Bipartisan approach needed to stop cuts to Medicare physician pay
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Bipartisan approach needed to stop cuts to Medicare physician pay

By Kevin B. O’Reilly What’s the news: The AMA is urging House Republican and Democratic leaders to work together on a bipartisan basis to prevent arbitrary across-the-board Medicare cuts that threaten the financial viability of physician practices during the pandemic.  The AMA supports the provisions of H.R. 1868, which would stop scheduled cuts totaling 6%. Why it’s…

Wearable Device Does Not Change Hand Hygiene Compliance Among Healthcare Workers
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Wearable Device Does Not Change Hand Hygiene Compliance Among Healthcare Workers

The technology must be further developed and tested to improve hand hygiene compliance.  By: Samara Rosenfeld  The use of an electronic wearable device did not change hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers, according to the findings of a new study. Still, the technology increased the duration of hand rubbing and the volume of alcohol-based handrub…

McLaren Health and feds reach record $7.75M settlement of drug allegations
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McLaren Health and feds reach record $7.75M settlement of drug allegations

By Robert Snell McLaren Health Care Corp. agreed Tuesday to pay a record $7.75 million penalty to settle a federal investigation into officials distributing opioids and other drugs without prescriptions, the largest amount in U.S. history involving allegations of drug diversion. The penalty settles a years-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration into whether…

How Hospitals Are Handling Compliance In A Resource-Constrained Environment
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How Hospitals Are Handling Compliance In A Resource-Constrained Environment

By Nick Culburtson CEO of Protenus, leveraging AI to reduce risk and improve patient trust for healthcare systems across North America. This past year, healthcare has experienced unprecedented obstacles and struggles, but it also has displayed its unparalleled strength. In a pandemic or national emergency, healthcare should always favor accessibility to data and collaboration in…

HHS OIG Issues Special Fraud Alert Targeting Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Speaker Programs
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HHS OIG Issues Special Fraud Alert Targeting Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Speaker Programs

By: Sarah K. diFrancesca On November 16, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG) issued Special Fraud Alert: Speaker Programs (Fraud Alert) to “highlight the fraud and abuse risks associated with the offer, payment, solicitation, or receipt of remuneration relating to speaker programs by pharmaceutical and medical device companies.”…

Merit Medical to Pay $18 Million Over False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Violations
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Merit Medical to Pay $18 Million Over False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Violations

By Thomas Sullivan In mid-October 2020, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (MMSI) agreed to pay $18 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks to physicians and hospitals to induce the use of MMSI products. As we covered in our September 2020 issue of our sister…

No insurance, no savings, no support: what happens when LA’s least privileged get Covid
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No insurance, no savings, no support: what happens when LA’s least privileged get Covid

Undocumented Filipino caregivers, South LA’s black neighborhoods and garment workers grapple with unequal toll of virus By: Sam Levin Lily has no health insurance, no doctor and no savings. The 57-year-old Los Angeles caregiver contracted coronavirus last month at work and survived after weeks of agony and isolation in her bedroom. Without access to healthcare,…

Hospitals hit hardest by ransomware attacks, study says
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Hospitals hit hardest by ransomware attacks, study says

“The biggest mistake they make is paying the ransom.” Jefferson GrahamUSA TODAY Ransomware attempts jumped 50% in the last three months, over the first half of 2020, and hospitals and health care organizations were the hardest hit, according to a new study by Check Point research. With renewed focus on healthcare during the COVID crisis,…

Telemedicine takes big hit in federal healthcare fraud takedown in South Florida
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Telemedicine takes big hit in federal healthcare fraud takedown in South Florida

BY JAY WEAVER OCTOBER 09, 2020 06:00 AM, UPDATED OCTOBER 09, 2020 06:27 AM A Consumer Alert from Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s office concerned fake COVID-19 stimulus text messages. U.S. Health and Human Services said scam callers use COVID-19 to get Medicare information. BY CDC As the advertising folks like to say, telemedicine is…

ARTICLE: Two Montanans accused in telemedicine scheme to defraud Medicare
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ARTICLE: Two Montanans accused in telemedicine scheme to defraud Medicare

“These cases hold accountable those medical professionals and others who have exploited health care benefit programs and patients for personal gain.” From Staff Reports, Great Falls Tribune  Two Montana nurse practitioners are accused of participating in a scheme to defraud Medicare of almost $10 million and are part of a nationwide sweep that includes hundreds…