federal government
SPOTLIGHT: Creating a 'Medical Security System'
Even patients who have decent health insurance can still lose their job, hit plan coverage limits, face exclusions which prevent them getting coverage for special needs and more. In other words,... Read more...
Hospital corporation Iasis accused of illegal referrals
The feds have unsealed a 2005 fraud case against a Franklin, Tenn.-based hospital company, that has been indicted on charges of siphoning off millions of Medicaid and Medicare dollars unfairly by... Read more...
Florida hospital tax exemptions questioned
New research from the state of Florida suggests hospitals are not providing enough charity care to impress regulators. Right now, legislators are considering new rules which would require charity... Read more...
Florida paramedics cleared in patient transport death
A group of St. Petersburg, Fl.-area paramedics have been cleared of allegations they acted improperly in transporting a sick patient to a more-distant hospital than necessary. The charge stems from a... Read more...
House studies New Orleans health system gaps
The U.S. House of Representatives has begun a hearing on the still-unmet healthcare needs of New Orleans residents this week. At the hearing, Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) said since Hurricane Katrina... Read more...
St. Barnabas racketeering suit dismissed
Despite its having engaged in a massive Medicare scam costing the federal government at least $630 million, St. Barnabas Health Care System did not prevent other hospitals from getting fair reimbursement.
That's the conclusion of a federal judge, who ruled that despite the fraud, St. Barnabas had not engaged in racketeering. Two small hospitals in Maine and Colorado filed the suit, alleging St. Barnabas' over billing was so extreme it distorted CMS's Medicare reimbursement …
... Read more...SPOTLIGHT: Government not prepared for Iraq injuries
According to a new analysis, the federal government was far from prepared for the scope and magnitude of injuries faced by soldiers returning from Iraq. What's more, it may not be prepared for the nature of the injuries: For example, no tests, standards or symptoms for diagnosis or billing codes exist for traumatic brain injury. Article
AMA members seek retail clinic ban
It looks like full-scale war is on the way. Arguing that they could endanger patients, particularly children, some attendees at the AMA's annual conference are demanding the group ask for a ban on retail clinics. Unless the AMA intervenes, "in five years, the chairs [at the AMA] meeting will be filled with representatives from Walgreens, Wal-Mart" and other retailers, one physician told the assembly. At minimum, speakers told the …
... Read more...ALSO NOTED: Humana spends $360M for benefits provider; WellSpot plans 100 retail clinics; and much more...
> Humana acquired an Atlanta-based dental and vision benefits company for $360 million. The company, CompBenefits Corp., serves about 14,000 employer groups in 22 states. Read more...
ALSO NOTED: MD faces prison, $1.2M Medicare fraud penalty; Colorado approves mental health parity law; and much more...
> A Lakeland, FL dermatologist has been sentenced to six years in prison--and slapped with more than $1.2 million in fines--for committing Medicare fraud. Article
> Colorado's governor has signed a bill adding a number of mental health conditions to the the list of diseases the state's health plans must cover. …
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