by Medical Justice | Jul 13, 2011 | News / Events
From the Medical Board of California
The Board has been advised that several physicians in the Los Angeles area have been contacted by an individual impersonating an Investigator with the Medical Board of California. The individual asks physicians for their social security number and a credit card number, threatening cancellation of their license.
This individual is NOT associated with the Medical Board of California.
If you have been contacted by anyone representing themselves as a Medical Board Investigator requesting credit card information or social security information, please report this contact to local law enforcement and the Medical Board of California at webmaster@mbc.ca.gov.
Please take the necessary precautions to ensure your social security and credit information is not misused.
by Medical Justice | Jul 6, 2011 | News / Events
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS
CNN.com recently reported the case of Elaine Farstad. An IT specialist from Everett, WA, who became angry when her physician was late for a scheduled appointment, Ms. Farstad calculated her hourly wage rate and billed her doctor for the time she had to wait – to the tune of $100. Interestingly, her doctor sent her a check for the full amount.
In fact, many practitioners are now using cash, gifts or credit for future appointments to “compensate” patients for time spent in waiting rooms. (more…)
by Medical Justice | May 19, 2011 | News / Events
Jeff Segal, MD, JD, FACS
It’s an easy call. Dr. Mark Weinberger is a rotten apple. More than 300 medical malpractice cases have been filed against him. Most haven’t even gotten started. In the first case to pop through, the estate of Phyllis Barnes vs. Weinberger, the jury delivered a $13 million verdict for the plaintiff.
Maybe Dr. Weinberger doesn’t care. He’s in prison. And his professional liability carrier is working overtime to distance themselves from having to provide legal defense.
A little background. (more…)
by Medical Justice | Jan 11, 2011 | News / Events
Bill to make detailed IL doctors’ histories available moves to Senate
According to a recent Chicago Tribune article, a bill (Patients’ Right to Know Act) in Illinois that has already made its way through the House and is on its way to the Senate could allow patients to view detailed histories of their doctor online for free.
The information would include whether the physician has been fired, convicted of a crime or has made a medical malpractice payment within the past five years. Currently the only information available is whether the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has disciplined a physician.
The doctors lobby argued that the online physician profiles would drain state resources, even though a fiscal analysis showed that they would cost as little as $40,250 to maintain. The lobby has said the information is already available elsewhere on the Internet, but there is no single place that provides it free of charge, and patients must comb though court records to discover medical malpractice settlements or criminal convictions.
by Medical Justice | Dec 30, 2010 | News / Events
Medical Justice Partners with LocumTenens.com to Protect Physicians from Meritless Litigation
Medical Justice announced a partnership with LocumTenens.com, a full-service physician recruitment firm and operator of the industry’s largest internet job board. Through the partnership, Medical Justice will provide membership and protective services to physicians while on assignment with LocumTenens.com.
The Medical Justice program for LocumTenens.com will supplement the traditional professional liability insurance and medical malpractice coverage already provided through LocumTenens.com. Beginning January 1, 2011, the program will provide physicians working through LocumTenens.com access to services and strategies proven to lessen the occurrence of meritless malpractice claims. (more…)
by Medical Justice | Dec 9, 2010 | Healthcare Reform, News / Events
This Congress may be a Lame Duck, but that didn’t stop the Senate from at least one unanimous decision. Yesterday, December 8, 2010, the Senate passed legislation to extend Medicare payments for another year. With just 3 weeks left before the massive 25% pay cut to physicians would have taken place, and since the House must still pass the same action before they break for the rest of the year, it’s fair to say they’ve cut it a bit close. Since there was unanimous consent, one wonders why this wasn’t passed long ago. Perhaps the answer lies in figuring out how to pay for it, but this seems unlikely as well. (more…)
