Legal and practical healthcare information.
The use of telemedicine has soared in recent years, as new technologies develop and consumer demand for instant access to healthcare increases. Indeed, the telemedicine market is expected to grow to $113.1 billion by 2025, at an estimated compound annual growth rate of 18.8%. It is expected that at least 7 million patients in the …
Continue reading “As Telemedicine Soars, Reimbursement for Telemedicine Services Slowly Evolve”
The Trump administration proposed a budget increase of 19 million to aid in the fight against health care fraud. This showcases the continued (and heightened) importance of anti-fraud programs, especially compared to the suggested $18 billion in cuts to other health-care related programs. If approved by Congress, the budget increase will result in an increase …
Continue reading “The Trump Administration Proposes a Budget Increase to Fight Healthcare Fraud”
The phrase “healthcare compliance program” is commonly used to describe those processes and procedures implemented by a healthcare provider to prevent submission of erroneous claims and combat fraudulent conduct. The expectation is that providers using internal controls will more efficiently monitor adherence to legal and regulatory requirements than providers without such controls in place1. However, …
Continue reading “Obligations and Expectations Surrounding Healthcare Compliance Programs”
Rose Willis (Member, Saginaw and Troy) states “Innovators in the healthcare industry must protect their technology and innovation property rights. Dickinson Wright healthcare intellectual property attorney, Lance Anderson (Member, Austin), provides strategies and other valuable insight into the methods of protection in his article “The Patent Mirage: The New Challenge for Today’s IP Strategy”. Effectively …
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It is not uncommon for a physician organization to act as an intermediary between its physician participants and third-party payers to facilitate the negotiation and acceptance of reimbursement rates and other payer contract terms. However, when facilitation becomes negotiation and a PO accepts contracts with third-party payers on behalf of physician participants, also known as …
Continue reading “Is Your Physician Organization Complying with Antitrust Law?”
On October 18, 2017, a Mississippi physician was charged with health care fraud for writing prescriptions for medically unnecessary compounded medications. This is the latest – though certainly not the last – example of the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat fraud within the TRICARE program. From California to Florida, federal prosecutors have charged physicians, …
In 2016 alone, 21 hospitals were closed across the United States because of unsustainable financial performance1, and the trend has continued with 7 additional hospitals and 18 other hospital departments closing in just the first half of 20172. Financial challenges facing many entities in the health care industry are not limited to hospitals, or even …
Continue reading “Blessings in Disguise: Hidden Opportunities in Health Care Bankruptcies”
Two recent Tax Court cases raise caution flags as to the deductibility of shareholder compensation by medical, dental and other professional practice groups organized as professional corporations (PCs) or professional associations (PAs) that are taxed as “C” corporations for federal tax purposes. In each case, on audit, the IRS sought to disallow deductions for a …
Continue reading “Caution As To Compensation Paid By Professional Corporations”