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Florida Pharmacist Gets More Than Six Years in Prison For Role in Compounding Fraud Scheme

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

On November 29, 2018, a Florida pharmacist was sentenced to six and a half years in prison and ordered to pay $3.4 million, for her role in a scheme to defraud the government. Marjorie Robinson pled guilty one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud for submitting fraudulent claims to Tricare, Medicare and private insurance programs for compounded creams that were not necessary.

The Fraud Scheme.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Robinson was one of three owners of ASC Pharmacy Inc., a now defunct compounding pharmacy in Miami. Under her direction, the pharmacy made compounded creams that were made to maximize reimbursement from government and private insurance programs, not for patients needs, according to the plea deal. Click […]

Florida Pharmacy Owner to Serve 15 Years in Prison for $100 Million Billing Fraud Scheme

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

On April 26, 2018, the owner of several Florida pharmacies was sentenced to 15 years in prison and ordered to give up $54.5 million in restitution. Nicholas A. Borgesano Jr., owner of A to Z Pharmacies, pled guilty to his role in a $100 million scheme involving bogus insurance reimbursements for prescription drugs.

He pled guilty in November to charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and conspiracy to engage in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity, according to the order. Click here to read more.

Health Care Billing Fraud Schemes.

According to prosecutors, Borgesano was at the center of an alleged scheme in which […]

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Pennsylvania Nursing Home Settles Wrongful Death Suit, Agrees to Pay $800,000

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

On December 21, 2017, the Devereux Foundation in Philadelphia, agreed to pay $800,000 to end a wrongful death suit against staff at The Devereux Pocono Center. The suit accused staff at the organization’s residential behavioral health facility in northeast Pennsylvania of failing to recognize symptoms of an infection in a developmentally disabled resident.

Details of the Wrongful Death Suit.

The family of Megan Ramsey, who died in the care of the Devereux Pocono Center in July 2014, asked a Pennsylvania federal judge to sign off on the settlement to end allegations that staff failed to detect symptoms of a perforated bowel and infection. According to court records, the patient had suffered from a rare […]

Concierge Medical Services Bring Cash With Few Hassles to Physicians

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

What is concierge medical services?

A concierge medical service or practice is a similar to having a primary care provider such as a family practice physician. However, concierge practices are marked by a promise, explicit or implied, that they provide appointments quickly and give a greater degree of personal attention to patients and their problems. The physician works directly with a family, an individual, or a couple to provide most of the medical needs of the patient. These needs include general and specialized care. Having a concierge medical practitioner means there is constantly a doctor one phone call away, same day medial services and a personal relationship with your provider. But it all comes with a price and often does not accept Medicare or health […]

By The Health Law Firm|2024-03-14T10:01:30-04:00May 15, 2018|Categories: Health Facilities Law Blog|Tags: Concierge medical services, doctor attorney, Florida health law attorney, health care facilities defense attorney, health law attorney, health law defense attorney, legal representation for complex litigation, legal representation for concierge doctors, legal representation for concierge medical providers, legal representation for health care facilities, legal representation for health care professionals, nurse attorney, physicians of concierge medical services, private medical, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews|Comments Off

Health Care Software Double-Bills Government For Anesthesia Services According to FCA Suit

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

On November 2, 2017, a relator in a Florida federal False Claims Act (FCA) case, claimed that Epic Systems’ (Epic) health software wrongly defaults to double-billing for anesthesia services. As a result, the government is being overbilled by hundreds of millions of dollars, according to relator Geraldine Petrowski.

The Relator’s Allegations.

In an amended complaint, the relator alleges Epic billing software, used by hundreds of hospitals in the United States, defaults to charging for both the applicable “base units” for anesthesia provided on a procedure, as well as the actual time taken for the procedure. “This unlawful billing protocol has resulted in the presentation of hundreds of millions of dollars in fraudulent bills for anesthesia services being submitted to Medicare and Medicaid as false claims,” Petrowski said.

The relator […]

Broward Health Executives Charged for Conspiring to Get Rid of CEO

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

On December 12, 2017, five North Broward Health District executives were hit with criminal charges. A state attorney is alleging violations of Florida’s open government laws for supposedly holding secret meetings at which they decided to terminate the former interim chief executive.

The Broward County State Attorney’s Office served summons on Broward Health’s interim president and CEO Beverly Capasso, current and former board of commissioners members Rocky Rodriguez, Christopher T. Ure and Linda Robison, and general counsel Lynn Barrett. According to court records, a grand jury returned an indictment against them in state circuit court following an investigation.

Broward’s Bad Luck.

The new charges seem to be the latest chapter of a tumultuous past several years for leadership of North Broward Health. The four-count indictment stems from a […]

Broward Health Executives Charged for Conspiring to Get Rid of CEO

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

Broward’s Bad Luck.

The new charges seem to be the latest chapter of a tumultuous past several years for leadership of North Broward Health. The four-count indictment stems from […]

Nursing Home Chain Hit With $1.5 Million Verdict in Sex Discrimination Lawsuit as Jury Sides with Former Employee

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

On November 2, 2017, a former elder care facility executive was awarded a $1.5 million verdict by a federal jury in Washington state. Irene Riggs claims she was fired for complaining about the “sexually charged” environment created by a supervisor’s inappropriate conduct with a nurse. After a three-day trial, the jury awarded her over $232,000 in lost wages up to the date of trial, nearly $802,000 in future lost wages and $500,000 for loss of enjoyment of life after she was fired by Tennessee-based Life Care Centers of America Inc. (Life Care).

Alleged Sex Discrimination.

In her suit, the plaintiff alleged that she was subjected to a “sexually charged atmosphere” by a regional vice president, who was her supervisor beginning in 2013, and a registered nurse with whom […]