Phony Florida Nursing Diploma Scam: Federal Criminal Indictments in “Operation Nightingale”
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law 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) nursing schools. The […]
25 Charged in Massive Fake Nursing Diploma Scheme in Florida
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) launched a multi-state coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend individuals engaged in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree […]
Feds Charge 25 Individuals in Massive Fake Nursing Diploma Scheme in Florida
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On January 25, 2023, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) launched a multi-state coordinated law enforcement action to apprehend individuals engaged in a scheme to sell false and fraudulent nursing degree […]
List of Florida Nursing Schools Issuing Phony Diplomas in Operation Nightingale Increases to 19
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law A recent announcement by the Washington State Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC), now known as the Washington State Board of Nursing, has listed 19 Florida schools that it states are or were involved in the fraudulent scheme […]
Nurses: You Must Insure Your Legal Protection
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law I have news for you: You need professional liability insurance! But you only need the kind that includes professional liability insurance coverage and in the amount of $25,000 or more. Are you a traveling nurse? Are you a […]
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 […]
United States Court of Appeals Denies U.S. Nursing Corporations Indemnification Challenge Against Nurse Staffing Agency
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law, and Hartley Brooks, Law Clerk, The Health Law Firm On May 18, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit affirmed a U.S. district court’s decision to deny U.S. Nursing Corporation a new trial. The […]
State Nursing Boards Delay Nursing Licenses Across the U.S. Even As COVID-19 Pandemic Continues
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law Staffing shortages at hospitals across the U.S. are worsening helped along by state boards and other licensing authorities taking months to process nursing licenses, a recent NPR survey claims. As a result, thousands of new nurses who want […]
Nursing Student Files Sexual Harassment, Retaliation Lawsuit Against UNC Greensboro
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On November 29, 2019, a former University of North Carolina nursing student sued the school’s Greensboro campus, saying it improperly dismissed from her a program a month before graduation. She filed two separate suits. She claims she was […]
OIG Alert Warns of Improper Conduct Involving Home Health Agencies and Physicians
By Michelle L. Bedoya, J.D. and George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law On June 22, 2016, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) published a fraud alert regarding improper arrangements and conduct involving home health agencies (HHAs) […]