OCR Settles $80K Case over HIPAA Security Violations Following Ransomware Attack
On January 7, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), announced an $80,000 settlement with a Massachusetts-based company…
Telehealth Company Pays $386,000 to Resolve Allegations of Overbilling
On January 3, US Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky announced that a telehealth company had agreed to pay $358,514 to…
Virginia Doctor Agrees to $625,000 False Claims Act Settlement
A Virginia doctor and his medical practice have agreed to pay $625,000 to settle a civil fraud case, which accused them of routinely submitting false…
US DOL Recovers $735K from Care Sector Employers for Wage Violations
A recent series of investigations by the US Department of Labor (DOL) found an increase in wage violations among care sector employers in California. These…
CMS Updates Acute Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements for LTC Facilities
On December 31, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued updated guidance on long-term care (LTC) Facility Acute Respiratory Illness Reporting Requirements.…
Nursing Home Fires in New York and Pennsylvania Prompt Evacuations
A fire at a New York nursing home displaced approximately a dozen residents, according to fire officials. The incident occurred on December 29 when a…
Healthcare Services Company to Pay $15.2M for False Claims and Kickback Violations
On December 23, 2024, the United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico and the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of…
OIG Audit Finds Some SNFs Failed to Report Related-Party Costs Accurately
A recent audit by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) revealed that certain skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) did not comply with Medicare requirements for…
HHS OCR Proposes Measures to Strengthen Healthcare Cybersecurity Under HIPAA
On December 27, 2024, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued a proposed rule to…
Former New York Healthcare Executive Sentenced for Mail Fraud
A 50-year-old New York man was sentenced to three years of federal probation and ordered to pay over $150,000 in restitution to his former employer…