A new Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute survey of about 5,000 Americans found consumers’ top healthcare priority is lowering costs, followed by providing universal converage and increasing the affordability of insurance premiums and deductibles. Source: Survey: Consumers consider reducing healthcare … Read More
AUSTIN — A recent survey by the Episcopal Health Foundation revealed more than half of Texans think the state is doing far better than it actually is when it comes to health care and health insurance. The reality is Texas … Read More
An affiliate of skilled nursing provider Centers Health Care paid a $1.65 million settlement to the New York State and federal governments over allegations that its managed Medicaid plan falsely billed for services. The Centers Plan for Healthy Living LLC … Read More
“Federal government slashes grants to help Texans get health insurance” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. A … Read More
An Arlington doctor pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to a conspiracy charge in what government officials say was a $60 million scheme to defraud Medicare. Dr. Charles R. Leach, 66, is one of 16 defendants in the criminal case … Read More
September 12, 2018 – 10:00am Health and Human Services Commission Brown-Heatly Building Public Hearing Room 4900 North Lamar Blvd. Austin, TX 78751 This meeting will be webcast. To access the webcast, go to https://hhs.texas.gov/about-hhs/communications-events/live-archived-meetings the day and time of the … Read More
A Houston psychiatrist was sentenced today to 150 months in prison for his role in a $155 million Medicare fraud scheme involving false and fraudulent claims for psychiatric services. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal … Read More
ROCKY MOUNT — One of the patients the Free Clinic of Franklin County sent to Dr. Brian Alexander had a hole in the roof of her mouth. A dentist, Alexander has cared for dozens of low-income patients referred to him … Read More
No sooner has Virginia enacted one vast new entitlement, Medicaid expansion, than the drumbeat begins on the next. No matter how much money government dedicates to health care, food, housing, education, transportation, legal aid, or whatever, there is always someone … Read More
Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, America’s access to healthcare has improved dramatically. Roughly 20 million Americans have gained health insurance coverage. Medicare beneficiaries can now get free preventive care and pay less for prescription … Read More
Wednesday is looking like yet another pivotal day in the life-or-death saga that has marked the history of the Affordable Care Act. In a Texas courtroom, a group of Republican attorneys general, led by Texas’ Ken Paxton, are set to … Read More
The Internal Revenue Service could hand Texas more than $300 million, after a federal court in North Texas ruled that the federal government improperly charged a handful of states millions in state Medicaid program fees that help fund the Affordable … Read More
North Providence, R.I.: Dentist Lawrence P. Stephenson, 72, of Lincoln, R.I., has pleaded guilty to tax evasion, admitting that he diverted and failed to report as much as $1.2 million dollars in payments made to his business. Stephenson admitted that … Read More
AUSTIN — The Democrat challenging Ken Paxton is denouncing the attorney general for suing to wipe out the Affordable Care Act’s health care protections for Americans with pre-existing conditions. Justin Nelson, a Houston attorney, plans to hold a rally outside … Read More
Benco Dental officials announced Thursday they have reached a settlement with the plaintiffs in the Dental Supplies Antitrust Litigation brought against the company, Henry Schein, Inc., Patterson Companies and Burkhart in February 2016. In a press release, Benco officials said … Read More
Post Acute Medical, LLC, a Pennsylvania-based operator of long‑term care and rehabilitation hospitals across the country, and certain affiliated entities through which the company operates its facilities (collectively, “PAM”), have agreed to pay the United States, Texas, and Louisiana a … Read More
An Arlington, Texas physician has reached a plea deal for his role in a hospice scheme that defrauded Medicare and Medicaid out of $60 million, in part by signing blank prescriptions, according to the Dallas Morning News. Charles Raymond Leach, … Read More
A former counselor in south Alabama was arrested Monday after state authorities said she defrauded the Alabama Medicaid Agency out of thousands of dollars for work she never performed. Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the arrest of Yvonne Bradford-Porterfield. The … Read More
As a Houston Texan, Marlon McCree scored his first career touchdown on a 95-yard interception return against the Tennessee Titans. Perhaps the most memorable play in the safety’s long NFL career was as a San Diego Charger, when he intercepted … Read More
Palding County, Ga. – Just one day after Channel 2 Actions News reported on a woman accused of posing as a dentist for at least seven years, investigators said they have gotten more than a dozen new complaints. Source: Patient … Read More
Gov. Greg Abbott has tapped Courtney Phillips, the head of Nebraska’s health department, to lead Texas’ state health agency, effective Oct. 19. Phillips, the chief executive officer of the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services since 2015, replaces Charles … Read More
SENATE GOP WANT NEW BILL TO BLUNT ACA LAWSUIT — Ten Republicans are proposing legislation that would force health insurers to cover everyone regardless of health status, POLITICO’s Adam Cancryn scoops. — Why they’re doing it: Conservative states, led by … Read More
It has recently been revealed that up to 17 health systems in the US are set to partner in a new Medicaid Transformation Project. Spanning 280 hospitals, and led by AVIA and former CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt of Town … Read More
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (News Release)- Attorney General Leslie Rutledge announced Tuesday the arrest of the former Director of Billing at Preferred Family Health. Helen Balding, 47, of New Braunfels, Texas, formerly of Fayetteville, is accused of making false statements knowingly … Read More
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued in February, is leading a 20-state coalition along with Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel to fight against the Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as Obamacare. The trial date has been set for … Read More
A former Preferred Family Healthcare billing director arrested on two felony counts of Medicaid fraud received pay from an Arkansas lobbying firm and a “separate” mental health care provider, according to court documents. Helen Balding, 47, arrested Monday, was described … Read More
TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt and Gov. Jeff Colyer are touting a federal court ruling handed down Tuesday that says the federal government must repay hundreds of millions of dollars to six states – including $142 million to … Read More
Texas children are being left behind without access to healthcare, partly as a result of action taken by former Gov. Rick Perry to cut the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. According to a … Read More
AUSTIN – Attorney General Ken Paxton today commended a U.S. District Court decision ordering the Internal Revenue Service to repay Texas and five other states more than $839 million because of an unlawful Obamacare tax on state Medicaid programs. Of … Read More
After months of inaction, Florida Department of Transportation officials announced today that they are assessing nearly $800,000 in damages against the SunPass contractor responsible for the state’s tolling chaos. At Gov. Rick Scott’s direction, the department also has requested an … Read More
Legal problems are piling up fast for a Texas family about six hours south of Houston. A McAllen doctor was arrested back in May on suspicions that he is part of a $240 million health care fraud and international money … Read More
AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lawsuit filed within Travis County details allegations against Dr. Clinton Herzog from FLOSS Dental, including that he is not a licensed dentist. Plaintiffs claim Herzog collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors to open multiple … Read More
Advocacy groups on Tuesday sued the Trump administration, arguing it acted outside the scope of its authority when it approved work requirements in Arkansas’ Medicaid program. The National Health Law Program, Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Southern Poverty Law … Read More
Texas children are being left behind without access to healthcare, partly a result of action taken by former Gov. Rick Perry to cut the expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. According to a new … Read More
A regional hospital system in the Detroit, Michigan area agreed to pay the federal government over $84 million to resolve allegations that the system violated the Anti-Kickback Statute and the physician-self referral law. The federal government accused William Beaumont Hospital … Read More
The former CEO of Merced, Calif.-based Horisons Unlimited, a nonprofit chain of health clinics, pleaded guilty Aug. 13 to healthcare fraud and conspiracy to receive kickbacks, according to the Department of Justice. Sandra Haar, the former CEO, orchestrated a scheme … Read More
Getting your teeth straightened no longer means paying $4,000 or more and schlepping to a million appointments. Like pretty much everything else being disrupted these days, startups with good funding are here to upend the teeth straightening industry. And they’re … Read More
The state of Texas is seeking a nationwide injunction against the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA), telling a federal judge in a hearing Wednesday that the government should be barred immediately from issuing or renewing more permits … Read More
This year’s Texas Lyceum Poll from the Texas Politics Project asked — as always — about how Texas adults feel about their elected officials and how they plan to vote in the upcoming elections. Source: What Texans Really Think about Health … Read More
