February 1, 2019 Recent News

Criminal

Healthcare

Hospitals

Physicians

Criminal

The feds are investigating Dr. William Husel, an intensivist at the Columbus , Ohio, Mount Carmel Health System for possibly overdosing near death patients with fentanyl.  A law suit has also been filed against him along with a nurse and pharmacist by the family of one patient.  The physician was investigated by the hospital and fired.  They have also removed 20 employees from patient care until the investigation is finished.  The system acknowledged that their systems failed to catch this.        Top

Healthcare

A start up company called Ambosia takes the blood from the young and transfuses it into the elderly.  It is started by a MD never licensed anywhere.  To date about 150 people have received blood at about $8000 per liter.  This is considered an off-label use for blood.

Blue Cross is expanding their rule to only pay for patient's ED visits if they have an emergency.  They are now pushing it in Mississippi.  The insurer has warned the ED physicians about upcoding and that they will pay less on those visits they believed were upcoded.  This is not the same as Anthem's policy of not paying if no emergency.        Top

Hospitals

Massachusetts General Hospital is planning a huge addition.  It would add two 12 story connected towers with about one million square feet.  They expect it to be complete in seven years.  The reason is to get more patients from out of country who pay full bore.

NCH Health care in Florida has lost its CEO.  He resigned after trying to push a hospitalist program on the physicians and patients where it was not wanted.          Top

Physicians

Novant Health is losing over 40 physicians.  This follows 80 physicians leaving Atrium Health late last year.  Could this be a trend?

Several physicians at a Providence, Rhode Island, hospital reported problems with their hospital's EMR to the state were surprised by getting state subpoenas charging them with medical misconduct.  Talk about a fear mongering environment.        Top

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 DISCLAIMER: Although this article is updated periodically, it reflects the author's point of view at the time of publication. Nothing in this article constitutes legal advice. Readers should consult with their own legal counsel before acting on any of the information presented.