Physicians must be aware that a full reporting of all adverse events, whether malpractice awards/settlements, license restrictions, hospital privilege issues, or insurance payor terminations, are set forth in a semi-public and centralized database known as the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).» Read More

For those who have practiced only in a large, bureaucratic health care system, starting up a private practice, either alone or with partners, might sound like a dream come true. But the effort required to run an efficient practice can seem both daunting and prohibitive.» Read More

Nothing is more important to the viability of a medical practice than the relationships it enjoys with the patient population that relies on its excellent provision of health care. It is of paramount importance for optimal care that patients trust their physicians and are ensured long-term continuity of care.» Read More

The prevalence of medical malpractice lawsuits in New York is enough to scare many physicians out of practicing medicine. Unfortunately, “defensive” medicine has become part and parcel of current practice as physicians search for safeguards against malpractice lawsuits. Nevertheless, we continue to see exorbitant malpractice awards being levied against physicians.» Read More

As we look toward the end of a tumultuous year, it is incumbent on all those who are involved in the fight against COVID-19 to consider what was learned, acknowledge where efforts went wrong, celebrate collective achievements, and transition the provision of medicine to comport with the ever-changing needs of patients.» Read More

In the immediate onset of the COVID-19 crisis, federal, state, and local governments implemented a wide swath of regulations intended to protect the health and financial wellbeing of employees and their loved ones. One such set of regulations, enacted by Congress in March 2020 and known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), generally provides expanded paid sick leave, free COVID-19 testing, and expanded unemployment benefits for workers.» Read More

In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, federal and state governments implemented numerous and expansive regulatory changes to ensure patients were provided access to required testing and treatments. One of the more important (and ultimately successful) regulatory changes was the temporary expansion of telehealth services.» Read More

We at Norris McLaughlin recognize that the constantly changing crisis related to the COVID-19 virus has resulted in an unprecedented time for all health care practitioners – a time that for most is filled with uncertainty regarding their practices and patients.» Read More

In a previous blog post, we highlighted the significant delays a practitioner must endure before the resolution of their appeal of a Medicare demand for overpayment. An apparent function of a huge backlog of such appeals, health care practitioners are routinely forced to wait many years before finally having their appeals heard by an Administrative Law Judge.» Read More

The consolidation of health care practices and health systems continues to be a paramount theme underlying the industry. Spurred by hyper-regulation, overbearing pressure by commercial and government payors and the trend towards value-based reimbursement schemes, practitioners found that affiliating with larger entities able to coordinate care more efficiently provided them the stability required to optimally treat patients.» Read More