Federal courts continue upholding sampling tactic in FCA actions
By
John Hall
May 01, 2015
A federal court this week upheld the tactic of using “statistical samples” to prove alleged False Claims Act violations, echoing other recent decisions in similar whistleblower complaints.
Nurses, assistants most injury prone in healthcare: CDC
By
John Hall
Apr 30, 2015
Healthcare jobs have long been among the riskiest, most dangerous and injury-prone occupations around. Nurses and nurse assistants are the unluckiest among them, according to a new report from the Centers...
Dementia residents among most antibiotic-resistant, study reveals
By
John Hall
Apr 30, 2015
Because they are prone to rehospitalization, typically demand intensive hands-on care and are heavy users of antibiotics, advanced dementia residents in nursing homes commonly harbor dangerous strains...
HIPAA audits to resume soon
By
John Hall
Apr 29, 2015
Long-term care providers should get ready for the second round of HIPAA compliance audits this year, but the agency in charge of them is keeping mum about the exact date.
Supreme Court remands birth control mandate challenge to lower appeals court
By
John Hall
Apr 29, 2015
The Supreme Court on Monday breathed new life into a Catholic organization’s legal challenges to the government’s birth control mandate when it passed the case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals...
Assisted living aide will spend year in prison after resident theft
By
John Hall
Apr 29, 2015
An assisted living aide said the looming threat of becoming homeless was what prompted her to steal a resident’s wallet and checkbook before eventually being arrested for forging $10,000 in checks.
CMS reminds providers about new survey appeals process
By
John Hall
Apr 28, 2015
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently reminded state survey agency directors that it no longer will accept appeals through the U.S. mail from providers that disagree with actions imposed...
Obamacare repeal efforts, Medicare privatization support waning
By
John Hall
Apr 28, 2015
While a series of successive defeats may have tempered the resolve of many Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a small group of conservatives is pushing a new approach to fast track such efforts....
Smart cards would do little to curtail Medicare fraud: GAO
By
John Hall
Apr 28, 2015
Medicare beneficiary smart cards would have a limited impact on reducing fraud and could even introduce “new, more sophisticated fraud schemes,” a new report by the Government Accountability...
Doctors’ participation jumps in quality and e-prescribing programs
By
John Hall
Apr 27, 2015
Physician participation in the CMS Physician Quality Reporting System and Electronic Prescribing Program grew 47% from 2012 to 2013, according to a federal report released late last week.