The Health Law Firm Blog

MAY 12, 2023

Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On October 1, 2021, a former dental office manager was sentenced to 12 months in prison for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme. By George F. Indest III, J.D., The office manager for Universal Smiles, a D.C.-based based dental practice was sentenced for her [.]

Medicaid 52

Medicaid Medicaid Fraud Licensing 52

New Jersey Healthcare Blog

AUGUST 11, 2021

Below are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register in June and July 2021: On June 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On June 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On June 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On June 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On June 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. See N.J.A.C. See N.J.A.C.

Public Health 40

Public Health COVID-19 Licensing Medicaid 40

New Jersey Healthcare Blog

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021

Below are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register in August 2021: On August 2, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On August 2, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On August 2, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On August 2, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. On August 2, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. See adopted N.J.A.C.

Telemedicine 40

Telemedicine Licensing Medicaid Medicaid 40

The Health Law Firm Blog

FEBRUARY 15, 2022

Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On October 1, 2021, a former dental office manager was sentenced to 12 months in prison for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme. By George F. Indest III, J.D., The office manager for Universal Smiles, a D.C.-based based dental practice was sentenced for her.

Medicaid 52

Medicaid Medicaid Fraud Licensing 52

HIPAA Journal

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Family Christian Health Center (FCHC) in Illinois has announced it was the victim of a ransomware attack in November 2021 that compromised the protected health information of 31,000 patients. The attackers compromised FCHC’s old dental system which contained the PHI of patients who had received dental services prior to August 31, 2020.

Ransomware 122

Ransomware Hospitals Licensing HIPAA 122

Bill of Health

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Over 1,500 state anti-public health bills – introduced to thwart emergency powers, dismiss emergency declarations, prohibit masks, eliminate vaccine mandates, and restrict social distancing – were introduced between January 1, 2021 – May 20, 2022. Yet, only 185 of these bills actually passed. Local school districts were crafty, too.

COVID-19 176

COVID-19 Public Health COVID-19 Vaccine Governance 176

HIPAA Journal

MARCH 10, 2022

Bako Diagnostics (BakoDx), a Georgia-based provider of laboratory services to healthcare providers, has announced it was the victim of a cyberattack that was discovered on December 28, 2021. The Austin, TX-based cloud hosting and data storage company DataHEALTH has announced it was the victim of a ransomware attack on November 3, 2021.

Ransomware 124

Ransomware Licensing Health Insurance Hospitals 124

HIPAA Journal

MARCH 25, 2022

The forensic investigation revealed the email accounts were accessed by unauthorized individuals between April 7, 2021, and June 2, 2021. AHA provided notice about the attack on January 6, 2021. UMC was a victim of a REvil ransomware attack in June 2021 that resulted in the theft of the protected health information of 1.3

Health Insurance 108

Health Insurance Licensing Ransomware Fraud 108

Provider Trust

JANUARY 18, 2023

In October 2022, the South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (SCMFCU) arrested a 37-year-old South Carolina woman named Alyssa Beth Steele for working as a registered nurse despite not having a license. Pursuant to federal regulations, the SCMFCU is authorized to investigate and prosecute any acts of Medicaid provider fraud.

Nurses 52

Nurses Licensing Fraud Medicaid 52

HIPAA Journal

MARCH 14, 2022

Capital Region Medical Center (CRMC) in Jefferson City, MO has recently confirmed patient information was accessed by unauthorized individuals in a December 2021 cyberattack that took its network and phone systems offline for several days. The attack was detected on December 17, 2021, when network systems were disrupted.

Electronic Medical Records 130

Electronic Medical Records Health Insurance HIPAA Licensing 130

Med-Net Compliance

SEPTEMBER 7, 2022

A 49-year-old Texas physician assistant was arrested and charged for his role in a scheme to defraud Medicaid by working with a suspended medical license. On July 20, 2021, the Texas Medical Board allegedly ordered the immediate suspension of his physician assistant license, deeming him to be a “continuing threat to public welfare.”

Medicaid 59

Medicaid Medicaid Licensing Medical Personnel 59

Med-Net Compliance

SEPTEMBER 14, 2022

A Massachusetts home health aide, who was licensed as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), has been indicted in connection with a home surveillance video showing her abusing an elderly patient, Attorney General Maura Healey announced. The aide was indicted by a grand jury on two charges of assault and battery on an elder by a caretaker.

US Department of Health and Human Services 59

US Department of Health and Human Services Fraud Medicaid Medicaid 59

HIPAA Journal

OCTOBER 17, 2022

RAA said suspicious activity was detected within its environment in August 2021. The forensic investigation confirmed that unauthorized individuals had access to certain systems between July 22, 2021, and August 3, 2021, and copied files from its network that contained patient data.

Licensing 56

Licensing HIPAA Health Insurance Medicaid 56

HIPAA Journal

MARCH 6, 2023

Cedar Park, TX-based Dental Health Management Solutions (DHMS), a provider of dental services to the government/military and private patients has recently announced – via its legal counsel – that the protected health information of certain patients was exposed in a 2021 hacking incident.

Electronic Medical Records 76

Electronic Medical Records HIPAA Licensing Nurses 76

The Health Law Firm

FEBRUARY 14, 2022

Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On November 2, 2021, a doctor and his wife who had been indicted for their roles in a $1.3 Additionally, the doctor indicated that he was sought to directly address CMS and the Medical Practice's ability to bill Medicare and Medicaid. By George F. Indest III, J.D.,

Medicare 52

Medicare Medicare Fraud Doctors 52

NY Health Law

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

On January 9, 2024, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finally approved New York State’s 1115 waiver amendment to establish the New York Health Equity Reform (NYHER) Program. Workforce: Workforce investments with a goal of equitable and sustainable access to care in Medicaid.

Medicaid 52

Medicaid Medicaid Nurses Medicare 52

Verisys

JUNE 13, 2023

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services : The US Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule update concerning guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities (LTC) and Intermediate Care for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICFs-IID).

COVID-19 Vaccine 52

COVID-19 Vaccine US Department of Health and Human Services COVID-19 Licensing 52

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

JANUARY 25, 2021

The Protecting Access to Post-COVID-19 Telehealth Act of 2021 legislation was introduced this past week by Rep. Authorize the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service to continue reimbursement for telehealth for 90 days beyond the end of the public health emergency. A bipartisan group of U.S. Mike Thompson, D-Calif.,

COVID-19 206

COVID-19 Medicare Medicare Telemedicine 206

HIPAA Journal

JUNE 8, 2023

According to the May 22, 2023, breach notice, the incidents occurred in 2021. PVOC discovered on March 3, 2022, that malware had been installed on the servers of the vendors between November 13, 2021, and November 15, 2021.

Ransomware 95

Ransomware HIPAA Licensing Health Insurance 95

MedTrainer

NOVEMBER 28, 2023

The State of New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services oversees the state’s Medicaid enrollments and programming. The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs comprises an array of boards for all licenses , ranging from medical and behavioral/mental health to pharmacy and veterinary.

Compliance 52

Compliance Licensing Medicaid Medicaid 52

HIPAA Journal

APRIL 8, 2022

Advanced Medical Practice Management Sends Notification Letters About July 2021 Cyberattack and Data Theft Incident. AMPM identified suspicious activity related to files within its IT environment on August 5, 2021, and immediately secured its network.

Medical Billing 113

Medical Billing Licensing Health Insurance Medicaid 113

YouCompli

APRIL 27, 2022

The Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) is an interstate agreement allowing nurses to practice in multiple states with one multistate license issued from their home state. The compact enables nurses to provide nursing services to patients located in other NLC states via telehealth without obtaining additional licenses.

Compliance Officers 52

Compliance Officers Licensing Compliance Nurses 52

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

NOVEMBER 10, 2020

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is expected to issue new rules for telehealth in the release 2021 Physician Fee Schedule later this year. It is also recommended to review individual payer websites for any changes in telehealth policies for 2021. Anticipated New CMS Rules for Telehealth.

Public Health 140

Public Health Medicare Medicare COVID-19 140

Med-Net Compliance

NOVEMBER 8, 2022

The inspection objective was to determine whether the direct care licensed nursing hours recorded at the nursing home supported the hours submitted to the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in compliance with federal requirements. Train appropriate staff to accurately document and report direct care hours worked.

Nursing Homes 59

Nursing Homes Nurses US Department of Health and Human Services Licensing 59

Provider Trust

JULY 26, 2023

These directories allow patients to connect with healthcare providers and licensed practitioners to make appointments, find and exchange information, and pay for services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) conducted multiple reviews of Medicaid Advantage provider directories between February 2016 and July 2018.

Medicaid 52

Medicaid Medicaid Compliance Medicare 52

HIPAA Journal

MAY 23, 2023

Apria was alerted about unauthorized access to some of its systems on September 1, 2021. The investigation confirmed its systems were accessed by an unauthorized individual between April 5, 2019, and May 7, 2019, and again from August 27, 2021, to October 10, 2021.

Licensing 105

Licensing Health Insurance Medicaid Medicaid 105

HIPAA Journal

OCTOBER 10, 2022

According to the breach notice, a presentation was emailed to the DHS Children’s Long-Term Support Council in April 2021 that contained protected health information. DHS said the breach affected 12,358 Wisconsin Medicaid members, who have now been notified and offered complimentary 12-month memberships to a credit monitoring service.

Medicaid 56

Medicaid Medicaid Governance Fraud 56

HIPAA Journal

APRIL 13, 2022

The email accounts were discovered to have been compromised between December 6, 2021, and January 3, 2022. Wellstar Health learned about the security breach on February 7, 2022, with the forensic investigation confirming that the breach was limited to two email accounts. No other systems were compromised.

Ransomware 114

Ransomware Licensing HIPAA Health Insurance 114

MedTrainer

APRIL 18, 2024

Here are some of the most common challenges for behavioral health credentialing and Medicare enrollment: Understanding Medicare Requirements: The Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) divides counselors into two main categories: marriage and family therapist (MFT) and mental health counselor (MHC). billion in 2021, will reach $5.6

Medicare 52

Medicare Medicare Licensing Compliance 52

Health Care Law Brief

MAY 11, 2022

The vesting periods shall be up to two (per covered employer) six-month periods between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2024 for which workers that are continuously employed by an employer during such six-month periods may become eligible for a bonus. Covered Employers. Covered Employer Tracking and Recordkeeping.

Medicaid 97

Medicaid Medicaid Overpayments Overpayment 97

HIPAA Journal

AUGUST 12, 2022

WNJ identified suspicious network activity on October 22, 2021. A review of the affected email accounts revealed they contained patient data such as names, client health insurance information, Medicaid information, Social Security numbers, and limited information related to services received at Living Innovations.

Licensing 64

Licensing Health Insurance HIPAA Medicaid 64

Healthcare IT Today

FEBRUARY 27, 2024

Drawing on decades of experience as a trusted resource in the home, in 2021 we created the Hamilton Beach Health brand. The product is patent protected, FDA cleared, and FSA, HSA, Medicare, and Medicaid eligible. Postal Service’s approved mail-back program. The revenue for all HealthBeacon offerings is from subscription services.

FDA 85

FDA Licensing Medicaid Medicaid 85

HIPAA Journal

MAY 25, 2022

According to the notification letters, the attack was detected on November 24, 2021, when files on its systems were encrypted. The Bryan County Ambulance Authority in Oklahoma has recently started notifying 14,273 patients about the exposure and potential theft of some of their protected health information.

Ransomware 126

Ransomware Fraud HIPAA Licensing 126

Health Care Law Brief

JANUARY 19, 2022

On December 31, 2021, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed landmark legislation to increase the transparency of prescription drug pricing and to establish requirements on pharmacy middlemen. This new law is amongst 100 [1] state bills introduced in 2021 that shed light on the business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBM).

Prescription Drug Pricing 52

Prescription Drug Pricing Licensing Compliance Medicaid 52

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

MARCH 29, 2022

With a shortage of physicians to address the growing need for care, a lack of providers who accept Medicaid, and access issues due to transportation or office hour challenges, healthcare organizations are looking to technology to help bridge the gap. Addressing the increasing need for behavioral health services is a nationwide challenge.

COVID-19 112

COVID-19 Nursing Homes Nurses Licensing 112

Provider Trust

AUGUST 9, 2023

Through collaborative efforts with partners such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), Medicaid Fraud Control Units (MFCUs), and various federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, the OIG employs a comprehensive and data-driven approach to detect, investigate, and prosecute instances of fraud. View the OIG’s Exclusion Database here.

Nursing Homes 52

Nursing Homes COVID-19 Fraud Medicaid 52

Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Patients with mental health issues frequently must wait many months before getting seen by a licensed clinician who can prescribe psychotropic medication. You contend telepsychiatry will continue to grow because it enables access to mental healthcare – which is a big challenge today.

COVID-19 134

COVID-19 Public Health Licensing FDA 134