In 1986, Congress passed the Title IV of Public Law 99-660, the Health Care Quality Improvement Act. Included in the law was the establishment of the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB), which serves as a federal repository of health care providers in the U.S. The law requires reporting of any hospital, licensure, or professional society actions against doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals. It is important for any healthcare professional to be aware of the NPDB and what may be required of them.
What Type of Information Is Reported to the NPDB?
Under the law, the following information is…
Continue Reading What Every Medical Professional Should Know About the NPDB

Last year, Hulu produced the limited series, “Dopesick.” The show revealed how the opioid epidemic that has gripped the U.S. started and how it has affected people. One of the characters in the show, Dr. Samuel Finnix, is a doctor in a small town who is persuaded by an OxyContin salesperson to prescribe the drug to his patients. Not only do many of his patients become addicted to the drug, but the doctor also develops an addiction. Sadly – although the character is a fictional one – he is based on many true-life stories that have found themselves in…
Continue Reading Defending Your Illinois Medical License Against Allegations of Drug Addiction

It takes strong dedication to be a hospital nurse. The majority work long shifts, with hours that go into the double digits, dealing with lack of sleep and heavy workloads, all while trying to provide patients with the best care possible. The hospital work culture can – and often does – leads to errors that can ultimately put a nurse’s license at risk.
Hospital Work Culture
Several years ago, the Vickie Milazzo Institute in Houston conducted a survey of nurses throughout the country. The results found that most of them were overworked and stressed, as well as feeling underutilized and…
Continue Reading Do Hospital Work Environments Create a High Risk for Nursing Errors?

It takes years of education, training, and dedication to become a successful psychologist in Illinois. Not only is there grinding coursework to get your degree, but there are also stringent requirements to obtain your license to practice in the state. Unfortunately, all it takes is one accusation of wrongdoing and a dedicated psychologist can find his or her career in jeopardy.
All licensure issues are handled by the Illinois Clinical Psychologists Licensing and Disciplinary Board, which falls under the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). If you have been contacted by the board that you are under…
Continue Reading Allegations That Can Place Your Psychology License at Risk

In the past 20 years or so, there has been a concerted effort by the federal government to crack down on the number of fraudulent claims that are submitted to Medicare by medical providers. One of the ways that the government prevents fraudulent claims is through prepayment audits. If your practice has been notified that you are the subject of a prepayment audit, you should contact an Illinois professional license defense attorney for legal assistance.
Zone Program Integrity Contactors
Prepaid audits fall under the bailiwick of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The agency often employs Zone Program…
Continue Reading Have You Been Notified Your Medical Practice Is Under a ZPIC Audit?

According to data collected by John Hopkins patient safety professionals, medical errors are responsible for more than a quarter of a million deaths each year in this country. This major study used data collected over an eight-year period and put a spotlight on the dangers medical errors pose to patients. One of the most important factors in preventing these errors is the proper documentation by the nursing staff of the care provided to patients. Accusations of improper documentation by nurses can lead to disciplinary action or even suspension of your nursing license. The following are some of the more…
Continue Reading Are You an Illinois Nurse Accused of Committing a Medical Error?

There are several federal laws that have been put in place in order to protect patients by ensuring that there are no financial incentives or other conflicts of interest regarding referrals by healthcare providers. In our last post, we discussed the seriousness any accusations of violating the Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law) can have on a physician’s career. In this post, we will address the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute.

Federal Anti-Kickback Statute
Unlike the Stark Law, in which any violations are met with civil penalties, the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) is a criminal law, meaning that if a provider is…
Continue Reading Violations of the Federal Anti-kickback Statute