Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health has negotiated a settlement of $510,000 to close the book on charges related to the theft of thousands of pills by a staff pharmacist, according to PhillyVoice.com. The hospital originally disclosed the infraction to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in 2013. Renata Dul was employed in the hospital pharmacy when she…
As New Political Era Begins, Healthcare Industry Left Uncertain About The Future
As the GOP-led Congress convenes this week with the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in their sights — and a president-elect presumably more amenable to such a move — some who work in the healthcare industry are expressing worry. Last month, the American Hospital Association and the Federation of American Hospitals collaborated on…
Years After First Identifying Risk, FDA Bans Powdered Gloves In Medical Settings
Following through on a previous proposal, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced this week that they are banning all use of powdered gloves by medical professionals. The final rule issued by the agency declares the gloves “present an unreasonable and substantial risk of illness or injury,” adding, “the risk cannot be corrected or…
Medicare Fraud Sentence Hits Doctor With Over 3 Years In Prison, $1.5 Million Restitution Payment
A federal judge has delivered a hefty sentence to a physician from the southern suburbs of Chicago for his participation in a scheme run by a home healthcare business. The company defrauded Medicare and similar government-based insurance of millions. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, U.S. District Judge John Tharp, Jr. handed down the sentence last…
The Risk Of Taking Pain Management Out Of The HCAHPS Equation
In recent months, the federal government has stepped up efforts to address the crisis of opioid addiction in the U.S., including a batch of policy adjustments presented by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell in July. The portion of that HHS announcement that has perhaps roused the most discussion is the proposed…
Arizona Healthcare Provider Hit With Multiple Lawsuits Over Data Breach
An Arizona-based healthcare provider is facing a barrage of lawsuits following their recent admission that they were victims of cyber criminals. In August, Banner Health announced that hackers infiltrated their servers along with multiple credit card scanners related to on-site food service. The Arizona Republic reports that at least 10 civil lawsuits have been filed…
FDA Calls For All U.S Blood Donations To Be Screened For Zika Virus
The Zika outbreak continues to have a wide-ranging impact on the the healthcare community as unflagging concerns have led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take the rare step of calling for all blood donations be screened for the virus. While hardly unprecedented, the measure is reserved for the most significant and rampant…
Mount Sinai Pays $2.95 Million To Settle Lawsuit Over Medicare Overpayments
Three hospitals that are part of New York’s Mount Sinai Health System have agreed to pay a $2.95 million settlement to state and federal authorities, closing the book on a whistleblower lawsuit filed under provisions of the False Claims Act. The hospitals involved are Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, and Mount Sinai…
After Delay And Debate, Government Finally Releases Hospital Star Ratings
As promised, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today offered up what they are terming the “First Release of the Overall Hospital Star Rating.” The ratings are accessible through the Hospital Compare page on Medicare.gov. The embattled assessment of hospitals was first slated for release in the spring, but pressure from Congress, largely…
HHS Announces Policy Shifts In Ongoing Battle Against Opioid Abuse
As pressure mounts to offer productive solutions to rampant opioid abuse and addiction in the United States, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a flurry of new actions intended to give physicians additional tools to combat the problem. The most significant change entails a raising of limits imposed on the prescription…
Stem Cell Tourism Without A Passport: Hundreds Of Clinics Operating In The U.S.
A new study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell warns that unregulated and unsafe stem cell therapies are being employed in clinics throughout the United States. The findings refute the commonplace narrative of so-called “stem cell tourism,” which involves patients crossing borders to seek treatment that is of highly questionable merit. Instead, hundreds of…