Legal & Regulatory Issues

Robert J. Tomlinson, MD, a Fayetteville, Ark.-based orthopedic surgeon has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for healthcare fraud, according to an Arkansas News report.

California regulators approved a rate increase for Anthem Blue Cross that was hefty but still much lower than the proposal that set off a firestorm of criticisms during the healthcare reform debate in February, according to a report by the…

Anesthesiologist Barry K. Ray Jr., MD, of Tinton Falls, N.J., has been charged with conspiring to sell prescription drugs, according to a news release from the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office.

Here are 10 of the largest, recent fraud and abuse, Stark Act and anti-kickback violation settlements in 2010, listed in order of highest settlement amount. Click on the name of the organization or individual to learn more about their case…

The Recovery Audit Contractor for Region D has begun medical necessity reviews for 10 types of inpatient hospital conditions, according to a report by AHA News Now.

Commenting on proposed changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and other Part B payment policies for 2011, the AHA called for a permanent fix of the automatic physician fee cut, disclosure of methodology in the rule's marketbasket update and…

A recent report by the HHS' Office of Inspector General found that in 2007, Medicare overpaid physicians by an estimated $13.8 million due to incorrect site-of-service codes attached to claims.

Healthwatch, the healthcare blog of The Hill, is the latest publication to report on a controversial study by Research Triangle Institute International, funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and published in Health Affairs, claiming certified registered nurse anesthetists…

Comments attributed to the American Medical Association on a Health Affairs blog report about a new study, published in the August issue of Health Affairs and funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, claiming there is no increased patient…

The Wall Street Journal's Health Blog has published a follow-up report addressing questions raised by commenters to its coverage of a recent study by Research Triangle Institute International, funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and published in Health…