3202-F. These conditions are the health and safety regulations Medicare providers must meet in order to participate in the Medicare program and receive reimbursements. The stated purpose of the CoPs is to improve client care, establish requirements for staff and provider operations, and encourage clients to participate in their own treatment. According to CMS, many CMHCs are currently not required to meet any health and safety standards.

To read the Final Rule from the CMS, click here.

A CMHC is a provider that meets applicable licensure and certification requirements in the state in which it is located and provides certain care and services.

Mental Health Centers Must Meet These New CoPs.

CMS finalized six new CoPs. All clients will have a treatment team, an active treatment plan, and coordination of services providing individualized client care. Clients must be provided with an initial evaluation, a comprehensive assessment, and a discharge or transfer plan that identifies each client’s needs and how those needs will be met on a timely basis. Also, CMHCs must use outcome and client satisfaction data to identify specific program needs and improve the quality of care provided. The regulations also promote continuity of care by emphasizing the need for communication with other service providers regarding client needs at the time of discharge or transfer.

In a press release, CMS stated that the new CoPs will help raise standards for the 100 CMHCs that participate in Medicare. The conditions will supposedly ensure a higher quality of care and safety for more than 13,000 Medicare beneficiaries being treated at mental health centers.

Click here to read the press release from the CMS.

Effective Date for New Requirements is October 29, 2014.

The regulations take effect on October 29, 2014. To verify CMHCs are meeting the new requirements, CMS will survey these centers at least once every five years. However, if CMS receives a complaint on a CMHC, surveys may occur more frequently. Considering the scrutiny that has been applied recently to the provision of mental health services, we expect surveys to be much more frequent.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in the Mental Health Counselors, Therapists and Facilities.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers and family therapists in Department of Health (DOH) investigations, FBI investigations, audits and other types of investigations of health professionals and providers. Our attorneys also represent community mental health centers and other types of mental health facilities.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Comments?

What do you think of the new CoPs for CMHCs? How do you think these conditions will improve patient care? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Sources:

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “CMS Issues New Patient Safety Standards for Community Mental Health Centers.” CMS. (October 28, 2013). From: http://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Fact-Sheets/2013-Fact-Sheets-Items/2013-10-28.html

Bourque, Dianne. “CMS Finalizes Conditions of Participation for Community Mental Health Centers.” American Health Lawyers Association. (November 5, 2013).
About the Author: Lance O. Leider is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:09-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: CMS, Mental Health Centers|Tags: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, CMCH regulations, CMHC, CMHC certification, CMHC licensure, community mental health centers, conditions of participation, CoP, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Final Rule, florida health attorney, Florida health lawyer, health law firm, medicare, Medicare beneficiaries, Medicare CoP, Public Health Service Act, the health law firm|Comments Off

Doctor Indicted In Home Health Medicaid Fraud Suit Hit With 3-Year Prison Sentence

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

On December 7, 2016, Banio Koroma was convicted in a northern Illinois court of falsely certifying elderly patients for in-home care will spend the next three years in prison and be forced to reimburse the government for the $1.5 million in losses he caused, an Illinois federal judge ruled.

Paying For His Crimes.

In June 2016, Banio Koroma, 67, appeared in court in an orange jumpsuit after being jailed for violating his bond when it was discovered that he had again committed fraud by mailing fake checks to strangers. On December 7,2016, he was told he would spend a total of 40 months in prison for the crime that placed him on that bond. The crime committed included cheating Medicaid out of at least $1.5 million during his employment with home health care provider Mobile Doctors USA (Mobile Doctors).

“That sentence would be substantially higher were it not for his age,” U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp said. The judge also ordered restitution of $1.5 million and said that Dr. Koroma would be under three years of supervised probation following his release from prison.
The Fraudulent Scheme.

In 2013, Dr. Koroma was indicted along with Mobile Doctors’ Chief Executive Officer, Dike Ajiri, who pled guilty and was sentenced in May 2016 to 15 months in prison. Dr. Koroma had worked for Mobile Doctors, a company that contracted with physicians to arrange home health care services in Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and elsewhere before its 2013 closure due to the indictment.

According to the government, Dr. Koroma, signed off on documents authorizing the in-home care treatment of elderly patients who were not confined to their homes and could in fact leave their houses to see a doctor.

Prosecutors allege that Dr. Koroma did so without first verifying that the patients were in fact homebound and was motivated purely by greed. A jury convicted him in January 2016 of four counts of Medicare fraud. Click here to read more on his conviction.

To learn more about the repercussions of Medicaid fraud such as this, click here to read one of my prior blogs on a similar case.

Health Care Fraud Should Not Be Taken Lightly.

We have been consulted by many individuals, both before and after criminal charges were brought for fraud or related offenses. In many cases, those subject to Medicare and Medicaid fraud audits and investigations refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of the matter. Some may even decide not to spend the money required for a highly experienced health attorney to defend them.

Click here to read one of my previous blog posts regarding Medicare and Medicaid audits.

The government is serious about combating health care fraud. It created a Medicare Fraud Strike Force in March of 2007, in an effort to further prevent and eliminate fraud and abuse of government health care programs. False claims are a growing problem in the program, costing the government billions of dollars each year. Accordingly, punishments for defrauding the system can be quite severe.

If you are accused of Medicare or Medicaid fraud, realize that you are in a fight for your life. Your liberty, property/possessions and profession are all at stake. Often it is possible to settle allegations of fraud by agreeing to pay civil monetary penalties and fines. If given such an opportunity, the provider should consider whether it is worth the risk of facing decades in prison. Be prepared to give up whatever you need to in order to avoid a conviction and preserve your liberty.

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late; Consult with a Health Law Attorney Experienced in Medicare and Medicaid Issues Now.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm represent healthcare providers in Medicare audits, ZPIC audits and RAC audits throughout Florida and across the U.S. They also represent physicians, medical groups, nursing homes, home health agencies, pharmacies, hospitals and other healthcare providers and institutions in Medicare and Medicaid investigations, audits, recovery actions and termination from the Medicare or Medicaid Program.

For more information please visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com or call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001.

Sources:

Corso, Jessica. “Doctor In Home Health Fraud Hit With 3-Year Sentence.” Law360. (December 9, 2016). Web.

Robeznieks, Andis. “Mobile Doctors CEO, physician arrested in alleged Medicare fraud scheme.” Modern Healthcare. (August 27, 2013). Web.
About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.
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“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:22-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: co-conspirator in Medicaid fraud scheme, Colorado home health agency (HHA) defense lawyer, Colorado physician defense lawyer, District of Columbia home health agency (HHA) defense attorney, District of Columbia physician defense attorney, false claims defense attorney, florida health attorney, Florida health lawyer, Florida home health agency (HHA) defense attorney, Florida physician defense attorney, health care clinic fraud audit, health care fraud defense lawyer, health care fraud scheme, improper Medicaid billing claims, Kentucky doctor defense counsel, Kentucky home health agency (HHA) defense counsel, legal representation for home health care agencies, legal representation for Medicare and Medicaid fraud allegations, legal representation for Medicare and Medicaid fraud investigation, Louisiana home health agency (HHA) defense legal representation, Louisiana physician defense legal representation, Medicaid audit defense, Medicaid fraud defense lawyer, Medicaid fraud scheme, Medicaid reimbursement claims, medical director defense attorney, Medicare and Medicaid fraud defense attorney, restitution for health care fraud offense, the health law firm, The Health Law Firm reviews, Virginia home health agency (HHA) defense attorney, Virginia physician defnse legal counsel|Comments Off

South Florida Hospital Agrees To Pay $12 Million To Settle FCA Claims

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

On December 7, 2016, a Miami-area hospital will pay the federal government about $12 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) by submitting false claims to federal health care programs for medically unnecessary cardiac procedures, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said.

The Allegations.

The allegations against South Miami Hospital stem from procedures allegedly performed by Dr. John R. Dylewski while he worked for the hospital. “Performing medically unnecessary heart procedures is shocking to the conscience,” Shimon R. Richmond, the U.S. Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) special agent in charge, said in a statement. “Conducting cardiac catheterizations purely for profit, not patient care, seriously breaches the ‘do no harm’ commitment physicians pledge.”

Two Whistle Blowers Add to the Mix.

Two whistle blowers, Dr. James A. Burks and Dr. James D. Davenport, brought the suit to light and stand to receive about $2.75 million of the settlement. Dr. Burks is a vascular surgeon who started working at South Miami Hospital in 2003 and Dr. Davenport is a cardiologist who was active in various peer review committees at the hospital between 2010 and 2014.

Both whistle blowers claimed to have personal knowledge of Dr. Dylewski and the hospital performing a number of unnecessary cardiac procedures for the sole purpose of increasing the amount of reimbursements paid to the hospital and its doctors by Medicare the DOJ said. According to the two whistleblowers, the alleged wrongdoing was known throughout the hospitals’ corporate hierarchy, including top executives, department officers, medical division chiefs and members of peer review committees. Additionally, both whistleblowers claim to have witnessed “repeated and continuing instances” of the improper medical and billing practices.

Dr. Dylewski, who no longer works at the hospital, was not a party to the settlement. Click here to read the press release on the suit from the DOJ.

To learn more about FCA suit, click here to read one of my prior blogs on a similar case.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced with Qui Tam or Whistleblower Cases.

Attorneys with The Health Law Firm represent physicians, nurses and other health professionals who desire to file a False Claims Act (whistle blower or qui tam) case. This case just shows that even physicians can and should bring such claims and be rewarded for their whistle blowing activities. However, the attorneys of The Health Law Firm also defend physicians, medical groups and health facilities who have been sued in False Claims Act (whistle blower or qui tam) cases or have had administrative or civil complaints filed against them to recover civil monetary penalties. We have developed relationships with recognized experts in health care accounting, health care financing, utilization review, medical review, filling, coding, and other services that assist us in such matters. We have represented doctors, nurses and others as relators in bringing qui tam or whistle blower cases, as well.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Kennedy, John. “Florida Hospital To Pay $12M To Settle FCA Claims.” Law360. (December 7, 2016). Web.

Lincoff, Nina. “BREAKING: South Miami Hospital to pay $12M to settle false claims allegations.” South Florida Business Journal. (December 7, 2016). Web.

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The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999, and is also a registered service mark.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:34-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Nursing Law Blog|Tags: AKS lawyer, AKS safe harbor, Anti-Kickback Statute attorney, Colorado False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties lawyer, Colorado qui tam whistle blower lawyer, District of Columbia (D.C.) False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties lawyer, District of Columbia (D.C.) qui tam whistle blower lawyer, DOJ settlement attorney, False Claims Act defense lawyer, FCA attorney, FCA first to claim requirement, FCA legal representation, FCA original source requirement, FCA subject matter jurisdiction, Florida False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties attorney, florida health attorney, Florida health lawyer, Florida qui tam whistle blower attorney, government health care fraud, health care fraud attorney, health fraud and abuse allegations, health fraud attorney, health law attorney, Health law defense lawyer, illegal kickbacks, Kentucky False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties lawyer, Kentucky qui tam whistle blower lawyer, Louisiana False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties attorney, Louisiana qui tam whistle blower attorney, qui tam lawyer, relator attorney, the health law firm, Virginia False Claims Act (FCA) and civil monetary penalties attorney, Virginia qui tam whistle blower attorney, whistle blower attorney, whistle blower defense attorney|Comments Off

The Fight for Medical Marijuana Lights Up in Florida and Across the U.S.

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

The fight to legalize medical marijuana seems to be spreading across the country. In Florida, a medical marijuana group said it cleared the first major hurdle to get a proposed constitutional amendment for medical marijuana on the 2014 ballot. In Illinois, the governor recently signed a law allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes. Similarly, New Jersey’s governor also recently relaxed the state’s medical marijuana law for sick children.

Currently, twenty states plus the District of Columbia have effective laws that decriminalize medical marijuana.

Supreme Court to Review Florida’s Medical Marijuana Proposal.

According to the Miami Herald, People United for Medical Marijuana, a medical marijuana group, has collected at least 110,000 voter signatures in support of allowing the use of medical marijuana throughout the state. These signatures initiate the first step in getting the initiative on the 2014 November ballot, a Supreme Court review of the proposal language. The Supreme Court will review the proposal and will rule on its constitutionality.

To continue the group will need 583,149 more verified voter signatures by February 1, 2014, to get on the 2014 ballot, according to the Miami Herald. It will then need 60 percent (60%) approval from voters in order to be made a state constitutional amendment.

The People United for Medical Marijuana’s proposal only allows tightly controlled, medically prescribed marijuana. Florida attorney John Morgan of Morgan & Morgan recently jumped behind an effort to legalized medical marijuana in Florida. Morgan’s reputation throughout the community and his personal story on why he is lobbying for medical marijuana has people listening. To read a previous blog on Mr. Morgan’s support of medical marijuana, click here. If approved, Florida would be the 21st state to decriminalize marijuana.

Click here to read the Miami Herald article.

Illinois Allows Medical Marijuana.

On August 1, 2013, the governor of Illinois signed a law allowing marijuana to be used for medical purposes, according to Reuters. The law takes effect January 1, 2014, and allows patients diagnosed with one of 35 medical conditions to use marijuana. To receive the drug, a patient must have a recommendation from an Illinois licensed physician, must present a registered patient photo identification card, and the patient must be verified through an electronic system. According to Reuters, under the Illinois law patients will be limited to 2.5 ounces of marijuana every two weeks.

To learn more on the restrictions of this law, click here to read the Reuters article.

New Jersey Governor Allows Medical Marijuana for Sick Children.

Just weeks later, on August 17, 2013, New Jersey’s governor relaxed the state’s medical marijuana law, making it easier for chronically ill children to use the drug as part of their treatment. According to CBS News, the governor approved expanding the state’s medical marijuana program to allow the edible form of marijuana for children 18 years old and younger. To get medical marijuana, the young patients will be required to have approval from a pediatrician and a psychiatrist.

Click here to read the CBS News article.

Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys.

The Health Law Firm routinely represents pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nurses and other health providers in investigations, regulatory matters, licensing issues, litigation, inspections and audits involving the DEA, Department of Health (DOH) and other law enforcement agencies. Its attorneys include those who are board certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law as well as licensed health professionals who are also attorneys.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Comments?

Do you think marijuana should be legalized? Do you think Florida will legalize medical marijuana? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

Sources:

Caputo, Marc. “Medical Marijuana Slows Petition Drive Until High Court Rules.” Miami Herald. (August 15, 2013). From: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/08/15/3565544/medical-marijuana-slows-petition.html

Wisniewski, Mary. “Illinois Governor Signs Law Allowing Medical Marijuana.” Reuters. (August 1, 2013). From: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/01/us-usa-marijuana-illinois-idUSBRE97018920130801

Brown, Terry, Burkholder, Amy, and Hirschkorn, Phil. “Christie Oks Medical Marijuana Bill for Ill Children.” CBS News. (August 17, 2013). From: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57599009/christie-oks-medical-marijuana-bill-for-ill-children/

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:40-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Pharmacy Law|Tags: cannabis, florida health attorney, Florida health lawyer, health attorney, health care lawyer, health law attorney, health lawyer, John Morgan, legalizing marijuana, marijuana, marijuana legalization, medical marijuana, medical marijuana FL, medical marijuana Florida, medical marijuana legal, People United for Medical Marijuana, pot|1 Comment