John Ambrose of AAMFT, PLEASE RESPOND!
At 09:46 PM 6/1/96 -0400, JMRoraback at aol.COM wrote:
>>>List members,
>>I am forwarding this from another mail list with the thought that you may
>wish to be aware of the apparent provisions of this bill. Can anyone expand
>on this? It seems somewhat totalitarian in nature, to say the least.
>>Dr. Rosenberg has given permission to forward this message to any other mail
>group which may be interested in this issue. Please feel free to do so.
>>John Roraback, Ph.D.
>>----------- forwarded message ----------------
>Subj: Hazard to Fee-For-Service Care?
>Date: 96-05-31 23:24:18 EDT
>From: jordanr at CREATIVE.NET (Jordan Rosenberg)
>>>Wall Street Journal 5/30/96 p. A14
>>Jane Orient finds the following provisions in the already passed House and
>Senate versions of the Kassenbaum-Kennedy bill:
>>5 years in prison for making a misstatement to your health plan (eg, failing
>to mention a pre-existing condition)
>>10 years in prison for intentionally misapplying any assets of the plan to a
>medically unnecessary service even if it helps you
>>5 years in prison for failing to turn over to a prosecutor the patient's
>records, even if it is you being prosecuted.
>>Life in prison if a plan is defrauded in connection with a patient who dies
>(no mention of whether the fraud contributed to the death)
>>$10000 fine for each instance of incorrect coding, even if honest mistake
>>Fine or prison for those who transfer items for free or less than fair value
>(providing charity)
>>Automatic seizure of property bought with money tainted by these offences.
>>Paid informants; prosecutors keep fines and seized property
>>Dr. Orient contends this makes health care very risky. However, the risk is
>only for providers in private practice. Those who work through an HMO are
>exempt. So is the HMO. If it does wrong it need only provide a plan of
>correction.
>>I haven't seen the legislation but if the article is right it sounds
>devastating for fee-for-service practice. None of this is being debated,
>perhaps very few people know, and it should be addressed before the bill
>becomes law.
>>Jordan Rosenberg
>jordanr at creative.net>>>
