Uncategorized

Medical Billing Account Manager Sentenced to Over 3 Years in Prison

Nikkie LaFleur of Lake Charles, La., was sentenced to 37 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to three counts of healthcare fraud in March, according to an Associated Press report on KLFY News.

Medicare Contractors to Again Hold Physician Fee Schedule Claims for 10 Days While Congress Works to Delay Cuts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has once again asked contractors to hold claims for services under the physician fee schedule for the first 10 business days in June, while Congress struggles to delay a proposed 21.3 percent fee…

Domestic Evolving Spine Care Systems: A Model for the Rest of the World? Q & A with Chris Zorn of Spine Surgical Innovation

Chris Zorn is vice president at Spine Surgical Innovation, global distributor of the Swivel Port MIS System.Q: How do see the U.S. approach to spine care influencing international medicine?

5 Ways Surgery Centers Can Rein in Costs and Build Physician Relationships

Ross Alexander, MBA, the administrator of The Surgery Center of Fort Collins (Colo.), a multi-specialty ASC owned and managed by a group of surgeons, Poudre Valley Health System and Surgical Care Affiliates, shares some ideas on how surgery centers can…

Survey: 25% of Orthopedists Plan to Reduce Metal-on-Metal Hip Usage

A recent survey of 150 orthopedic surgeons found that 25 percent are planning to reduce their usage of metal-on-metal hip implants over the next 12 months, due, in part, to recent reports of metal debris and soft-tissue damage that led…

Kaiser Study: Federal Government Will Pick Up Bulk of States' Share of Medicaid Expansion

A new study from the Kaiser Family Foundation predicts that states will bear only a small part of the financial burden of Medicaid expansion provisions set in place by the healthcare reform law, with the federal government covering most of…

Wisconsin Spine Surgeon Challenges Hospital Employer's Non-Compete Clause

Branko Prpa, MD, a spine surgeon in Racine County, Wis., is awaiting a ruling on a lawsuit he filed against Wheaton Franciscan Medical Group challenging its non-compete clause, according to The Journal Times.

University of Missouri Health Care Opens Orthopedic Surgery Center

University of Missouri Health Care has announced the opening of the Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, an orthopedic surgery center.

2010 Medicare Payments for 6 Facet Joint Injection CPT Codes

CPT copyright 2009 American Medical Association. All rights reserved. CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.Here are the 2010 CMS payments for ASCs for six facet joint injection codes.

HHS Files Motion to Dismiss Virginia Challenge to Insurance Mandate

The Department of Health and Human Services is seeking to dismiss the state of Virginia's lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the healthcare reform law to require most Americans to have health insurance by 2014, according to an AHA News Now…