Doctor’s Opioid Convictions Tossed After Supreme Court Ruling on Intent
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On March 3, 2023, a federal appeals court overturned the conviction of a doctor accused of unlawfully prescribing opioids after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling making it harder to prosecute such cases. The Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals […]
DOJ Withdraws Outdated Antitrust Policy Statements For Healthcare Industry; “Safety Zones” Abolished
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On February 3, 2023, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its withdrawal of three “outdated” antitrust policy statements applicable to healthcare markets. These have been in effect and relied upon for decades by those in the healthcare industry. The […]
States Take Action to Stop Nurses From Certain Schools From Caring For Patients
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law In late February 2023, multiple states began taking action against licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) because of the FBI’s “Operation Nightingale.” This is also being pushed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCBSN). “Operation […]
Phony Florida Nursing Diploma Scam: Federal Criminal Indictments in “Operation Nightingale”
In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the prosecution of a massive fake nursing diploma scheme against three Florida-based nursing schools. The investigation has now expanded to include at least eight (8) schools of nursing. The investigation has now resulted in charges against 25 people in five states and found evidence that […]
$43 Million False Claims Act Jury Verdict Against Ophthalmology Group
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On February 28, 2023, a federal civil jury returned a verdict against an ophthalmology group in favor of the United States for more than $43 million for violations of the False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). During the six-week trial, the jury […]