Category: Health Care

GAO Reports Worsening Improper Payments

The Government Accountability Office (“GAO”) recently published a summary of the testimony of US Comptroller General Gene L. Dodaro regarding government efficiency and effectiveness.  The GAO reports annually to Congress on federal programs, agencies, offices, and initiatives (both within departments and government-wide) that are fragmented, overlapping, or duplicative.  It also identifies opportunities for cost savings …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/03/gao-reports-worsening-improper-payments/

Government Typo Will Require Certain Taxpayers to Delay Filing

Recently the government sent out Form 1095-A to Obamacare participants. However it appears that an error reported in the forms mailed out will need to be corrected.  As a result, affected taxpayers are requested to wait until they get corrected forms before filing.  The blog at healthcare.gov reads: “If you enrolled in a plan through …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/02/government-typo-will-require-certain-taxpayer-to-delay-filing/

Audit Re-do Required Because of Inappropriate Relationship

Ernst & Young (E&Y) audits of Ventas, a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the healthcare sector, will have to be redone for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2013, along with a review for the quarter ended March 31, 2014.  This unfortunate and costly required effort results from E&Y’s determination that the work …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2014/07/audit-re-do-required-because-of-inappropriate-relationship/

Dentist’s Pre-Treatment Non-Disclosure Agreement Leads to Class Action Lawsuit

There have been a number of cases in recent years regarding damages allegedly caused by negative online reviews.  A dentist in New York is currently the target of a class action lawsuit regarding efforts to head off such issues.  Stacy Makhnevich, DDS, allegedly had patients sign a form prior to treatment that they would not denigrate …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2013/04/dentists-pre-treatment-non-disclosure-agreement-leads-to-class-action-lawsuit/

Bullseye

In some respects I’m feeling pretty justified by last week’s Supreme Court ruling on the Individual Mandate.  That is because eighteen months ago I said that commentators were pushing aside the very real likelihood of it being justified under the taxation clause of the constitution.  That prediction got me more than a little ridicule in some online …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/07/bullseye/

Attempted Biopharmaceutical Takeover Turns Toxic

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (“HSG”), a biopharmaceutical company targeted for acquisition by GlaxoSmithKline (“GSK”), has adopted a defensive position commonly known as a “poison pill”.  HSG is apparently unimpressed with GSK’s $13 cash per share ($2.6 billion) offer and has approved a Shareholder’s Rights Plan whose intention is to make the takeover uneconomical for GSK. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/05/attempted-biopharmaceutical-takeover-turns-toxic/

Recent Crackdown Demonstrates the Magnitude of Medicare Fraud

The US has charged over 100 individuals in the largest Medicare fraud crackdown to date.  The falsely submitted billings total over $450 million, approximately $60 million of which had been paid out.  The number of doctors, nurses, social workers and various other support personnel involved in this sweep demonstrates the pervasive nature of the fraud …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/05/recent-crackdown-demonstrates-the-magnitude-of-medicare-fraud/

Medical Marijuana's Quotation Marks

Recently, someone very close to me was diagnosed with metastatic cancer.  When something like that happens, you do a lot of research on a whole range of subjects.  One of these subjects is medical marijuana.  As primary caregiver, I needed to research medical marijuana since so much of the responsibility would be falling on me.  I can’t grow …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/05/medical-marijuanas-quotation-marks-2/

Federal health care fraud enforcement efforts recover record amounts

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a required annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program report.  The report showed that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in fiscal year 2010. This is the highest annual amount ever recovered.

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/02/federal-health-care-fraud-enforcement-efforts-recover-record-amounts/