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Report: Florida Received an F in Medical Pricing Transparency

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

In Florida, it’s difficult to compare prices for medical services and procedures because the various prices are not made public. In part because of this, a recent study by a health-care advocacy group gave Florida an F for transparencies in pricing.

What Did the Analysis Look For?

The report analyzed whether or not states have laws and regulations that require health prices be made public.

Only One State Received an A.

The only state to receive an A in the study was New Hampshire. This is because of its NH Health-Cost site. The site provides consumers prices based on geography, type of insurance and other factors for everything from a basic visit to complicated medical tests. Consumers are able to go on the site […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:00-04:00June 1, 2018|Categories: In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|Tags: florida attorney, health care, health care attorney, health care coverage, health care defense attorney, health care defense lawyer, health care law, health care lawyer, health law, health law attorney, health law lawyer, healthcare, law, medical services, physician attorney, the health law firm|Comments Off

Multiple States Move to Enact New Laws Related to Controlled Substances

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

In reports from both coasts, three states have recently made moves to tighten monitoring and prescribing of controlled substances. Legislators in California, Pennsylvania and Kentucky are contemplating new actions. Health professionals should take note, these prescription drug monitoring programs can, and will be, used as a prosecution tool.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs by State.

According to the Los Angeles Times, California is looking to utilize its prescription drug monitoring program CURES to find physicians who are a little too loose with the prescription pad. Lawmakers are contemplating mining the data compiled by CURES to find physicians who are overprescribing and take action against them. Click here to read the entire Los Angeles Times article.

The Pennsylvania house recently forwarded a bill from committee to the floor for a final vote. The bill would […]

Zone 4 Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) for Medicare and Medicaid Programs is Health Integrity, LCC

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

Health Integrity, LCC, was named the Zone 4 Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) for the Medicare and Medicaid programs. As the ZPIC for Zone 4, Health Integrity has been performing benefit integrity activities aimed to reduce fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid data matching programs.

A ZPIC is a business entity that contracts with Medicare and Medicaid and works with state Medicaid agencies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and law enforcement officials to identify improper billing and utilization patterns throughout Zone 4.

ZPIC Zone 4 includes Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oklahoma.

What is a ZPIC?

ZPICs are private companies contracted by the CMS, used to conduct audits for Medicare and Medicaid overpayments. ZPICS also detect, investigate and gather evidence of suspected fraud and […]

Tips for Medical Students and Medical Residents Accused of Irregular Behavior on the USMLE

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

We frequently receive calls for consultations from students who receive a letter from the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) accusing the medical student or medical resident of “Irregular Behavior” on the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). In many cases these are graduates of foreign medical schools who have applied through the Examination Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Irregular behavior can consist of many different things before, during or after taking the USMLE. What you must know is that, in effect, you are being accused of cheating.

Examples of What The USMLE Defines as “Irregular Behavior.”

Examples of the types of conduct which we have seen before include:

– Attending a commercial USMLE preparation course that provides some of […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:46-04:00June 1, 2018|Categories: Administrative law, Medical Students, The Health Law Firm Blog, USMLE|Tags: administrative law, administrative proceeding, cheating, civil proceeding, criminal proceeding, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Examination Committee for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), health care attorney, health care lawyer, irregular behavior, legal representation, medical administrative hearings, medical intern attorney, medical intern lawyer, medical resident, medical resident attorney, medical resident lawyer, medical student attorney, medical student lawyer, medical students, National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), USMLE appeals, USMLE hearings, USMLE preparation course|Comments Off

Colorado Surgeon Accused of Botching Multiple Robotic Arm Surgeries

By Carole C. Schriefer, R.N., J.D., The Health Law Firm and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A Colorado surgeon allegedly faces 14 counts of unprofessional conduct associated with the use a robotic arm used during surgeries, according to the formal administrative complaint. The Colorado Medical Board filed the complaint on April 2, 2013, alleging that from 2008 until 2010, the surgeon cut and tore blood vessels, left sponges and other instruments inside of patients, injured patients through padding and positioning, subjected some patients to overly long surgeries and had to abort kidney donation procedures because of mistakes. The surgeon is also accused of not documenting the mistakes in patient charts.

According to the Colorado Board of Medicine’s administrative complaint, the surgeon was using the da Vinci robot, manufactured by Intuitive […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:47-04:00June 1, 2018|Categories: Administrative law, Board of Medicine, Health Care Industry, In the News, Licensing issues, Medical License, The Health Law Firm Blog|Tags: administrative complaint, administrative judge, administrative law, Colorado law, Colorado medical board, da Vinci-brand surgery units, discipline license to practice medicine, discipline to medical license, doctor, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), formal complaint against surgeon, health care attorney, health care lawyer, health law, license to practice medicine, malpractice lawsuit, medical board, medical board complaint, medical board hearing, medical errors, physician, robotic surgery, robotic surgery arm, standard of care, surgeon, unprofessional conduct|Comments Off

Florida Man Sentenced to Prison for Role in Florida Hospital Data Theft

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

A Davenport, Florida, man was sentenced to four years in prison for paying off two Florida Hospital employees to illegally access patient records, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). A judge sentenced Sergie Kusyakov on April 10, 2013. He was charged with conspiracy and wrongful disclosure of individual identifiable health information.

Click here to read the press release from the DOJ.

Ex-Employees Sold Patient Information to a Co-Conspirator.

Mr. Kusyakov’s sentence stems from a privacy breach at Florida Hospital back in October 2011. The breach involved thousands of patient records that were illegally accessed between 2009 and 2011. Apparently Mr. Kusyakov was paying hospital employee Dale Munroe and his wife to illegally access thousands of records of patients treated at multiple Florida Hospital locations. Mr. Munroe was sentenced in January 2013. […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:00:47-04:00June 1, 2018|Categories: Health Care Industry, HIPAA, In the Know, In the News, The Health Law Firm Blog|Tags: audit attorneys, confidentiality of medical records, defense attorney, defense lawyer, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), health care attorney, health care audits, health care lawyer, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), HIPAA audits, HIPAA compliance, HIPAA Privacy Complaint, HIPAA Privacy Regulation, legal representation, medical records, patient records, privacy breach|Comments Off

California, Pennsylvania and Kentucky Move to Tighten Laws Related to Controlled Substance

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

In reports from both coasts, three states have recently made moves to tighten monitoring and prescribing of controlled substances. Legislators in California, Pennsylvania and Kentucky are contemplating new actions. Health professionals should take note, these prescription drug monitoring programs can, and will be, used as a prosecution tool.

Details of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Possibly Coming to Your State.

According to the Los Angeles Times, California is looking to utilize its prescription drug monitoring program CURES to find physicians who are a little too loose with the prescription pad. Lawmakers are contemplating mining the data compiled by CURES to find physicians who are overprescribing and take action against them. Click here to read the entire Los Angeles Times article.

The Pennsylvania house recently forwarded a bill from committee to the floor for […]

Lloyd’s of London (Lloyd’s) Attorneys, Lawyers and Defense Council in Florida

By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Often we learn after the fact that a health professional such as physicians, nurses, podiatrists, psychologists and other health professionals has received Lloyd’s of London Insurance, has had a legal problem, and has not been able to locate an attorney or law firm that accepts this type of insurance. We have offices in Florida and Colorado, but we have attorneys licensed in Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Virginia and other states. Additionally, we can provide legal advice and representation in license investigations and administrative proceedings in many other states. If you have Lloyd’s of London Insurance, do not go without an attorney or with a lawyer that has little or no experience where you need it.

Our Attorneys will Work with Lloyd’s of […]

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 law, administrative proceedings, attorney, complaint against a health care professional, complaint against a health care provider, complaint against a physician, health attorney, health care lawyer, health care professional, health care provider, health law, health law attorney, insurance, investigation of a health care professional, investigation of a health care provider, investigation of a physician, legal defense expenses, Lloyd’s of London, nurse, physician, Podiatrist, professional liability insurance, psychologist|Comments Off

Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Attorneys, Lawyers and Defense Council for Pharmacists

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

Often we learn after the fact that a health professional such as a mental health counselor, psychologist, or pharmacist has received Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) insurance, has had a legal problem, and has not been able to locate an attorney or law firm that accepts this type of insurance. We have offices in Florida and Colorado, but we have attorneys licensed in Florida, Colorado, Louisiana, the District of Columbia, Virginia and other states.

Additionally, we can provide legal advice and representation in license investigations and administrative proceedings in many other states.

If you have HPSO Insurance, do not go without an attorney or with a lawyer that has little or no experience where you need it. Contact us, and we will help you.

We Will Work […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:12-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Insurance, Legal Defense for Pharmacists, Pharmacist, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Law|Tags: administrative law, administrative proceedings, attorney, complaint against a health care professional, complaint against a health care provider, doctor, health attorney, health care lawyer, health care professional, health care provider, health law, health law attorney, Healthcare Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance, insurance, investigation of a health care professional, investigation of a health care provider, legal bills, legal defense expenses, mental health counselor, pharmacist, physician, professional discipline, professional liability insurance, psychologist|Comments Off

Inmates Family Sues Jail After Improper Care

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

Orange Country Jail Sued.

A wrongful death suit has been filed against Orange County Jail due to what some are saying was a preventable death. The suit was filed directly against Robert Buck, the head of the jails health services department, along with four nurses that cared for the late inmate.

Dog Bites Leads to Death In Jail.

In 2015, Max Gracia was arrested. During his arrest, he sustained many bites from one of the police dogs. He was treated in the hospital until he was stable. Once he was moved to the jail cell he was found unconscious and later died in the hospital. The autopsy reported that he died from an E Coli infection that stemmed from the dog bites. His mother, Willine Gracia, has filed the […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:53-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Mental Health Law Blog|Tags: Board of Nursing investigation defense attorney, health care lawyer, legal defense of professional licensure cases, legal representation for administrative actions, legal representation for Board of Medicine cases, legal representation for Board of Nursing cases, legal representation for government nurses, Legal representation for government physicians, Legal representation for peer review, legal representation for VA nurses, legal representation for VA physicians, The Health Law Firm reviews|4 Comments