This month, there were seven new Work Plan items. Two of these, detailed below, may have implications for some labs. Opioid Use in Medicare Part D in 2018 Issue: The opioid crisis remains a public … [Read more...]
FALSE CLAIMS
Florida Providers Shell Out $733K+ for Self-Disclosed Lab Test Kickbacks
July 19, 2019
Case: The OIG entered into separate settlement agreements with the three providers involved in a self-disclosed kickback arrangement. Although the details weren't disclosed, Orlando Foot & Ankle … [Read more...]
MANAGING STAFF
Trap to Avoid: Asking Lab Employees about Their Latex Allergies
July 15, 2019
"Are you allergic to latex?" It seems like a perfectly legitimate thing to ask, especially to an employee who's expected to wear latex gloves on the job. The problem is that asking the question may … [Read more...]
REIMBURSEMENT
Federal Jury Finds Trio Guilty of $3.5 Million Lab Kickback Conspiracy
July 12, 2019
Case: Three men from the Chicago area were convicted of taking bribes for sending blood, urine and saliva samples to St. Louis lab AMS Medical Laboratory, Inc. for testing subsequently billed to … [Read more...]
TECHNOLOGY
Top 4 trends shaping the healthcare industry
July 8, 2019
By Leora Borgenicht bio Before the healthcare industry can ambitiously transform to offer more accurate and personalized patient care, certain stepping stones must be reached. These four … [Read more...]
FALSE CLAIMS
Device Company Pays Nearly $20 Million to Settle MD Bribe Claims
July 5, 2019
Case: Former sales managers of Covidien LP filed a whistleblower suit accusing the firm of providing free or discounted marketing and practice development services to California and Florida physicians … [Read more...]
COMPLIANCE GUIDANCE
Enforcement Trends: DOJ Changes to Yates Memo Make It Easier for Labs to Get Credit for Cooperating with Investigators
July 1, 2019
For the past five years, the DOJ has followed an enforcement policy designed to hold directors, officers and other top corporate officials responsible for the wrongdoing their companies commit. Last … [Read more...]
DOJ
Compliance Perspectives: Use New DOJ Criteria to Vet the Effectiveness of Your Lab Compliance Program
June 28, 2019
One of the primary responsibilities of a lab manager is to ensure that the lab's compliance program is effective. There's a lot on the line. Having an effective compliance program can help prevent … [Read more...]
ENFORCEMENT
Case of the Month: Feds Target Doctors Who Took Kickbacks from HDL
June 28, 2019
When it comes to breaking up lab kickback schemes, federal enforcers start with the lab that paid the kickbacks and then turn to the downstream providers that accepted them. This was the pattern in … [Read more...]
FALSE CLAIMS
Labs In Court: A roundup of recent cases and enforcement actions involving the diagnostics industry
June 28, 2019
IBM Shells Out $14.8 Million to Settle Claims of Overselling ACA Software Case: The DOJ contends that IBM and Cúram Software, the company it acquired in 2011, misrepresented the capabilities of … [Read more...]
