federal government
VA discloses major MD credentialing problems
It looks like the VA has a whopper of a credentialing problem on its hands. Officials with the agency admitted to Congress yesterday that about 17,000 of the 56,000 physicians practicing within its... Read more...
FTC approves U of Pitt takeover of Catholic hospital
The Federal Trade Commission has agreed to let the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center move ahead with acquiring Catholic healthcare facility Mercy Hospital. The move should boost UPMC's market... Read more...
Former RI legislator guilty of accepting healthcare payoffs
A former Rhode Island legislator has agreed to plead guilty to charges that he accepted a vendor payoff to steer supplier contracts to its door. Former RI House Majority Leader Gerard Martineau was... Read more...
ALSO NOTED: Medicare health plans say they'll mend their ways; FL hospitals pleased by PIP reinstatement; and much more...
> Contending that they're chastened by recent federal sanctions, a group of large health plans offering Medicare-based products say that they're cleaning house. Read more...
TX hospitals fight for $400M in Medicaid money
Texas hospitals are facing the loss of millions in indigent care funding, with the federal government now challenging the state's basis for distributing the funds through its Medicaid program. The... Read more...
SPOTLIGHT: Execs question impact of anti-kickback victories
Recently, the federal government unveiled a $311 million settlement with a bevy of device makers including Biomet, DePuy Orthopaedics, Smith & Nephew, Stryker Corp. and Zimmer Holdings. In the... Read more...
HHS gives health centers an anti-kickback break
HHS is giving federally-qualified community health centers a bit of a break. It has loosened up its its anti-kickback rules in a way which should make it easier for them to partner with hospitals,... Read more...
Groups push for federal community benefit standards
A coalition of community groups is recommending that the federal government set some strict, easily measurable community benefit standards for non-profit hospitals. The groups, led by Boston-based... Read more...
Smith & Nephew settles kickback charges
Orthopedic device maker Smith & Nephew has become the latest of a group of orthopedic device makers to settle kickback charges. The company agreed to pay $29 million to the U.S. Attorney for the... Read more...
Missouri collects $2.5M OxyContin settlement
Missouri has become the latest state to collect on a $160 million legal settlement between OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, the federal government and 26 state Medicaid programs. Purdue was settling... Read more...
