$24 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme Alleged by Connecticut Attorney General
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Connecticut’s Attorney General, George Jepsen, alleges that 28 individuals, dental practices and corporations were involved in a $24 million Medicaid fraud scheme. He filed a civil action on May 31, 2012. It is the first case the state has […]
How to Respond to a Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) Investigative Subpoena
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law and Christopher E. Brown, J.D. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) is a division of the Florida Office of Attorney General. It is in charge of investigating and prosecuting health care providers suspected of defrauding the state’s Medicaid […]
Florida Woman Arrested for $400,000 Medicaid Fraud Scheme
By Lance O. Leider, J.D., The Health Law Firm The owner of Homecare Unlimited, LLC, in Jacksonville, Florida, has allegedly been arrested for defrauding Medicaid out of more than $400,000, according to the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG). The owner is charged with billing Florida’s Aged and Disabled Adult Waiver Program for services […]
Speech Therapist Arrested for Billing Medicaid $500,000 for Work at Florida Day Care Centers While Living in Illinois
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A speech therapist was arrested on March 29, 2013, for allegedly billing Medicaid more than $500,000 for services that she did not provide, according to the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG). The speech therapist now faces […]
Key West Pharmacy Blows Whistle on Medicaid Fraud and Comes Out on Top
By Danielle M. Murray, J.D. On September 27, 2012, Public Citizen, a watchdog group, reported whistleblowers have initiated $6.6 billion in penalties against drug manufacturers in 2012. Most of these penalties are for fraudulently overcharging government programs. The report names a small Key West, Florida, pharmacy as one of the top whistleblowers in the country. […]
The Lone Star State’s New Task Force to Take a Bite Out of Medicaid Dental Fraud
George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law There’s a new task force riding into Texas. According to The Texas Tribune, the Texas Attorney General’s (AG) Office and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) have teamed up to increase […]
Director of Center for Developmentally Challenged Adults Accused of Medicaid Fraud
By George F. Indest III J.D., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law The director of a center for developmentally challenged adults in Okaloosa County, Florida, was arrested on August 16, 2012, for allegedly fraudulently billing Medicaid for more than $270,000 for services under the Medicaid Developmentally Disabled Waiver Program, according to […]
Woman Admits to Defrauding Medicaid For Fake Mental and Behavior Health Services
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A North Carolina woman pleaded guilty on September 14, 2012, for her involvement in a health care scheme that allegedly defrauded Medicaid from 2008 to 2011 for fake mental and behavior health services. Through this scheme, she allegedly […]
Central Florida Mental Health Counselor Accused of Heading Up $3 Million Medicaid Fraud Scheme
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law, and Michael L. Smith, J.D., R.R.T., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A registered mental-health counselor is accused of running a $3 million Medicaid scheme through the mental health facility she owned, according to the […]
Health Professionals Who Are Employees Must Have Personal Professional Liability Insurance
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law We are often asked what we consider to be the biggest problem that a health professional experiences in defending himself or herself in a complaint against their license. In our opinion, it is not having the financial resources […]
Advice for Nurses Regarding Department of Health Investigations
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law We see and hear about a lot of incorrect legal advice being given to nurses regarding what they should do if they are being investigated. The incorrect advice being given even includes mailings they may have received containing […]
Nursing Professionals Cannot Afford to Not Carry Nursing Malpractice Insurance
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Nurses: Please Protect Yourself With Professional Liability Insurance. I am writing to strongly encourage you to purchase nursing professional liability insurance that covers you for complaints and investigations initiated against you and your nursing license. I am not […]
Florida Registered Nurses Finalize Union Agreement with HCA
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Registered nurses at ten HCA hospitals in Florida have reached a collective bargaining agreement with the hospital chain. After negotiating for over a year, National Nurses United–a union for registered nurses–announced that it finalized the agreement with HCA […]
Florida Woman Arrested for Allegedly Stealing from Disabled Adults
By Dr. Thu Pham, O.D., Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm Attorney and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A former employee of an organization that provides services to developmentally disabled adults in Alachua County, Florida, was arrested on June 15, 2012, according to […]