A Massachusetts hospital recently settled a federal lawsuit over allegations that it billed Medicare and Medicaid for medically unnecessary tests.But to many, tests like these may seem easy to order accidentally or without knowing they could be medically unnecessary....
Texas Health Care Law Blog
3 regulatory issues the health care industry currently faces
The health care industry is no stranger to stringent federal regulations. They are often put in place to hold medical professionals accountable and protect patient interests.Unfortunately, many industry workers feel some regulations do the exact opposite of what...
New regulations spark discussion over medical data privacy
Americans could soon access their medical history just as fast as they order takeout. But new rules regarding electronic medical data have sparked debate over whether easier access would hurt or help consumers.The current fight comes from new information-sharing...
Stop nursing home neglect before it starts at your facility
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, more than 1.3 million Americans occupy more than 15,000 nursing homes throughout the nation. As the baby boomer generation ages, these numbers will skyrocket. Their families will want them to receive...
What is the Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute?
When you run a medical practice, you are subject to a lot of government oversight, especially when handling federal health care patients. One law that physicians and medical practices must abide by is the Stark Law, a federal statute first passed in 1989 and revised...
DNA testing challenges doctors, laboratories and courts
Medical laboratories, doctors and other healthcare professionals have begun struggling with gnarly ethical questions brought on by DNA testing. With the technology now widely available and its meanings fast evolving, medical professionals may see the legal risks only...
No Corporate Practice of Medicine in Texas
The prohibition against the corporate practice of medicine doctrine isn't necessarily a law or passage in the Texas Constitution, but rather a legal doctrine. That is, it's a principle expressed as a set of rules or procedures that developed over multiple rulings.This...
How to prepare for a ZPIC audit
Today, healthcare providers face more regulations than ever. One particular form of regulation that has become more common in the past decade are Zone Program Integrity Contractor (ZPIC) audits.These audits were designed to enforce Medicare regulations and deter...
Managing difficult patients without risking your license
Whether due to a hostile attitude, refusal to follow medical advice, anger over a diagnosis or more, many doctors, nurses and other health care professionals have encountered difficult patients at some point. Dealing with these individuals can be complicated,...
What to do if Medicare sends you too much money
It happens sometimes – you file a claim with Medicare and because of insufficient documentation, duplicate payments or administrative errors, you get paid too much money.What happens next? Medicare usually asks you to pay the money back. But you do have options....