The Texas Medical Board recently adopted a new rule requiring face to face encounters by physicians with patients before prescribing medication. Teladoc has sued the Texas Medical Board in Federal Court alleging restraint of trade, stating that the new Texas rule “would raise prices and reduce access” to telehealth services. The Complaint alleges the same
May 2015
Allegheny County Court Rules UPMC/Highmark Agreements Trump Consent Decrees
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Legal News
The ruling by Judge Ward of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas highlights another facet of the ongoing dispute between UPMC and Highmark.
On February 18, 2015, Judge Ward of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas ruled that the arbitration agreements contained in the various agreements between Highmark and UPMC hospitals, most of…
Peer Review Privilege: Facts vs. Conclusions
By Michael Cassidy on
Posted in Credentialing and Peer Review
All states have some degree of confidentiality protection for peer review activities and the information generated by those activities, and there is additional federal protection for information gathered and created by Patient Safety Organizations (PSOs), established pursuant to the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (PSQIA) of 2005.
However, physicians, hospitals, and medical staffs should…