November 25th, 2024 edition

Fresno Doctors Agree to Pay $2.4 Million to Resolve Kickback Allegations

The US Attorney’s Office Eastern District of California reports that Fresno physicians Dr. Jagpreet Mukker and Dr. Amitabh Goswami agreed to pay over $2.4 million to settle allegations of accepting unlawful kickbacks for directing prescriptions to mail-order pharmacies controlled by Matthew Peters. Mukker received financial payouts, masked as "investment returns," through investments in Peters' Management Services Organizations (MSOs). These kickbacks incentivized the doctors to prescribe to Peters' pharmacies, violating the Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act.

HLB Ranked in ABA’s 2024 Top National & Regional Health Law Firms

The American Bar Association (ABA) has revealed its 2024 Top National & Regional Health Law Section Annual Law Firms rankings, with HLB securing 1st place in the Western Region and 7th place nationwide. HVG would like to congratulate HLB for this recognition.

HLB’s David Schumacher Recognized by Boston Magazine

HVG would like to congratulate David Schumacher of Hooper, Lundy & Bookman, P.C. for his recognition as one of Boston Magazine’s top lawyers of 2024.

CMS Issues CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule

Will Mavity of King & Spalding reported that the CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule includes permanent telehealth flexibilities for opioid treatment programs (OTPs), new coding for infectious disease care, and expanded supervision for therapy assistants. It clarifies certification requirements for therapy plans, expands coverage for dental services related to dialysis, updates drug payment policies, and includes new rules for radiopharmaceuticals, immunosuppressive drugs, and blood clotting factors.