The laboratory industry is undergoing heightened medical scrutiny, both for independent clinical laboratories and physician office laboratories. Expansion into this industry is filled with regulatory risk for violation of state or federal laws. Some of the issues...
Texas Health Care Law Blog
Medicare & Medicaid to Pay Hospices $160 Million More in 2016
Last week, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a final rule that will change the way hospices are paid in 2016. In the final rule announced in Federal Register, 80 Fed. Reg. 47142, hospices will receive approximate $160 million more in...
What to Look for When Buying a Home Health Agency
Home healthcare is a growing industry in our country. As we are seeing record numbers in our population enter the advanced stages of their life, the demand for quality medical care in the home is on the rise. For businesses, this trend poses an opportunity for...
Aggressive Federal Targeting of Medical Fraud Likely to Rise
According to a new report from MD News, 2014 saw a significant rise in federal action against medical fraud and abuse perpetrated by physicians. The trend represents the FBI and Department of Justice's renewed focus in targeting both physicians and large healthcare...
What Do I Do If I Receive a Disciplinary Notice from the Texas Board of Nursing?
Just like doctors, professional nurses dedicate their lives to the care of others. When a registered nurse receives notice that they are being investigated for violations of the Texas Nursing Practice Act by the Texas Board of Nursing (BON), it can be both harrowing...
Texas Medical Board disciplines 42 licensed physicians
If the Texas Medical Board suspects that a physician is in violation of standard medical ethics, treatment or procedures within his or her specialty, a doctor's professional license could be on the line. For example, in February 2014, the Texas Medical Board...
Uncertainty Reigns in Texas Transition to Medicaid Managed Care
Tens of thousands of Texans rely on home health care agencies to provide them with the care and assistance they need to stay well and maintain a sense of independence. In most cases, these patients are covered under a Medicaid plan that pays for the majority of their...
Battle between insurance and compounded drugs could harm patients
Insurance companies are increasingly denying coverage of compounded drugs, or mixtures tailor made for patients.The use of compounded drugs is not a novel concept. Pharmacists and physicians alike have been putting together medications for patients since the practice...
The Medicare Prepayment Audit
One of the most recent and potentially most devastating developments in health care, to the health care provider, is the Medicare prepayment audit. Most providers are blissfully unaware of this development; however, it is critical to your business to understand what...
Medical licensing defense important for doctors, nurses and pharmacists facing allegations of wrongdoing
Doctors, nurses and pharmacists see a wide range of injuries and illnesses each time they report to work. While many of these conditions can be treated successfully, not every person will respond the same way. Those who find themselves unable to recover after...