Proposed Changes to Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Florida Hospitals

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

On June 3, 2019, Tallahassee healthcare regulators began the complex process of reshaping the state’s certificate of need (CON) program. Florida regulators are moving ahead to eliminate the certificate of need program for hospitals and to focus it on nursing homes, hospices, and institutions for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Proposed Changes to the CON Laws.

In May 2019, the Florida Legislature eliminated certificate of need program requirements for general acute care hospitals and tertiary services. The new law keeps CON requirements for specialty hospitals in place only until July 1, 2021. Click here to read more.

Rules being proposed to implement the legislative changes would maintain the four review cycles but split them into two different categories. One category would deal with applications for hospital facilities and hospices. The other category would be dedicated to nursing homes and intermediate-care facilities for individuals with disabilities.

Florida’s Certificate of Needs Programs.

Opponents of the CON program argue that it limits the ability to create new healthcare services and to build new facilities (in other words, “competition is good”). Advocates for CONs have argued that geographic areas where hospital and other health facilities are overbuilt can actually lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced services (in other words, “competition is bad”).

Critics of CONs argue that they limit the free market and, because CONs stifle competition, lead to increased costs. They have long argued that the requirements to maintain CONs can be shifted from certificates of need to simple licensing requirements.

To read my prior blog dealing with a certificate of needs case, click here.

Consult With A Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Representation Health Care Professionals.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in academic disputes, contract negotiations, license applications, board certification applications, credential hearings and civil and administrative litigations and hearings. We also have experience in representation for health care investigations by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), the FBI, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

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

Sources:

Sexton, Christine. “Florida regulators float new rules in hospital wars.” Sun-Sentinel. (July 5, 2019). Web.

“State Regulators Float New Rules in Hospital War Battles.” Law.com. (July 6, 2019). Web.

About the Authors: 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 Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Florida formal administrative hearing attorney, Florida formal administrative hearing legal representation, Florida formal administrative hearing lawyer, Florida formal and informal administrative hearing representation, legal representation for rule challenge hearings, legal challenge to state agency rules. legal representation for emergency suspension hearings, legal representation for revocation hearings, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense representation, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense lawyer, legal representation for investigations of health care providers, health law defense lawyer, representation for health care professionals, reviews of The Health Law Firm. The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, representation for Florida Department of Health (DOH) investigations and hearings, license investigation representation defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:10-04:00September 10, 2019|Categories: Nursing Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Proposed Changes to Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Florida Hospitals
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Changes to Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Florida Hospitals

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

On June 3, 2019, Tallahassee healthcare regulators began the complex process of reshaping the state’s certificate of need (CON) program. Florida regulators are moving ahead to eliminate the certificate of need program for hospitals and to focus it on nursing homes, hospices, and institutions for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Proposed Changes to Florida’s Hospital CON Laws.

In May 2019, the Florida Legislature eliminated certificate of need program requirements for general acute care hospitals and tertiary services. The new law keeps CON requirements for specialty hospitals in place only until July 1, 2021. Click here to read more.

Rules being proposed to implement the legislative changes would maintain the four review cycles but split them into two different categories. One category would deal with applications for hospital facilities and hospices. The other category would be dedicated to nursing homes and intermediate-care facilities for individuals with disabilities.

Florida’s Certificate of Needs Programs.

Opponents of the CON program argue that it limits the ability to create new healthcare services and to build new facilities (in other words, “competition is good”). Advocates for CONs have argued that geographic areas where hospital and other health facilities are overbuilt can actually lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced services (in other words, “competition is bad”).

Critics of CONs argue that they limit the free market and, because CONs stifle competition, lead to increased costs. They have long argued that the requirements to maintain CONs can be shifted from certificates of need to simple licensing requirements.

To read my prior blog dealing with a certificate of needs case, click here.

Consult With A Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Representation Health Care Professionals.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in academic disputes, contract negotiations, license applications, board certification applications, credential hearings and civil and administrative litigations and hearings. We also have experience in representation for health care investigations by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), the FBI, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

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

Sources:

Sexton, Christine. “Florida regulators float new rules in hospital wars.” Sun-Sentinel. (July 5, 2019). Web.

“State Regulators Float New Rules in Hospital War Battles.” Law.com. (July 6, 2019). Web.

About the Authors: 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 Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Florida formal administrative hearing attorney, Florida formal administrative hearing legal representation, Florida formal administrative hearing lawyer, Florida formal and informal administrative hearing representation, legal representation for rule challenge hearings, legal challenge to state agency rules. legal representation for emergency suspension hearings, legal representation for revocation hearings, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense representation, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense lawyer, legal representation for investigations of health care providers, health law defense lawyer, representation for health care professionals, reviews of The Health Law Firm. The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, representation for Florida Department of Health (DOH) investigations and hearings, license investigation representation defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:11-04:00August 20, 2019|Categories: Mental Health Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Changes to Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Florida Hospitals
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New Changes to Florida’s Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Hospitals

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

On June 3, 2019, Tallahassee healthcare regulators began the complex process of reshaping the state’s certificate of need (CON) program. Florida regulators are moving ahead to eliminate the certificate of need program for hospitals and to focus it on nursing homes, hospices, and institutions for individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Proposed Changes to the CON Laws.

In May 2019, the Florida Legislature eliminated certificate of need program requirements for general acute care hospitals and tertiary services. The new law keeps CON requirements for specialty hospitals in place only until July 1, 2021. Click here to read more.

Rules being proposed to implement the legislative changes would maintain the four review cycles but split them into two different categories. One category would deal with applications for hospital facilities and hospices. The other category would be dedicated to nursing homes and intermediate-care facilities for individuals with disabilities.

Florida’s Certificate of Needs Programs.

Opponents of the CON program argue that it limits the ability to create new healthcare services and to build new facilities (in other words, “competition is good”). Advocates for CONs have argued that geographic areas where hospital and other health facilities are overbuilt can actually lead to increased healthcare costs and reduced services (in other words, “competition is bad”).

Critics of CONs argue that they limit the free market and, because CONs stifle competition, lead to increased costs. They have long argued that the requirements to maintain CONs can be shifted from certificates of need to simple licensing requirements.

To read my prior blog dealing with a certificate of needs case, click here.

Consult With A Health Law Attorney Experienced in the Representation Health Care Professionals.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide legal representation to physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, CRNAs, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and other health providers in academic disputes, contract negotiations, license applications, board certification applications, credential hearings and civil and administrative litigations and hearings. We also have experience in representation for health care investigations by the Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICs), the FBI, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

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

Sources:

Sexton, Christine. “Florida regulators float new rules in hospital wars.” Sun-Sentinel. (July 5, 2019). Web.

“State Regulators Float New Rules in Hospital War Battles.” Law.com. (July 6, 2019). Web.

About the Authors: 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 Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

Keywords: Florida formal administrative hearing attorney, Florida formal administrative hearing legal representation, Florida formal administrative hearing lawyer, Florida formal and informal administrative hearing representation, legal representation for rule challenge hearings, legal challenge to state agency rules. legal representation for emergency suspension hearings, legal representation for revocation hearings, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearing attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense representation, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense attorney, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) formal hearing defense lawyer, legal representation for investigations of health care providers, health law defense lawyer, representation for health care professionals, reviews of The Health Law Firm. The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, representation for Florida Department of Health (DOH) investigations and hearings, license investigation representation defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:12-04:00July 16, 2019|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on New Changes to Florida’s Certificate of Need Law Eliminate CONs for Hospitals
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Dental Clinic Owners Found Guilty of $1 Million Medicaid, Tax Scheme

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

On February 21, 2019, a federal jury found the owners of several dental clinics in Missouri guilty of a $1 million scheme to defraud the government. The owners of All About Smiles LLC, were convicted of submitting false claims to Medicaid for dentures and other services and payroll tax fraud, according to prosecutors.

Submitting False Claims.

Prosecutors alleged that the couple that owned the practice ran several schemes through the dental clinics from 2010 to 2015, including conspiring to defraud Medicaid. A main part of the scheme was to provide dentures and other services to adults who didn’t qualify for Medicaid. They would then bill the Medicaid program anyway, receiving more than $720,000, according to the DOJ.

The pair also allegedly ran a similar scheme with orthodontic equipment, racking up an estimated 241 false claims, said prosecutors. All About Smiles was paid approximately $165,700 during the the duration of the scheme.

Payroll Problems.

In addition to the fraud, the owners allegedly failed to forward payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) even though the money was withheld from employee paychecks. Instead, the married pair used the almost $195,000 to cover lavish personal expenses and make payments on a variety of vehicles, said the DOJ.

Not Smiling Anymore.

Jurors found the couple guilty on all charges detailed in a 40-count indictment accusing them of fraudulently operating three All About Smiles LLC dental clinics, said the DOJ. Additionally, their legal woes continued to stack up as each was also convicted on a count of theft of public money for collecting unemployment benefits while working.

The female owner faces up to 10 years in prison on every count besides the payroll tax conspiracy charge, which comes with a maximum penalty of five years. The husband owner could get up to a decade for obtaining unemployment benefits and five years for each additional charge, prosecutors said.

Click here to read the DOJ’s press release.

To read one of my prior blogs on a similar case about a dentist defrauding medicaid, click here.

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

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm represent dentists, oral surgeons, and other health care providers in Medicaid audits, Medicare audits, insurance billing audits, ZPIC audits, RAC audits, administrative litigation and civil litigation 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 licensure complaints and investigations, DEA investigations, Medicare and Medicaid fraud investigations, audits, recovery actions and terminations 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:

“All About Smiles Owners Convicted of Fraud.” Ozark Independent. (February 21, 2019). Web.
Posses, Shayna. “Couple Found Guilty Of $1M Medicaid, Payroll Tax Scheme.” Law360. (February 21, 2019). 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: legal representation for improper billing, improper billing defense attorney, Medicaid audit defense attorney, legal representation for Medicaid fraud, Medicaid fraud defense lawyer, legal representation for false claims, false claims legal defense representation, Medicaid fraud defense lawyer, Medicaid overpayment demand defense attorney, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) defense attorney, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) subpoena defense lawyer, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) search warrant defense attorney, False Clams Act (FCA) attorney, FCA defense lawyer, representation for allegations of false claims, Board of dentistry defense lawyer, dentist defense attorney, board of dentistry defense legal representation, Medicaid provider defense attorney, ZPIC audit defense attorney, Medicaid audit defense lawyer, dentist defense attorney, Board of Dentistry defense attorney, representation for health care professionals, representation for dental clinics, health law defense lawyer, health defense attorney, legal representation for dentists, The Health Law Firm reviews, Dentist Advantage Insurance defense attorney, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm, Department of Health complaint investigation attorney, Health Providers Service Organization (HPSO) Insurance defense lawyer, the Doctors Company Insurance defense lawyer, Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation attorney, representation in DOJ investigations, DOJ defense lawyer, healthcare fraud defense lawyer

“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 © 2019 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:16-04:00April 18, 2019|Categories: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dental Law Blog, Dentist Defense attorney, Health Care Fraud, Health care Law, Medicaid fraud, Medicaid Fraud|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Dental Clinic Owners Found Guilty of $1 Million Medicaid, Tax Scheme
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Dentists Smiling as $80 Million Settlement Reached in Dental Supply Price-Fixing Class Action Suit

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

On August 30, 2018, after two years of litigation, a group of dentists tentatively reached an $80 million settlement in a proposed class action accusing the country’s biggest dental supply companies of colluding to fix prices. The three dominant distributors, Henry Schein Inc., Patterson Cos. Inc. and Benco Dental Supply Co. Inc., allegedly artificially inflated prices on crowns, numbing agents, X-ray accessories and other products.

Artificially Inflating Prices.

In 2016, the three distributors were accused of artificially inflating prices on various dental supplies and equipment. Products at issue included supplies such as adhesives, implants, tooth brushes, pins and posts all the way to equipment such as imaging devices and dental chairs. Although there are hundreds of distributors and manufacturers of dental supplies and equipment, the defendants controlled approximately 80% of the market share. Click here to read my prior blog on this case and learn more.

The $80 million settlement comes roughly 30 months after the dentists first launched their lawsuits against the manufacturers. To learn more, click here to view the consolidated class action complaint  and the order in full.

Collusion?

In response to the suit, the three distributors accused the group of dentists of inaccurately portraying isolated actions as a nationwide conspiracy. However, a New York federal judge found reason to believe the distributors colluded to strong-arm lower cost rivals and boycott trade groups that worked with a newer distributor called SourceOne Dental Inc.

Despite reaching the settlement, the distributors deny any wrongdoing even though the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also filed an administrative complaint against them in February 2018. In the complaint, the FTC accused the nation’s three largest dental supply companies of conspiring to refuse to provide discounts to buying groups representing small dental practitioners in violation of antitrust laws. To view the FTC’s press release, click here. Click here to view the FTC’s complaint.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Representing Health Care Professionals.

The Health Law Firm has attorneys who practice in the area of antitrust law and trade regulation. We have defended a hospital in federal court against allegations of violations of the antitrust laws, we routinely provide advice and opinion letters on antitrust and trade regulation matters, we have represented plaintiffs in law suits alleging anticompetitive behavior and violations of state and federal antitrust laws, we have given opinions on and been involved in litigation concerning the Lanham Act and the Robinson-Patman Amendments, and we routinely undertake litigation concerning restrictive covenants.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide advice and representation concerning antitrust law, trade regulation, restraint of trade issues, and regarding deceptive and unfair trade practices. We routinely provide advice and analysis of proposed business ventures that include the foregoing. We have represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state court litigation and in federal court litigation in such matters.

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

Sources:

Overley, Jeff. “Dentists Get $80M From Supply Cos. To End Collusion Case.” Law360. (August 30, 2018). Web.

“Dentists Get $80M From Supply Cos. To End Collusion Case.” InfoTech Consulting. (September 5, 2018). 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: dental class action suit, complex healthcare litigation attorneys, legal representation for antitrust violations, representation for antitrust investigations, complex medical litigation lawyer, representation for complex litigation, representation for healthcare business litigation matters, employment contract representation, representation for physician dentist employment contract, healthcare contract review attorney, restraint of trade legal representation, representation for Board of Dentistry matters, Board of Dentistry representation, dentist lawyer,  attorney for dentists, Board of Dental Examiners legal counsel, representation for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations, dental law defense lawyer, representation for dental law, representation for health care professionals, representation for dental clinics, health law defense lawyer, health defense attorney, legal representation for dentists, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, board of dentistry defense attorney, dental board defense legal counsel, representation for dentists, dentist defense lawyer

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:21-04:00November 19, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Dentists Smiling as $80 Million Settlement Reached in Dental Supply Price-Fixing Class Action Suit
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Dentists Smiling as $80 Million Settlement Reached in Dental Supply Price-Fixing Class Action Suit

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

On August 30, 2018, after two years of litigation, a group of dentists tentatively reached an $80 million settlement in a proposed class action accusing the country’s biggest dental supply companies of colluding to fix prices. The three dominant distributors, Henry Schein Inc., Patterson Cos. Inc. and Benco Dental Supply Co. Inc., allegedly artificially inflated prices on crowns, numbing agents, X-ray accessories and other products.

Artificially Inflating Prices.

In 2016, the three distributors were accused of artificially inflating prices on various dental supplies and equipment. Products at issue included supplies such as adhesives, implants, tooth brushes, pins and posts all the way to equipment such as imaging devices and dental chairs. Although there are hundreds of distributors and manufacturers of dental supplies and equipment, the defendants controlled approximately 80% of the market share. Click here to read my prior blog on this case and learn more.

The $80 million settlement comes roughly 30 months after the dentists first launched their lawsuits against the manufacturers. To learn more, click here to view the consolidated class action complaint  and the order in full.

Collusion?

In response to the suit, the three distributors accused the group of dentists of inaccurately portraying isolated actions as a nationwide conspiracy. However, a New York federal judge found reason to believe the distributors colluded to strong-arm lower cost rivals and boycott trade groups that worked with a newer distributor called SourceOne Dental Inc.

Despite reaching the settlement, the distributors deny any wrongdoing even though the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also filed an administrative complaint against them in February 2018. In the complaint, the FTC accused the nation’s three largest dental supply companies of conspiring to refuse to provide discounts to buying groups representing small dental practitioners in violation of antitrust laws. To view the FTC’s press release, click here. Click here to view the FTC’s complaint.

Contact Health Law Attorneys Experienced in Representing Health Care Professionals.

The Health Law Firm has attorneys who practice in the area of antitrust law and trade regulation. We have defended a hospital in federal court against allegations of violations of the antitrust laws, we routinely provide advice and opinion letters on antitrust and trade regulation matters, we have represented plaintiffs in law suits alleging anticompetitive behavior and violations of state and federal antitrust laws, we have given opinions on and been involved in litigation concerning the Lanham Act and the Robinson-Patman Amendments, and we routinely undertake litigation concerning restrictive covenants.

The attorneys of The Health Law Firm provide advice and representation concerning antitrust law, trade regulation, restraint of trade issues, and regarding deceptive and unfair trade practices. We routinely provide advice and analysis of proposed business ventures that include the foregoing. We have represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state court litigation and in federal court litigation in such matters.

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

Sources:

Overley, Jeff. “Dentists Get $80M From Supply Cos. To End Collusion Case.” Law360. (August 30, 2018). Web.

“Dentists Get $80M From Supply Cos. To End Collusion Case.” InfoTech Consulting. (September 5, 2018). 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: dental class action suit, complex healthcare litigation attorneys, legal representation for antitrust violations, representation for antitrust investigations, complex medical litigation lawyer, representation for complex litigation, representation for healthcare business litigation matters, employment contract representation, representation for physician dentist employment contract, healthcare contract review attorney, restraint of trade legal representation, representation for Board of Dentistry matters, Board of Dentistry representation, dentist lawyer,  attorney for dentists, Board of Dental Examiners legal counsel, representation for Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations, dental law defense lawyer, representation for dental law, representation for health care professionals, representation for dental clinics, health law defense lawyer, health defense attorney, legal representation for dentists, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm Attorneys, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, board of dentistry defense attorney, dental board defense legal counsel, representation for dentists, dentist defense lawyer

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:22-04:00October 1, 2018|Categories: Board of Dentistry, Dental Law, Dental Law Blog, Dentist Defense attorney, Dentistry Law, Dentists|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Dentists Smiling as $80 Million Settlement Reached in Dental Supply Price-Fixing Class Action Suit
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Hey, Health Care Professionals…Why Can’t We Be Friends?!

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

Every year, our firm sponsors and attends various medical industry events. Needless to say, our law firm table is not the most popular hangout spot. If we had a penny for every time we have heard “Yikes, an attorney! I hope I never need you.” we could close our doors and all retire.

The feeling is akin to being the last kid picked for teams in gym class. So we ask ourselves: why are we attorneys shunned by health care professionals? Why won’t anyone make eye contact with us at meetings and events? Why is there a negative stigma attached to the phrase “law firm?”

We found the answer.

It’s Not Us. It’s You.

Before you take great offense to such a bold statement, hear me out. Society as a whole seems to have a misconceived notion that a law firm’s services are solely for reactive purposes. Meaning, you need defensive legal assistance. In these reactive situations, lawyers defend their clients to make the most out of an unfortunate situation. I frequently hear, “well nothing has gone wrong yet, so why do I need an attorney?” Here’s the secret: We can do much more than help you when something has gone wrong.

To reap the maximum potential from your profession, you should be utilizing “legal checkups” instead of burying your head in the sand. First, it’s more cost effective to hire a lawyer proactively BEFORE something goes wrong. When you are proactive about your legal needs, you have time to be selective in choosing the right lawyer for your needs. You can build a foundation before you invest in your legal needs. Typically, if you are in need of a lawyer to reactively defend you, you’re already knee-deep and you won’t be afforded the opportunity to find the best attorney.

Taking The Initiative Legal Business Advice.

The benefits of proactively obtaining an attorney are often overlooked. Having an attorney available at any time for legal protection and business advice may not always cross a health care professional’s mind. I find this to be ironic. Health care professionals recommend patients to eat healthy, exercise often, take daily vitamins, and schedule regular checkups. All these suggestions are proactive measures to ensure a stable life, full of longevity. Doesn’t it grind your gears when patients overlook your expert advice until something goes terribly wrong? We can both agree that preemptive measures are necessary in health and health care business.

I am not a medical expert, therefore, I would not attempt to perform a surgical procedure or offer a diagnosis. Legal services are the same. Most health care professionals cannot draft a contract themselves or set up a partnership office flawlessly without experienced legal expertise.

Proactive Legal Help We Often See Overlooked.

Whether it be our firm or not, health care professionals and businesses need a trusted health law attorney readily available to ask for help when additional legal knowledge, experience, or judgment is needed. The following list outlines health care business legal services that are proactive in nature.

– Obtain a contract review, of any agreement, before you sign the dotted line. It is crucial to
have a lawyer experienced in health law review convoluted documents that may bind you to
terms and conditions that you should not be liable for.

– Hire an attorney to negotiate your employment contracts to ensure that you are fairly
compensated for your work.

– A health law attorney adept in assisting with a business restructuring is invaluable. Whether
you are opening or closing a medical office, taking part in a merger, or launching or dissolving
a partnership, these transactions are complex. It is not in your best interest to attempt any
business maneuver without the input of a trusted health law attorney who is familiar with your
professional business goals.

– A compliance assessment is an important proactive measure for health providers and
businesses. With the increase of federal and state oversight, it is wise to have a thorough
review and analysis of your business protocols and procedures on a regular basis. An
experienced health law attorney can help you avoid critical administrative pitfalls. These
assessments verify compliance in areas such as: Medicare/Medicaid billing claims, patient
record keeping, HIPAA and HITECH procedures, etc.

You know what they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Hiring an attorney is NOT solely for the purpose of negative occurrences or damaging mistakes. As a health care professional, it is crucial to work with a trusted health lawyer to advise you in your business decisions. Don’t rely on the notion that you don’t need a lawyer until you are in trouble. Heeding our warning, you could save yourself a lot of time and money.

Contact a Health Care Attorney Experienced in Negotiating and Evaluating Physician and Health Professional’s Business Transactions.

At the Health Law Firm we provide legal services for all health care providers and professionals. This includes physicians, nurses, dentists, psychologists, psychiatrists, mental health counselors, durable medical equipment suppliers (DME), medical students and interns, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, pain management clinics, nursing homes, and any other health care provider or facility.

The services we provide include reviewing and negotiating contracts, preparing contracts, helping employers and employees enforce contracts, advice on setting aside or voiding contracts, litigation of contracts (in state or federal court), business transactions, professional license defense, opinion letters, representation in investigations, fair hearing defense, representation in peer review and clinical privileges hearings, litigation of restrictive covenant, Medicare and Medicaid audits, commercial litigation, and administrative hearings.

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

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: Proactive legal services, health law legal advice, health care professional legal help, corporate law, corporate health law, contract review, employment contract reviews, office reconstruction, medical office reconstruction, compliance assessment, partnership dissolutions, mergers, legal business advice, corporate law attorney, corporate lawyer, employment law, employment law attorney, contract negotiation, contract negotiation attorney, contract negotiation lawyer, health law, business law, legal business advice, legal advice, health care professional, attorney for health care professionals, representation for health care professionals, representation for health care facilities, health law defense lawyer, employment law representation, The Health Law Firm, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:22-04:00September 11, 2018|Categories: The Health Law Firm Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Hey, Health Care Professionals…Why Can’t We Be Friends?!
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Nurse Website Files Copyright Suit, Claims Florida Blog Aggregator Stole Over 800 Articles

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

On June 28, 2018, MidLevelU, an online hub for nurse practitioners and health care professionals, filed a copyright suit in the Southern District of Florida. MidLevelU accused a subscription-based blog aggregator, ACI Information Group, of stealing and re-posting more than 800 of its articles on their website without permission or license.

Copyright Violations.

MidLevelU, is an online forum to support nurse practitioners and features helpful, informational articles to supplement a career in health care. ACI is accused of unlawfully stealing at least 823 of those articles, copying them pretty much word-for-word and then charging subscribers to access them. According to the suit, MidLevelU has copyright registrations on several dozen of the articles that the Florida-based blog aggregator copied and published without permission. In addition, ACI is accused of stealing and republishing certain photos that MidLevelU paid a third party to use on the blog posts.

After posting almost identical summaries of MidLevelU’s articles, ACI would prompt users to view the article in its entirety and then charge them monthly or yearly subscriptions to access it, according to the suit. To learn more and read the complaint in full, click here.
To learn more about MidLevelU, click here and visit their website.

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 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.

Sources:

Bolado, Carolina. “Nurse Practitioner Site Says Aggregator Swiped Its Articles.” Law360. (July 5, 2018). Web.

MidlevelU LLC v. ACI Information Group. Justia Docket and Filings. (July 5, 2018). 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: Legal representation for health care professionals, health law defense lawyer, representation for nurse practitioners, nurse practitioner attorney, representation for nurses, nurse attorney, representation for nursing students, health care facility representation, health care professional representation, health care law attorney, The Health Law Firm reviews, reviews of The Health Law Firm attorneys

“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 © 2018 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

By |2024-03-14T10:00:24-04:00July 12, 2018|Categories: Nursing Law Blog, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Nurse Website Files Copyright Suit, Claims Florida Blog Aggregator Stole Over 800 Articles
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Florida Doctor, Clinic Owner Charged With Drug Trafficking in Orlando Area

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy 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 |2024-03-14T10:01:06-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , |Comments Off on Florida Doctor, Clinic Owner Charged With Drug Trafficking in Orlando Area
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South Florida Hospital Agrees To Pay $12 Million To Settle FCA Claims

George IndestBy 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.

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 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 |2024-03-14T10:01:34-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Nursing Law Blog|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |Comments Off on South Florida Hospital Agrees To Pay $12 Million To Settle FCA Claims
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“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 © 2022 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.
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