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June 15, 2010: The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) has filed suits against 5 physicians for alleged copyright infringement, the misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract.  ABIM also immediately suspended or revoked approximately 140 physicians' board certifications.  The organization alleges that physicians solicited or shared confidential examination questions used to certify doctors in internal medicine and its subspecialties. 

Our firm represents numerous physicians who have been affected by this unprecedented action. We are conducting a comprehensive evaluation of their legal rights regarding the suspension of their board certifications and individualized analyses of potential efforts to mitigate any collateral effects.

If you have been adversely affected by this lawsuit and would like assistance in evaluating your legal rights, please contact us at 248-544-0888.  

March 3, 2010: On March 1, the 21 percent Medicare physician payment cut went into legal effect.  However, on March 2nd, President Obama signed the Temporary Extension Act of 2010 into law.  The legislation includes a provision to freeze Medicare physician payments at their current level until March 31, 2010.  The Senate is currently debating H.R. 4213 the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010 which will extend the freeze until September 30, 2010. 

January 15, 2010: The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General issued a special fraud alert to remind durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers that unsolicted telephone calls to Medicare beneficiaries are prohibited by federal law.  Click here to read more about this important special fraud alert.   

December 31, 2009: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued regulations with a proposed definition for "Meaningful Use" of electronic health record (EHR) and standards for the EHR incentive program. Click here for more information.

December 16, 2009: The U.S. House of Representatives voted to temporarily suspend for two months the 21 percent Medicare physician-payment cut in order for the Senate to vote on a permanent solution.  In November, the House passed H.R. 3961 which replaces the Medicare physician payment formula.

July 2010: Amy K. Fehn participated in the forum, "Healthcare Policy: The New Law and Implications Moving Forward" at the Women Impacting Public Policy regional conference on July 27 in Detroit, MI.  The panel discussed the federal and state perspectives of the health care reform law and its impact on small businesses. 

July 2010: Amy K. Fehn was quoted in the article, "Health IT Incentives: Academy Calls for PA Eligibility" in the American Academy of Physician's Assistants publication, PA Professional.  Ms. Fehn commented on the regulations for the meaningful use of certified electronic health records.

June 2010:  Alicia B. Chandler was quoted in the article, "The Stark Law: What's at Stake for Healthcare Marketers" published in the latest issue of the Healthcare Insight.  In the article Ms. Chandler stressed the importance for healthcare marketers to consult Stark attorneys to ensure that their marketing programs do not create unnecessary risk for their clients. 

May 2010: Andrew Wachler was recently asked to co-present with Kimberly Brandt and Angela Brice-Smith at the American Health Lawyers Association's webinar, Understanding CMS's Recent Program Integrity Initiatives: RACs, MACs, MICs, and ZPICs, on May 19, 2010.  Kimberly Brandt is the Director of the Medicare Program Integrity Group for CMS, and Angela Brice-Smith is the Director of the Medicaid Program Integrity Group for CMS.  Andrew Wachler will provide a "private practice perspective" on the government's new program integrity initiatives. 

April 2010: Wachler & Associates, P.C. welcomes new associate, Jesse Markos. 

March 2010: The publication, For The Record, quoted Amy K. Fehn in the article, "Medicaid Integrity Program Promises New Headaches."

March 2010: Amy K. Fehn was quoted in an article in the Massachusetts Medical Law Reports titled, "Health providers facing stiff HIPAA regulations."

March 24, 2010: Amy K. Fehn has been named partner at Wachler & Associates, P.C. 

February 24, 2010: Andrew Wachler delivered a speech on "The New Landscape" of Medicare and Medicaid Audits at an AHLA Conference for the Hospitals and Health Systems Law Insittute and the Physicians and Physician Organizations Law Institute in Miami. 

February 18, 2010: Andrew Wachler co-presented with New York State Medicaid Inspector General, James G. Sheehan on RACs and the Medicaid Integrity Program at the ABA Emerging Issues in Health Law Conference in Phoenix, Arizona.   

January 29, 2010: Amy Fehn presented on the "Medicaid Integrity" Program at the HFMA Meetining in Johnston, Iowa. 

January 21, 2010: Andrew Wachler presented, "The New Audits Landscape: MICs, MACs and RACs" at the AHLA Conference on Legal Issues Affecting Academic Medical Centers and Other Teaching Institutions in Washington, D.C.

December 14, 2009: Amy Fehn presented "HIPAA: Case Notes and Documentation" at the Oakland County Private Practice Network & Support.