Articles and Blogs

Overview and Executive Summary On Friday, December 21, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) released an important proposed rule governing the secure disposal of unused controlled substances.  This rule (the “Proposed Rule”) was developed to implement provisions of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (“Disposal Act”) and proposes a number of new…Read More

Fiscal Cliff Update Late last night, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) canceled the vote on his “Plan B” alternative to avoid part of the fiscal cliff set to take effect on January 1. Given the stalemate in negotiations, Congress is leaving town for the Christmas holiday and will reconvene on December 27.  Despite the setback, Boehner…Read More

On December 12, 2012, the Indiana Supreme Court issued four opinions related to the broad discretion of the trial court in awarding prejudgment interest. In Indiana, the Tort Prejudgment Interest Statute (“TPIS”) (or IC § 34-51-4-1 et. seq.), was enacted to “encourage settlement and to compensate the Plaintiff for the lost time value of money.”…Read More

Executive Summary On December 19, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of  Inspector General (“OIG”) posted OIG Advisory Opinion 12-20 (the “AO”) permitting a hospital (the “Requestor”) to provide to physicians, free of charge, an electronic interface that would enable the physicians to transmit orders for lab and diagnostic services to the…Read More

On December 19, 2012 the Department of Justice announced the owners and operators of two Miami health care agencies pleaded guilty for their participation in a $48 million home health Medicare fraud scheme.  According to plea documents, the owners conspired with patient recruiters for the purpose of billing the Medicare program for unnecessary home health…Read More

Introduction On December 19, 2012, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a landmark decision holding that a self-pay or out-of-network patient who contractually agrees to pay “the account” for medical services rendered by a hospital, may be liable for rates as set by the hospital’s chargemaster.  The patient may not thereafter challenge the hospital’s billed rates…Read More