Former Nurse Practitioner Faces Prison, Stiff Financial Penalty in Case Involving Medicare Kickbacks

A former Georgia nurse practitioner, who with her husband owned two telemedicine and two durable medical equipment companies (DME), faces up to 20 years in prison for her role in a Medicare kickback conspiracy that bilked Medicare out of $136 million. Earlier this month, Jean Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and…

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­PET Scan Company and Owner to Pay $85M to Settle Anti-Kickback Statute Allegations

An Illinois healthcare imaging company and its founder, owner and CEO have agreed to pay $85.5 million to settle claims that the company allegedly paid kickbacks to physicians to refer Medicare patients for cardiac scans using “sham” medical supervision agreements in violation of the Anti-kickback statute. The Settlement Agreement Cardiac Imaging Inc. (CII) and Florida…

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The Health Law Offices of Anthony C. Vitale Announces the Addition of Ricardo Gomez as Associate Counsel

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The Health Law Office of Anthony C. Vitale is pleased to announce Ricardo Gomez has joined the firm as an associate. Ricardo earned his law degree from Florida International University College of Law, where he also earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Relations. His practice will focus on civil, administrative contractual, corporate, third-party payor,…

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Dermatology Company Settles Violations of Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute

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A Texas-based dermatology management company recently agreed to pay the U.S. government approximately $8.9 million, including $5.9 million in restitution, to settle self-reported allegations of potential violations of the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute resulting in liability under the False Claims Act. The Settlement Agreement According to the settlement agreement, from January 2013 to…

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HHS, CMS Announce Changes to Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently published long-awaited final rules that significantly reform regulations interpreting the federal Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute. The agencies have stated that the changes “aim to reduce regulatory barriers to care coordination and accelerate the transformation…

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Stark Law Reform Put on Hold

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It appears we will have to wait until August 2021 for any changes to Stark Law regulations. As we first wrote about last October, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced several changes intended to reduce compliance burdens, while at the…

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OIG Wants Input on Changes to Anti-kickback Statute and CMP

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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General is looking for ways to encourage and incentivize coordinated care, without violating the Anti-kickback Statute and Civil Monetary Penalties Law. The CMP imposes penalties against those who offer or transfer remuneration to a Medicare or state healthcare program beneficiary to influence the…

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CMS Looks to Streamline Self-Disclosure Process

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In an attempt to streamline the self-disclosure process, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted revisions to the Voluntary Self-Disclosure Protocol (SRDP), which allows providers of healthcare services and suppliers to self-disclose actual or potential violations of the federal physician self-referral law. Beginning June 1, providers of services and suppliers must use…

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