LAREDO, TX (KGNS) – The clinic known as Laredo Laser and Surgery has reopened for business a day after the FBI shut down operations for a few hours. The FBI, federal agencies and the attorney general’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit … Read More
Local, state and federal authorities raided a local clinic on Tuesday morning. Federal Bureau of Investigation special agents along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General and the Texas Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control … Read More
AUSTIN — The state’s mega-agency for social services has found “serious issues” with managed care insurers’ bids and will re-open bidding on three large contracts in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program, an agency spokeswoman said Monday. Many bidders … Read More
Texas Health and Human Services Commission officials announced Monday that they have canceled three solicitations for contracts after finding problems with almost two dozen bids. Monday’s revelation is the latest in a series of contract woes that have beset the agency, … Read More
The Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA) and subsequent executive actions by the Obama administration accelerated efforts to bring value-based payment to health care. Under the banner of value-based purchasing, federal officials have touted the “triple aim”—improving the quality of … Read More
An updated collection of state Medicaid fact sheets from the Kaiser Family Foundation summarizes Medicaid coverage and spending nationally and in each state. The fact sheets for each state are accessible via an interactive map of the U.S. and display a wide range … Read More
Conduent Inc (NYSE:CNDT) has grabbed attention in the last trading session to close at $22.28. Average trading volume remained 1.87 Million shares, while its relative volume stands at 0.65. Conduent Inc (NYSE:CNDT) has a market cap of $4.69 Billion and … Read More
An X-ray technician married to a dentist has been accused of illegally performing dental work on patients at her New Jersey practice, authorities said. Both South Hackensack residents are now charged with a series of healthcare fraud claims offenses, the Passaic … Read More
Dr. Shahrzad Haghayegh-Askarian was banned from participating in MassHealth in 2013, but continued to bill the state’s health insurance program for low-income residents between 2014 and 2017 using another dentist’s name and identification number. Read more at the Patriot Ledger
A psychologist and his wife pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to billing Wyoming Medicaid $6.2 million for purported mental health services such as karaoke and shopping, according to court records and a news release from Wyoming U.S. Attorney … Read More
An Anchorage woman has been sentenced to serve eight months in federal prison for defrauding Alaska’s Medicaid program of $90,000. Mi Ran Yu, 41, had been a personal care assistant for Medicaid patients between 2012 and 2016 according to U.S. Attorney … Read More
Program integrity includes activities to prevent, detect and respond to fraud, waste, abuse and noncompliance with certain contractual or other regulatory requirements that result in improper payments. Medicaid’s Payment Error Rate Measurement (PERM) program estimates the improper payment rate in … Read More
It was without surprise that I read Gov. Kim Reynolds’ administration had agreed to give Iowa Medicaid managed care insurers a 7.5 percent increase. With Medicaid managed care, once you’re in for a dime, you’re in for a dollar. In … Read More
A federal jury found a physician and two clinic owners and operators guilty yesterday for their roles in a $17 million Medicare fraud scheme. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan Patrick … Read More
If you’re interested in health and human services in Texas, you might be interested in being a member of the STAR Kids Managed Care Advisory Committee. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission executive commissioner will appoint a member to … Read More
Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-Texas) on Monday called for the state of Texas to expand Medicaid. “Texas should expand Medicaid today,” O’Rourke, who is challenging Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), for a U.S. Senate seat this November, tweeted, linking to an editorial from The Houston Chronicle about the … Read More
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
