A judge sentenced a Santa Fe, N.M.-based physician to more than four years in prison for healthcare billing fraud and obstruction of justice after he allegedly faked a cancer diagnosis to postpone the hearing, according to the Albuquerque Journal. A federal grand jury indicted self-described "holistic" cardiologist Roy G. Heilbron, MD, in 2015 with health care [...]
I recently had the privilege of sharing of the process of becoming, and being, a lawyer with students at Houston Independent School District's High School for Law and Justice (formerly the High School for Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice ("LECJ")) 2018 Law Day program. Students at this all-magnet school are exposed to issues pertinent to [...]
We frequently get calls from physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals about letters they receive from their licensing boards. Some don't know whether to open the letters, respond to the letters or ignore the letters. We thought it might be helpful to address this question. https://youtu.be/AruEyEP4Q4k
On December 28, 2017, a disciplinary panel of the Texas Medical Board temporarily restricted, with notice, the medical license of Joshua Kern, M.D., after determining his continuation in the unrestricted practice of medicine posed a continuing threat to public welfare. TMB found that on November 1, 2017, Dr. Kern was arrested by the Dallas County Hospital [...]
I recently had a chance to attend the Texas Healthcare & Bioscience Institute's 2017 Fall Policy Summit. The event, held in Austin, brought together a number of stakeholders in the biotechnology sector. There are a number of pharmaceutical and medical device companies emerging from efforts in Texas. It is exciting to see the advancement of [...]
Opioids are drugs that act on the nervous system to relieve pain. Continued use and abuse can lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Opana ER is among one of the many opioid drugs in the market today. Recently, FDA requested that the manufacturer voluntarily remove reformulated Opana ER from the market. FDA has made [...]
We recently had an opportunity to present on the topic, "Not Safe For Work", focusing on issues that healthcare providers face that can cause issues in their practices and offices. We covered issues related to inappropriate relationships with patients, office harassment, alcohol and substance abuse, patient communication and social media pitfalls. No sooner had we [...]
A physician licensed in the State of Texas must comply with the Texas Medical Practice Act and Texas Medical Board ("TMB") rules. Physicians commit a prohibited practice if he or she use alcohol or drugs in an intemperate manner that, in the medical board's opinion, could endanger a patient's life. Similarly, a physician who commits [...]
On April 24th, two brothers were sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for their convictions of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud and money laundering. Kevin Olufemi Davies, 29, and his brother Melvin Olusola Davies, 28, who pled guilty in Dec. 2016, received their sentences. U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes [...]
In Tennessee, eight workers plead guilty to federal drug conspiracy charges. Two of the workers were physicians. Federal prosecutors sought an grand jury indictment against the workers for "dealing drugs just like hustlers on the street peddling crack cocaine." Prosecutors say Breakthrough Pain Therapy Center in Maryville, Tenn., was no clinic at all. It had some [...]
