1 HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTH CARE REFORM Mississippi Chapter Healthcare Financial...

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HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTH CARE REFORM

Mississippi ChapterHealthcare Financial Management

Association

2010 Ethics, Accounting & Auditing and PFS Workshop

June 11, 2010Hilton Hotel, Jackson MS

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STRATEGIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOSPITALS

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Health Care Delivery System Reform

The Senate Finance Committee Legislation Will Include Payment Reforms Aimed at Improving the Delivery System

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Improve Quality Reduce Costs

Increase Health Care “Value”

Electronic Health RecordsPrerequisite

Tactics

The Goal

3.

2.

1.

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A Roadmap to Reform

Most of President Obama’s Ambitious Health Care Goals Depend on Bending the Cost Curve

Source:

1) http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/

Catalyst Primary Outcome

Secondary Outcome

Tertiary Outcome

Causal Relationship Between the President’s Health Care Goals

Assure Affordable Coverage

Reduce Cost

Growth

Invest in Prevention and

Wellness

Improve Safety and

Patient Care

Maintain Coverage During Job Transitions

End Barriers for Pre-Existing

Conditions

Protect Families from

Medical Bankruptcy

Guarantee Choice of Docs

and Health Plans

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Selected Provisions

Administrative Simplification Moving to standardized processes by evaluation of systems every 3 years using input

from the National Committee on Vital Statistics, the Health Information Technology Policy Committee, the Health Information Standards Committee, standard setting organizations and stakeholders -Public Health Services Act Sec. 399HH(a)), as added by Act Sec. 3011 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)).

Delivery System Changes Bundling – beginning 2013 pilots thru 2015 (Social Security Act Sec. 1866D, as added

by Act Sec. 3023 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148)). Readmissions – 2013 penalties for “excessive re-admissions” (SSA Sec. 1886(q)(3),

as added by Act Sec. 3025 of the Affordable Care Act). Hospital acquired conditions -Act Sec. 2702 Accountable Care Organizations – 2012, allows hospitals and physicians to provide

leadership in voluntary ACOs. Some savings to be shared Section 3022 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) adds Social Security Act Sec. 1899

Innovation Center – 2011 creates a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation designed to improve quality and reduce program expenditures- Section 3021 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) amends Title XI of the Social Security Act by adding the new SSA Sec. 1115A

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Global Payments

The Legislation Will Include Expanded Bundled Payment Demonstration Projects

Proposed Bundled Payment System:

Current Payment Methodology:1:

2:

- 3 Days Admit Discharge + 7 days + 14 days + 19 days + 30 days

MS-DRG Pmt Physician Fee Schedule

Home Health PPS Episode

Readmission:MS-DRG Pmt

+ 27 days

30 Day Episode of Care

Sample Inpatient Stay

MAC

MS-DRG + Avg. PAC Cost – “Efficiencies”

Hospital Negotiated Pmts

Payment

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Selected Provisions

Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB) Section 3403 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) Binding payment recommendations on Medicare and non-binding on private insurers

payments to providers Exclusion such as hospitals (except CAH) until 2019

340B drug program extended Act Sec. 7101(a) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148), amending Public Health Service Act Sec. 340B(a)(4) by adding subparagraphs (M) through (O)

Market basket update adjustments -Affordable Care Act Sec. 3401

RAC expansion -Affordable Care Act Sec. 6411

Graduate Medical Education – no reductions in IME payments but re-distributes 65 percent of unused residency to primary care and surgeons SSA Sec. 1886(h)(8)(B), as added by Act Sec. 5503(a)(4) of the Affordable Care Act

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Something To Think About

Be proactive, explore how to make the new legislation work in your organization

Ignoring the delivery and payment system changes will be detrimental

Most importantly, understand totally where your revenue comes from and how this will change

Tax Exemption

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Financially Positive or Negative for Health Care Providers

Modeling Market Basket Update DSH-UPL Hospital Acquired Conditions Physician Payment Revisions Contracts with other payers

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Being Pro Active

Model impacts of Medicare and Medicaid Estimate income/ volume levels of “new patients” Evaluate service lines Evaluate costs

Direct care Support

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Know the margins – The Driving Forces

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Model of Governmental Payers

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Non Governmental Payers

Impact of Health Insurance Exchanges on traditional insurance Impact of family coverage and shifts to employers Impact of “pay the penalty” un or under insured Remember – “bend the cost curve”

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Being Pro Active


Direct care Support

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Reviewing Service lines

Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Primarily two services – Occupational & Speech Therapy

Determined the payer mix was unable to sustain the current level of expense.

Due to the competition and availability in the service area, the Hospital elected to discontinue service.

Net increase to contribution margin $600,000 annually.

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Being Pro Active


Direct care Support

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Analysis of Costs

The Cost structure Direct patient care Components of Overhead

Identified areas for cost savings Invested in premier database to benchmark both cost and quality Expended Information Technology funds for capturing data and

developing standardized processes

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Labor Costs

Productivity standard which was an integration of standards established by a proprietary database and adapted Hospital’s culture

Review of standards began with a bi-weekly process which was historical and reactionary

Moved to a daily matrix which was successful due to the step transition (key – moving from reactionary to integrated)

Savings as a result of the intense use of standards

1. FTE’s decreased from 4.5 to 3.9 per adjusted occupied bed

2. Reduction of salary costs of $6.8 million Other considerations including freezing merit increases and

elimination of contract staffing

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Purchased Services

Retirement Plan – Hospital operated under a defined benefit “Freeze” implemented with alternative retirement plan With matching mechanism through 403(b) savings of $700k

annually Real Estate and other rental agreements

Negotiated through consolidations and space eliminations resulted in $270k savings

Management of professional services Hired a director for key areas including IOP, BIO Med, Rehab

and Housekeeping - savings of $1million

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Quality & Efficiency

Chief Medical Officer established a work group to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of the following programs: Cardiology Pediatrics Orthopedics Behavioral Health Women’s Health Services – including Nursery General medical – Surgical

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Key Finding

Length of Stay – too high With 60% of total expense representing labor costs, the Hospital

began an intense review of daily activities and labor hours Greatest opportunity – Review standards and protocols for delivery

of patient care Intensified use of Hospitalist program Indexed length of stay @ 100% of standard

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Other Considerations

Mindset review of expense Formulary review of Pharmacy - $200k Courier alignment with outpatient - $175k Benefit plan sync with industry - $1.5 mil

Overall, everything is matched up with: Board Policy and Mission Rating Agency – Capital Access Budget constraints

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Analysis of PPACA’s Impact on Employers

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September 23, 2010 Plan Changes

UNAVOIDABLE AND/OR NON-GRANDFATHERABLE PROVISIONS

1. No Lifetime Limits on “Essential Benefits”

2. Restrictions on Annual Limits for “Essential Benefits”

3. No Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusions for Children Under 19

4. If a child under 26 is not eligible for enrollment in a separate employer sponsored plan, then plan already providing coverage to children must extend coverage through age 25 regardless of student/marital/dependent status

5. Existing Coverage can’t be rescinded absent fraud

6. Large Employers (200 FTEs) must auto-enroll new employees

7. Non-prescription, over the counter drugs (excluding insulin) can’t be included in a Flexible Spending Account (“FSA”) deduction [For tax years beginning after 12/31/10]

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September 23, 2010 Plan Changes

AVOIDABLE AND/OR GRANDFATHERABLE PROVISIONS FOR PLANS EXISTING BEFORE MARCH 23, 2010

1. Certain Evidence-Based Preventive Care (Including Well-Child Care) and Immunizations Can’t Be Subject to Cost-Sharing

2. Insurance Based/Non-Self Funded Plans Must Comply with Requirements Preventing Favorable Treatment of Highly Compensated Employees

3. Internal/External Appeals Processes

4. Enrolled Employees May Select Any Participating Primary Care Doctor

5. No Pre-Authorization or Increased Out of Network Cost Sharing for emergency services

6. No Pre-Authorization or Mandatory Referral for OB-GYN Services

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Small Employer Tax Credit (2010-2013)

SMALL EMPLOYER (25 FTEs) TAX CREDIT FOR 35% OF HEALTH CARE COVERAGE COST

In order to receive, employer must subsidize at least 50% of employee premiums

50% Credit Is Available for Tax Years 2014-2015 [Technically it’s available for any two years beginning after 12/31/13-presumably the 2014-15, but not necessarily.]

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2011 Calendar Year Changes

1. Aggregate Value of Employer Sponsored Coverage Must Be Identified on 2011 W-2

2. Value of coverage to be identified on W-2 will be determined in the same manner as the 40% excise or “Cadillac” tax, namely, through use of current COBRA valuation and will include employee paid premiums and FSA contributions but exclude stand-alone dental/vision.

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1. Annual Employee Pre-Tax Contributions to FSA Capped at $2,500

2. Hire-Date/Annual Enrollment Distribution of Standardized Summary of Plan Benefits/Coverage

3. Mandatory Employee Notice of Rights to Health Insurance Exchange Subsidy (Including “Free Choice Voucher”)

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1. No Pre-Existing Conditions Exclusions or Limitations

2. No Coverage Waiting Period Greater Than 90 Days

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Grandfatherable/Avoidable Changes For Plans Existing Before January 1, 2014

1. Group Insurance Coverage Is Guaranteed for Issue and Renewal (Subject to Annual/Special Enrollment Periods)

2. Group Plans Became Subject to Modified Community Rating Rules: Gender/Health Status Can’t Be Used for Premium

Calculation Age Premium Variations Limited to 3:1 Tobacco Premium Variations Limited to 1.5:1

3. “Essential Health” Benefits Must Be Offered for small group plans [Does not apply to large groups or to self-insured plans]

4. Limits on Out of Pocket Expenses/Deductibles Individual ($5,950) and $2,000 Family ($11,900) and $4,000

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2014 Calendar Year Changes (cont.)

HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES List of Qualified Plans becomes available through either state/federal Administrator Four Levels of Plans Based on Actuarial Value Between 60-90% Exchange Plans Must Offer Essential Benefits Exchange-Based Subsidy Eligibility:

Household Incomes Between 100-400% FPL (88K for Family of Four) Ineligible for government healthcare Employer sponsored plan doesn’t pay at least 60% of actuarial value and

premium exceeds 9.5% of annual household income Exchange Based Employer Penalties

Employers With Over 50 FTEs incur $143/month or $2,000 (annually) per employee (after first 30) for failure to offer “minimum essential coverage” to all FTEs/dependents if ONE receives a subsidy through an Exchange

Employer with Over 50 FTEs incur $250/month or $3,000 annual tax for each employee who opts for Exchange due to “Unaffordable Minimum Essential Coverage” meaning premiums exceeding 9.5% of household income or plan has actuarial value of less than 60%

Note: Mercer study says 38% of employees will meet this threshold

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Health Insurance Exchanges (cont.)

FREE CHOICE VOUCHER ELIGIBILITY

1. Household Income Less Than 400% of FPL ($43,200-individual) ($88,200 – family of four)

2. Required to pay between 8 and 9.8% of household income for coverage

Voucher Amount = $ cost of Coverage Under Employer-Based Plan

Vouchers are Deductible by Employers

Vouchers Are Excluded from Employee’s Income

Vouchers Apply to All Employers, Regardless of Size

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2014 Employer Reporting Duties

IF 5O FTEs, THEN:

a. declaration that employer does or does not offer minimum essential coverage to FTEs/dependents;

b. disclosure of coverage waiting period length;

c. disclosure of information on lowest-cost option in each enrollment category;

d. disclosure of employer’s share of total plan costs;

e. disclosure of number and names of employees receiving health care coverage

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Consequences

Very large employers may drop employer-sponsored coverage AT&T could save $1.8b annually

CBO estimates that employers that drop coverage would substitute wages for premium benefits

Employees would buy in to the Exchange, where reimbursement rates will be lower than with employer group plans (not going well in MA)

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Consequences

2010 average cost for family of 4 is $18k; 10k funded by employer

Other insurance reforms will result in increased premiums

Credits expire when industry fees escalate

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TAX IMPLICATIONS:TAX-EXEMPT HOSPITALS

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TAX-EXEMPT HOSPITAL IMPLICATIONS

Section 9007 of the PPACA added yet another layer of requirements that must be met in order to maintain tax-exempt status and avoid excise tax penalties.

Except for the community health needs assessment requirement and imposition of excise tax penalties, Section 9007 applies to taxable years beginning after March 23, 2010.

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TAX-EXEMPT HOSPITAL IMPLICATIONS, cont.

Section 9007 has five primary components:

§9007(a) adds new requirements for §501(c)(3) hospitals through the addition of Section 501(r)(1)-(7) to the IRC;

§9007(b) amends IRS Section 4959 to impose an excise tax for noncompliance with §501(r)(3);

§9007(c) provides for mandatory federal review of the community benefit activities of §501(c)(3) hospitals;

§9007(d) adds reporting requirements; §9007(e) requires the Secretary of the Treasury to make annual

reports to Congress.

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Section 9007(a) adds Section 501(r)(1)-(7) to the IRC and imposes significant new obligations on tax-exempt organizations.

Applicability: Section 9007 applies to organizations that operate facilities required by the state to be licensed/registered/recognized as a hospital and to other organizations with hospital care as a principal function.

Must be tax-exempt under §501(c)(3), so governmental facilities are not included.

For multi-hospital systems, the rules apply separately to each facility.

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New Section 501(r) has four primary components:

Community health needs assessment - §501(r)(3) Financial assistance policy - §501(r)(4) Limits on charges - §501(r)(5) Changes to billing and collection methods - § 501(r)(6)

Treasury has requested comments on the §501(r) requirements.

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New Section 501(r) components:

Component One: Community health needs assessment (§501(r)(3)): Effective date: taxable years beginning after March 23, 2012. Requirements:

Must conduct a community health needs assessment in the taxable year or either of the two prior taxable years.

Must have adopted a strategy to implement the identified needs. The assessment must take into account the input of a broad

spectrum of stakeholders in the community served by the facility and it must be made “widely available to the public”.

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…and, for not complying with Section 501(r)(3), Section 9007(b) imposes an excise tax.

Section 9007(b) imposes an excise tax of $50,000 for failing to meet the CHNA requirements in Section 501(r)(3).

Effective Date: The excise tax technically applies for failures to comply occuring after March 23, 2010, but the CHNA requirement doesn’t become effective until taxable years after March 23, 2012.

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Component two: Financial assistance policy (§501(r)(4)): The organization must have a written financial assistance policy and “widely

publicize” the policy within the community served. Policy requirements:

Eligibility criteria, including whether financial assistance offered includes free or discounted care;

The basis for calculating patient charges; If the organization does not have a separate billing and collections

policy, the actions that may be taken in the event of non-payment (i.e., collections actions, credit reporting, etc.).

Additionally, the organization must have a written policy requiring the organization to provide, without discrimination, care for emergency medical conditions to individuals regardless of their eligibility for financial assistance.

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Component three: Limits on charges (§501(r)(5)):

If a person meets the requirements of the financial assistance policy, then their charges for emergency or other medically necessary care must be limited to not more than amounts generally billed to individuals with insurance coverage.

The use of gross charges is prohibited.

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Component four: Changes to billing and collection methods (§501(r)(6)):

The hospital cannot engage in ”extraordinary” collection actions until it has made “reasonable efforts” to determine if the individual is eligible for financial assistance under its policy.

Regulations are to be issued to define “reasonable efforts”.

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Section 9007(c) provides for mandatory federal review:

Section 9007(c) requires that the Secretary of the Treasury review the community benefit activities of each hospital subject to §501(r) at least once every 3 years.

Schedule H implications and a new definition of “community benefit”???

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…and Section 9007(d) provides for additional reporting requirements:

Section 9007(d) addresses several issues of recent legislative concern by adding to the reporting requirements for §501(c)(3) hospitals.

This section amends the Form 990 reporting requirements to include the following: a description of how the hospital is addressing the needs identified in

the CHNA, a description of any needs not being addressed, and an explanation as to “why not”;

the audited financial statements of the hospital or the consolidated financial statement, if applicable.

Implications

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To complete the circle, Section 9007(e) requires the Secretary of the Treasury to provide annual reports to Congress.

Section 9007(e) reports will include information for private, tax-exempt, and governmental hospitals regarding: levels of charity care provided; bad debt expenses; and unreimbursed costs for services provided with respect to non-means

tested programs.

Additionally, §9007(e) reports will include information regarding costs incurred by tax-exempt hospitals for community benefit activities.

Morever, §9007(e) requires that this information will be compiled into a study on trends and submitted to Congress within 5 years.

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OTHER NOTABLE TAX CHANGES

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OTHER NOTABLE TAX CHANGES

Section 9001: Excise tax on “Cadillac” plans Section 9002: Inclusion of cost of employer-sponsored health coverage on

W2 Section 9003 and 9004: “Qualified” distributions/reimbursements from

HSAs, FSAs, HRAs and Archer MSAs and increases in taxes on non-qualified distributions

Section 9005: Limits on health flex spending arrangements under cafeteria plans

Section 9012: Elimination of deduction for expenses allocable to Medicare Part D subsidy

Section 9013: Modifies the itemized deduction for medical expenses Section 9015: Changes to FICA Section 9017: (nullified and replaced with §10907(b)): Tax on indoor tanning Section 1402: Tax on net investment income

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Impact of Health Reform and Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of

2009

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Health Care Reform: A Big Deal

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Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA)

FERA signed into law May 20, 2009

Expands the scope of the False Claims Act (FCA)

Increases funding for enforcement

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False Claims Act Amendments - FERA

Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009 (FERA)

Retention of Overpayments Violation to “knowingly and improperly avoid or decrease an

obligation” to pay money to the United States, including an obligation based on “an established duty, whether or not fixed…arising from…the retention of any overpayment.”

Must be “knowing and improper” Whether or not “fixed” amounts

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FERA Broadens FCA to Reach More Types of Transactions

Pre-FERA, FCA required that allegedly false claims for payment must be presented directly to an officer or employee of the government

FERA eliminates “presentment” requirement

Extends liability to false claims for payment on government-funded projects, regardless of whether the claim is presented to or processed by a government official

Expands definition of a “claim” under the FCA to include any request or demand for money or property

Regardless of whether government has title to the money or property

Includes requests for money to a contractor, grantee, or any other recipient of government funds used to advance a government program

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FERA Permits Non-Employees to Bring Retaliation Claims

Pre-FERA FCA allowed employees to sue employer for damages and other relief if discriminated against as a result of their actions in connection with a false claims lawsuit or investigation

FERA makes retaliation claims available to contractors and agents who contend that they have been discriminated against

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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Provisions Affecting False Claims Act

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (March 2010)

Public Disclosure bar curtailed Enhanced influence of whistleblower plaintiffs’ bar

60-day Period to Report and Return Overpayments Runs from the point at which the overpayment is “identified” or the

date any corresponding cost report is due, whichever is later After the 60-day period, the overpayment becomes an “obligation “

under the FCA “Identified” is not defined FERA includes expansion of FCA definition of “obligation” to

amounts that are not “fixed” 60-day period for repayment of amounts received in violation of

Stark law already in place (trigger for civil monetary penalties)

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Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Provisions Affecting False Claims Act – Anti-Kickback Statute

Claims submitted in violation of Anti-Kickback Statute are False Claims, regardless of certification The intent element of the Anti-Kickback Statute has been revised

to explicitly reject 9th Circuit case law Under current 9th Circuit case law, the government is required to

show that a defendant: Had actual knowledge that the conduct was prohibited, and Had a specific intent to violate the AKS Resolves split among courts

The Act revises the AKS to state that, to meet the “knowing and willing” intent element, “a person need not have actual knowledge” that the AKS prohibits a particular conduct

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Practical Considerations

Implications of Changes

Retention of overpayments/reverse false claims No requirement of falsity or fraudulent conduct No definition of “improper” avoidance of an obligation, so what does

it mean? Is “knowing” retention enough? When is an overpayment “identified” for purposes of the 60-day time

period? Does “identified” mean “quantified”?

Under FERA amendments to the FCA, an “obligation” to return funds need not be “fixed”

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PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Public Disclosure Jurisdictional Bar Government now controls whether it applies

The bar applies, unless the government objects Enables government to permit private whistleblower counsel to

file and pursue parasitic lawsuits under the FCA Enables government to retain private counsel to pursue these

cases Enhanced influence of whistleblower plaintiffs' bar in government

enforcement Former DOJ counsel comment that should expect to see arguments

that government would not make, and tactics the government would not use

Profit motive only Lack of government oversight of conduct of litigation or of plaintiff’s

counsel

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PPACA Amendments To Stark Law

In-Office Ancillary Services Agreement Exception revised to require referring physician to inform

patients that they may obtain specified services from a person other than the referring physician or his/her practice

Applies to: MRI, CT PET, Other designated health services specified by the HHS Secretary

Written list of suppliers who furnish services in the area in which the patient resides must be provided at the time of the referral

Effective January 1, 2010 (actually date law signed by President, March 24)

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PPACA Revisions to Stark Law “Whole Hospital” and Rural Provider Exceptions

Both exceptions narrowed to apply only to physician-owned hospitals that have physician ownership and provider agreements in operation on December 31, 2010

Must now meet certain other requirements Hospitals must now report to HHS annually to identify physician owners Hospitals must have procedures in place to require physician owner

disclosure ownership to patients Ownership and investment cannot be conditioned on referrals from the

physician

Limited opportunities for further expansion

HHS will conduct audits beginning November 2011 to determine if hospitals are complying with new revisions to the exceptions.

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Can you syndicate a hospital to physicians now?

$%*! no, you can’t!

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PPACA - Stark Law Self-Disclosures and Settlements

Within six months, HHS must develop and implement a disclosure protocol for actual and potential Stark violations in collaboration with the OIG.

Secretary now has authority to reduce the amount due for a Stark violation by considering: the nature/extent of the improper/illegal practice the timeliness of self-disclosure the cooperation in providing additional information related to the

disclosure

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Presidential Memorandum

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Presidential Memorandum

“Finding and Recapturing Improper Payments” Issued March 10, 2010 To heads of executive departments and agencies

References Executive Order 13520, November 20, 2009, “Reducing Improper Payments”

Obama Administration focuses on hospital billing to Medicare: Announces expansion of “Payment Recapture Audits”

Directs heads of executive departments and agencies to expand use of Payment Recapture Audits: To the extent permitted by law When cost effective

Directs Office of Management and Budget to development guidance and coordinate with Council for Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

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Expansion of RAC Program

Patient Protection and Affordable Care expands scope of RAC program to: State Medicaid programs by 12/31/2010 Medicare Parts C and D by 12/31/2010 State Divisions of Medicaid must contract with auditing firms by

12/31/2010

HHS required to submit annual report on RAC program to Congress

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Stark Law & Anti-Kickback Enforcement Under The False Claims Act

Recent cases highlight aggressive DOJ litigation policy to seek massive damages

PPACA redefined kickbacks (overpayments by the government = obligations owed to the government) as predicates for FCA violations

CMS required to offer a self-disclosure protocol before the end of 2010

WHAT TO DO?

Review physician agreement negotiation process for: Documentation on valuation issues Timeliness of execution Understand the enormous whistleblower risk presented by

physicians (and disgruntled employees)

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Stark Law & Anti-Kickback Enforcement Under The False Claims

Nexus between Stark and False Claims has become tighter

DOJ and OIG are pursuing Stark and Anti-kickback qui tams against hospitals as False Claims cases without regard to size of the facility

An entity may not present or cause to be presented a Medicare claim or a bill to any individual, third party payor, or other entity for Stark DHS furnished pursuant to a Stark-prohibited referral (42 U.S.C. 1395nn(a)(1)

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Excerpt from BNA Health Care Report – April 13, 2010

Federal Jury Finds Hospital Violated Stark, Not FCA: Possible Liability Cut to $45 Million

A jury for a federal district court March 29 reached a split verdict by finding a South Carolina hospital violated the Stark physician self-referral law but did not violate the False Claims Act, which reduced the potential liability of defendants from $300 million to about $45 million (United States ex rel. Drakeford v. Tuomey, D.S.C., No. 3:05-cv-02858-MJP, jury verdict 3/29/10).

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Tuomey Takeaways Big case for DOJ

Attempt to establish massive FCA damages regardless of size of defendant’s operations

Tuomey is 200 bed hospital Strong follow up by DOJ to maximize Stark damages to be

assessed by Court Physician whistleblower

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Summary of False Claims Focus

No case too small or too large for attention

“Technical” violations do not get a “pass” but focus in moving towards Fair Market Value

Importance of understanding Self-disclosure options now and in the future

Trend toward physician whistleblowers – uniquely positioned to bring damaging allegations

Focusing on Fair Market Value documentation Purpose to create inference that physician had incentive to refer

patients

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THANK YOU

Dinetia M. Newman, [email protected]

E. Russell Turner, [email protected]

Eugenia Stark Thomas, [email protected]

David A. Williams, CPA, [email protected]

1020 Highland Colony ParkwaySuite 400Ridgeland, MS 39157

401 East Capitol Street Suite 200Jackson, MS 39201

1 HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES ON HEALTH CARE REFORM Mississippi Chapter Healthcare Financial...

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