Part 5 Medical Coding: Compliance Penalties
http://docisinblog.com/archives/2006/04/19/maze-pt-5
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In August 1999, Dr. Robert Gervais, a cataract surgeon practicing in Arizona, was invited to a public meeting on a HCFA project. Federal agents were hiding behind a one-way mirror at this public meeting to see which doctors were making negative comments about HCFA and the project. Dr. Gervais was critical. A little more than a month later, Dr. Gervais’ clinic was subjected to a “surprise” inspection, where federal authorities found “deficiencies” in his documentation. Dr. Gervais’ plans to remedy the “deficiencies” in the time HCFA required (6 days) were deemed unacceptable, and his clinic was then “de-listed” by Medicare.
In another case, in February of 1999, 37 armed, flak-jacketed agents carried out a Medicare raid on East Tennessee Woods Memorial Hospital, a 72-bed hospital in Eastern Tennessee. The invading army of armed federal agents stomped into the hospital, trampling through sterile areas, forced employees into a small room and held them.
In another case, at Dr. Danny Westmoreland’s office in West Virginia, three armed federal agents invaded and held everyone at gunpoint, including the physician, his wife, patients, and children.
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Now I see Medicare, distantly, thru the eyes of three retirees, whose affairs I somewhat manage. It's a disaster. Paperwork is a blizzard. I have to believe care is substandard. I've identified a few docs that are what I call "medicare farmers". When I have time, I'll detail my favorite example, but let's just say that: it's a system that is ripe for and full of abuse.
In the old days, you went to the hospital or doc if you could afford it. You paid him (I only knew "him"s in those days!) and that was it. You went to the hospital and on the way out the door you settled up. Like a hotel.
Now, with the federal government intimately involved in everything, insurance companies, and all manner of computer systems, you could tell what you are paying for.
We need to stop the insanity. Separation of Healthcare and State. Now!
Reinke Faces Life 