Regional Hospital Settles False Claims Act Allegations for $3.6 Million After Voluntary Disclosure6/30/2012 Maury Regional Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee has agreed to pay $3.6 million to settle False Claims Act allegations that it overcharged Medicare for ambulance services. After the 275-bed hospital’s compliance program discovered that some ambulance trips had been made for medically unnecessary issues and that the paperwork for some trips was incomplete or incorrect, the hospital voluntarily disclosed the overcharges to the local U.S. Attorney and the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services. Based upon an audit of billings conducted by Maury Regional, the government alleged that medical center submitted certain claims and received payment for: (1) ambulance services that were not medically necessary or for which medical necessity was not documented; (2) ambulance services for which a Physician Certification Statement was not obtained; (3) ambulance services that were assigned an incorrect transport level; (4) ambulance services for which the requisite signatures were not obtained; and (5) ambulance services that were billed with incorrect mileage units. The time period covered by the settlement agreement spans January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2009. The hospital blamed an outside company that processed billing for ambulance transport claims with Medicare. Those billing functions have since been brought in house. The government commended Maury Regional for making the disclosure and for working closely with enforcement agencies to resolve the problems now and going forward. John Howley, Esq. New York, New York
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Singapore is scheduled to host the first International Arbitration Academy from November 26 to December 14, 2012. The Academy was jointly established by the Center for International Law and the Faculty of Law in National University of Singapore to train lawyers in Asia. It aspires to become Asia's premier arbitration training program. The Academy will provide training in two tracks. A Practicing Counsel Track will focus on the knowledge and skills necessary to represent clients in arbitral proceedings A Government Advisor/Instructing Solicitor Track will address issues such as the selection, instruction and management of hired counsel. Only 60 participants will be enrolled in the inaugural session. They will learn from 40 leading practitioners, arbitrators and public officials from around the world. Singapore intends to become a leading player in international arbitration and the preferred venue to settle commercial disputes in Asia. John Howley, Esq. New York, New York American companies have a tremendous resource for promoting and protecting their business interests abroad – the U.S. government and its thousands of diplomats and commercial service trade professionals stationed in every meaningful market in the world. Under U.S. and international law, American diplomats are allowed to promote and protect private business interests in other countries. This type of Commercial Diplomacy can help U.S. companies sell goods and services in foreign markets, break down barriers to trade and investment, and avoid or resolve business disputes. Here are just three of the many U.S. government agencies dedicated to making American companies more competitive in foreign markets: U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) USTDA helps companies create U.S. jobs by promoting exports of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. The agency identifies critical development needs in emerging economies, then it funds project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions to bring U.S. goods and services into those countries to meet development needs. For example, USTDA recently brought more than 70 U.S. companies to a workshop in Bangkok, Thailand, where the American companies educated representatives of Southeast Asian nations on best practices in disaster preparedness and response. This created an opportunity for U.S. companies to sell their products, technologies, and services in a region where floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other natural disasters create ongoing need for disaster preparedness and response. U.S. Commercial Service The U.S. Commercial Service is the trade promotion arm of the International Trade Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It has trade professionals stationed in more than 100 U.S. cities and more than 75 foreign countries to help U.S. companies get started in exporting and increase sales to new global markets. Imagine having a global network of experienced trade professionals nearby and around the world to help your business. The U.S. Commercial Service offers trade counseling, market intelligence, business matchmaking, and commercial diplomacy to connect American companies with business opportunities. It also helps companies develop trade finance and insurance strategies. U.S. Department of State, Office of Commercial and Business Affairs The State Department’s Office of Commercial and Business Affairs works on both policy and practical levels to promote and protect U.S. business interests in foreign countries. Its mission includes ensuring that private sector business concerns are integrated into U.S. foreign and economic policy. In addition, the office engages in Commercial Diplomacy with other government agencies to assist and promote private U.S. business interests overseas. The State Department’s Commercial Diplomacy activities include advocacy on behalf of American businesses and assistance in opening markets, leveling the playing field, protecting intellectual property and resolving trade and investment disputes. Its Office of Commercial and Business Affairs also provides information and answers questions on important issues such as corruption and bribery in overseas markets, U.S. export controls on sensitive equipment and technologies, and business-related visas for employees, partners and clients of U.S. firms. These are only three of dozens of government agencies with mandates to promote and protect private U.S. business interests in foreign countries. Over the coming weeks, this blog will address many more government agencies that can help any U.S. company, large or small, export to and compete in global markets. John Howley, Esq. New York, New York The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. I invite you to contact our law offices and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. I practice law and offer legal services only in jurisdictions where I am properly authorized to do so. I do not seek to represent anyone in any jurisdiction where this web site does not comply with applicable laws and bar rules. The Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) is hosting a forum in Singapore on June 9, 2012. Participants will have an opportunity for direct and open dialogue with DIAC Executive Committee Members to exchange views, make comments, and raise any questions related to DIAC services. Founded in 1994 as the Centre for Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration, the DIAC is an autonomous, permanent, non-profit institution. It provides facilities for conducting commercial arbitration, promotes the settlement of disputes by arbitration, and continuously develops a pool of arbitrators in the practice of international arbitration. DIAC also keeps a directory of experts, who are highly recognized for their diverse knowledge and practical experience in their respective fields. The forum in Singapore is the DIAC's 8th Arbitration Dialogue, entitled 'Meet DIAC and its Executive Committee.' Discussion topics, including neutrality and transparency and cost issues, will be of particular interest to practicing lawyers, arbitrators, ADR practitioners, litigators, judges, and other ADR experts and users, as well as business people and academic wishing to acquire greater knowledge about international standards of arbitration in DIAC. Speakers include: Dr. Nael Bunni, Chairman, DIAC Executive Committee; Dr. Hadif Rashid Al Owais, Vice Chairman, DIAC Executive Committee; Mr. Michael E. Schneider, Mr. Tarek Fouad Riad and Mr. Fathi Kemicha, Executive Committee Members; and Professor Nassib G Ziade, Director, DIAC. Registration for this event is free and can be completed online at www.diac.ae John Howley, Esq. New York, New York |
John Howley, Esq.
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