Connecticut Hospital Paid Fines for Stark Law Violations for Renting Space to Medical Practice at Less Than Fair Market Value

On April 24, 2018, after it self-disclosed conduct to OIG, Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, agreed to pay $423,017.45 for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law provisions applicable to physician self-referrals and kickbacks. 

The OIG alleged that Hartford Hospital provided remuneration to a medical practice in the form of office space, where Hartford Hospital charged the practice rent at less than fair market value. The remuneration created a financial relationship between Hartford Hospital and the practice that caused Hartford Hospital to present claims for health services that resulted from prohibited referrals in violation of the Stark law.

Rental arrangements where there are patient referrals need to be reviewed for compliance with Stark and Anti-Kickback statutes. This case is an example of the high fines that can result. Luckily, the self-disclosure likely prevented more severe sanctions such as exclusion or criminal referral. 

Posted by Tracy Green

Green and Associates

U.S. Department of Justice Intervenes in Five Civil Qui Tam Lawuits in Los Angeles Accusing Insys Therapeutics of Paying Kickbacks in Form of Speaker Fees, Meals, Entertainment, Jobs, Etc. to Encourage Physicians Promote Sybsys, a Sublingual Spray Form of Fentanyl

On May 15, 2018, the United States intervened in five “whistleblower” lawsuits that have been consolidated in United States District Court in Los Angeles and accuse Insys Therapeutics, Inc. of paying illegal kickbacks and defrauding federal health programs in connection with the marketing of Subsys, an opioid painkiller manufactured and sold by the Arizona-based company.   The civil claims asserted against Insys are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The five cases brought pursuant to the False Claims Act were ordered unsealed late last week, as was the government’s complaint in intervention. The United States has separately pursued a number of criminal cases against Insys employees and Subsys prescribers.

The cases allege illegal marketing tactics related to Subsys, a sublingual spray form of fentanyl, an opioid painkiller. In 2012, Subsys was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of persistent breakthrough pain in adult cancer patients who are already receiving, and tolerant to, around-the-clock opioid therapy.

The government’s complaint alleges that Insys paid kickbacks to induce physicians and nurse practitioners to prescribe Subsys for their patients. Many of these kickbacks allegedly took the form of sham speaker fees to physicians, jobs for the prescribers’ relatives and friends, and lavish meals and entertainment.

The United States also alleges that Insys improperly encouraged physicians to prescribe Subsys for patients who did not have cancer, and that Insys employees lied to insurers about patients’ diagnoses in order to obtain reimbursement for Subsys prescriptions that had been written for Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries.

Mandatory Use of CURES for California Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Vets, and Other Health Care Providers Prescribing Schedules II, III and IV Starts October 2, 2018

The Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) was certified for statewide use by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on April 2, 2018. Therefore, the mandate to consult CURES prior to prescribing, ordering, administering, or furnishing a Schedule II–IV controlled substance becomes effective on October 2, 2018. Here is the California Medical Board link to everything you need to know to prepare for October.

Suboxone Practice: Family Practice and General Physicians Need to be Vigilant in Treating Patients. Case Study: Five Physicians Charged with Unlawfully Prescribing and Distributing Buprenorphine

With all the emphasis on treatment for those who have opioid dependency or addiction issues, more physicians are becoming prescribers of buprenorphine 
(known as Subutex and Suboxone). This is an area where providers should be careful especially if they are not addiction specialists. 

There are over 230 physicians listed on the Suboxone website who are within 20 miles of my office in downtown Los Angeles and are prescribing Suboxone. Family practice and general practice physicians need to be very careful in treating patients with buprenorphine, a Schedule III drug, and in determining when there is legitimate medical necessity to prescribe.

Pharmacy Owner And Pharmacist Sentenced To 160 Months In Prison For $4.3 Million Pain And Scar Compounding Creams Where Referral Payments Received When TRICARE Insurance Billed

The compounding cream cases where pharmacies engaged in marketing to obtain patients and where there were billings to TRICARE insurance continue. 

In a recent case, after a five-day trial of one count of conspiracy to pay health care kickbacks and paying and receiving kickbacks, a long sentence was handed out by a federal district court judge to a pharmacy owner and pharmacist.  

On March 30, 2018, the owner of a Florida pharmacy, Larry B. Howard, also a licensed pharmacist, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Byron to serve 160 months in prison and ordered to pay $4.3 million in restitution for his role in this case.

Two Los Angeles Executives of Provider of Substance Abuse Treatments Billed to Drug Medi-Cal Indicted by Grand Jury

The Drug Medi-Cal program has been under a lot of scrutiny since 2013 when it was the subject of investigative reporting. In 2014, significant changes and audits were made.  Many facilities were closed. However, it seems that there are still criminal filings coming out of those past audits.

On March 29, 2018, two executives at a South Los Angeles company that offered alcohol and drug abuse treatment services were indicted on federal charges that allege they defrauded the Medi-Cal program from 2009 to 2015 by submitting bills seeking more than $2 million for services that did not qualify for reimbursement or simply were never provided. An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.