President Trump in late December commuted the sentence of Philip Esformes, the former skilled nursing facility owner who was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a case that the federal government...
Esformes receives $44M penalty to go with jail time
By
Kimberly Marselas
Jan 05, 2020
After three years, the case of former long-term care mogul Philip Esformes has ended with a financial penalty that matches the personal level of enrichment gained in a massive fraud scheme.
Expert: DOJ may ramp up enforcement
By
Danielle Brown
May 01, 2020
Providers shouldn’t assume that federal authorities will slow down enforcement efforts in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, they should expect authorities to “step up” efforts —...
Official: HIPAA audits to bring penalties
By
James M. Berklan
Nov 01, 2014
In apparent acknowledgement that HIPAA violation enforcement has been less than aggressive so far, a government adviser said that HIPAA audits would soon produce swift results — and penalties, when appropriate.
Labor board handcuffs unions’ lobbying
By
Marty Stempniak
Apr 04, 2019
Healthcare unions have been dealt a defeat with the National Labor Relations Board ruling that nonmembers cannot be forced to pay for labor groups’ lobbying fees.
Feds seize medical supplies in price gouging crackdown
By
Liza Berger
May 01, 2020
The Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last month said they confiscated more than half a million medical supplies from price gougers and began distributing them to healthcare...
Court: SNFs allowed to fight delayed Medicaid payments
By
Amy Novotney
Sep 06, 2017
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled in August that 10 operators of Illinois long-term care facilities can move forward with a lawsuit against the Illinois Department of Healthcare and...
Ruling affirms OBRA limits
By
Tim Mullaney
Dec 01, 2013
A federal court recently ruled in favor of a Pennsylvania long-term care facility, upholding an argument that individuals cannot bring lawsuits under the Federal Nursing Home Reform Act.
Rulings continue to resist providers’ arbitration efforts
By
Kimberly Marselas
Dec 05, 2019
A series of arbitration rulings this fall set skilled nursing providers back on their heels.
Court: A missing arbitration agreement still enforceable
By
Sep 05, 2016
An Indiana nursing home that “inexplicably” doesn’t have a copy of a former resident’s arbitration agreement can still compel arbitration, a state court ruled in July.