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…
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In the healthcare industry, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) serve a pivotal role. In fact, a pharmacy would be unable to operate without having a contract with a PBM. The PBM serves as an intermediary between the pharmacy and the insurance company, negotiating rates and processing the majority of all prescriptions.
Under these contracts, the PBM also has the right to conduct an audit of the pharmacy to make sure that all terms of the contract and proper guidelines are being met. Any discrepancies found during the audit could result in not only the pharmacy being required to pay back funds…
Continue Reading PBM Audits for Black-Market Diabetic Test Strips

 Over the past few decades, the experience of labor and delivery for women has undergone dramatic changes. The process used to be a very clinical one, ending in a birthing experience that involved drugging the mother from the moment she arrived at the hospital and keeping the newborns in the nursery instead of with their mothers for the majority of their extended hospital stays.
The attitude about the birthing process has all changed to a much more family-intimate experience. This has also led to many women choosing to entrust their care to midwives instead of obstetricians. Some women even decide…
Continue Reading Illinois Creates New License Process for Midwives

Social media platforms have become an integral part of many people’s daily lives, often without realizing just how integral. People post photos, comments, opinions, and memes on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat, and several other sites on a regular basis. While social media is often a good place for keeping in touch with family and friends, and even networking, it is crucial to be vigilant about what you are posting, especially if you work in certain fields, such as nursing. In fact, items from your social media posts could ultimately be used against you in any actions taken against you by…
Continue Reading Can My Social Media Posts Put My Illinois Nursing License in Jeopardy?