Medicare, Medicaid & Private Payor Updates

The OIG Exclusion List of Individuals and Entities is Growing. What Steps are You Taking to Avoid Hiring or Contracting with an Excluded Individual or Entity?

(March 17, 2022): Over the last few months (from mid-November 2021 through mid-March 2022), the number of excluded individuals and entities on the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s (OIG’s) List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE) has grown by approximately 15%. According to our friends at Exclusion Screening,[1] this rapid expansion of …

The OIG Exclusion List of Individuals and Entities is Growing. What Steps are You Taking to Avoid Hiring or Contracting with an Excluded Individual or Entity? Read More »

What is a Referral Under the Anti-Kickback Statute?

(January 26,  2021): Under the Anti-Kickback Statute (Anti-Kickback Statute), what constitutes a referral? Notably, neither the term referral nor the term referring (as it is referred to in the law) are defined in the statute. While you may be tempted to argue that a referral only occurs when one party refers a beneficiary to another party …

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Prepayment Reviews and Audits of Medicare Claims are Ongoing. Are Your Claims Being Audited?

(January 19, 2021):  As you will recall, on March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended most Medicare audits and reviews due to the COVID-19 national emergency.  In early August, CMS instructed its contractors to resume their prepayment and postpayment audit activities. Over the last six months, we have seen a …

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Chiropractor Owned Multidisciplinary Practices are at a Higher Risk of Audit

(January 13, 2021):  Over the last few years, we have noted a significant increase in the number of audits initiated against Chiropractor owned multidisciplinary practices.  Typically, these integrated medical practices and clinics employ at least one Chiropractor (typically in an ownership or managerial capacity), along with multiple Doctors of Medicine (MDs), Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs). …

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Preparing for a UPIC Audit? Examine These Eight Claim Elements

(Updated January 9, 2021): Each year, our attorneys and paralegals review and assess literally thousands of Medicare claims which have been audited (and denied) by Unified Program Integrity Contractors (UPICs) and other contractors working for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).  Are you preparing for a UPIC audit?  If your Medicare or Medicaid …

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Audits of Respiratory (CPT Code 87633) / Gastro (CPT Code 87507) Panels are Ongoing.

(January 3, 2021):  In recent months, we have seen a significant rise in the number of Medicare and Medicaid audits focusing on the medical necessity of certain outpatient Respiratory Viral Panels (CPT Code 87633) and Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panels (CPT Code 87507).  Unfortunately, many of these audits seem to be merely the latest example where payors …

Audits of Respiratory (CPT Code 87633) / Gastro (CPT Code 87507) Panels are Ongoing. Read More »

Medicare Revocation Actions Related to Telemedicine Rising!

(September 25, 2020):  In recent years, many individuals (especially younger members of our work force) have embraced the chance to supplement their income through short-term engagements in the “gig economy.”  Notably, both professionals and non-professionals alike have found flexible, part-time opportunities online, allowing them to work remotely as independent contractors.  A number of physicians, nurse …

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Are Your Sober Home / Recovery Residence Business Practices Legal?

(September 12, 2020):  This has been a rough year for sober home and recovery residence owners, operators and their health care business partners. Literally everyone has been adversely impacted by the public health crisis generated by the rapid spread of COVID-19. While most health care and providers obtained a temporary reprieve from, Medicare, Medicaid and …

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The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act: Provisions Relevant to Healthcare Providers

By Michael Cook, Jennifer Papapanagiotou & Andy Lynch –  Partners at Liles Parker, PLLC. (March 31, 2020):  On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act[1] passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote. The President then signed the bill into law. The bill is the third round of federal …

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