News From Around the Web
> A Minnesota woman who was convicted of Medicaid fraud in 2010 has been charged again, this time for running a scheme involving home care services paid for by the state's Medical Assistance program, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Barbara Currin and six others were charged with submitting fraudulent claims to the program and offering kickbacks to patients in the form of rent money and cigarettes. Article
> A San Diego-based genomics lab has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve claims that it paid kickbacks to physicians in exchange for patient referrals, according to the San Diego Union Tribune. Pathway Genomics, which offers blood and saliva testing, was accused of paying doctors as much as $20 per test, many of whom had never ordered genomics testing prior to receiving money from Pathway. Article
> The former owner of three Los Angeles medical clinics will spend 78 months in prison for a scheme in which he submitted more than $4.5 million in false claims to Medicare. Hovik Simitian admitted to paying cash kickbacks to patient recruiters that sent Medicare beneficiaries to his clinics and then billed Medicare for lab tests that weren't medically necessary. Announcement
Health Payer News
> The $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill will delay the Cadillac tax, medical device tax and a fee on health insurers, but a provision that extends limits on funding for the risk corridor program could spell bad news for health insurers, and cast further doubt on the viability of Affordable Care Act exchanges. Article
> California has a green light from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand the state's Medicaid program with a five year, $6.2 billion waiver. The program, known as Medi-Cal, will use the money for four reform initiatives that focus on quality and value-based care. Article
And finally… Need a tissue? Or some more extra marinara? Video