News From Around the Web
> The Office of Inspector General caught anther fugitive--the second this month--in the Miami area. Agents arrested Maelis Yanet Porto Fernandez, a patient recruiter at multiple Miami area pharmacies, who allegedly participated in a drug scheme in which she is suspected of receiving kickbacks and paying kickbacks to other recruiters. Announcement
> A Charlotte, NC woman was sentenced to two years in prison for her role in a fraud scheme that submitted fraudulent claims for mental and behavioral health services. LaChanda Clotiel Parks helped generate fake intake sessions, clinical assessments and therapy notes, which were submitted to the state's Medicaid program, the Charlotte Observer reports. Article
> A physician with the now-defunct Mobile Doctors in Chicago was convicted of a healthcare fraud scheme in which he falsely certified patients were homebound and required skilled nursing services they didn't need. Announcement
Health Payer News
> The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services banned Cigna from selling Medicare plans after the insurer increased out-of-pocket expenses for Part C and Part D enrollees and delayed medical services and prescription drugs. Article
> In the midst of resolving enrollment errors, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has refunded $2 million to 4,600 beneficiaries that were overbilled, and restored coverage to thousands of others that were dropped from the plan following a IT system failure. Article
And finally… The dog went out for a bathroom break and ended up running a half marathon. Article