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Russian National Arraigned on Indictment for Distributing Credit Card Data Belonging to Thousands of Card Holders

A Russian national indicted for hacking into point of sale systems at retailers throughout the United States and operating websites that distributed credit card data of thousands of credit card holders appeared today for arraignment in U.S. federal court, announced U.S. Attorney Jenny A. Durkan of the Western District of Washington and Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division



  • OPA Press Releases

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Former Owner of Los Angeles Medical Clinic Management Company Pleads Guilty in $3.2 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

The former owner of a Los Angeles medical clinic management company pleaded guilty today in connection with his role in a scheme to defraud Medicare



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department Sues to Stop South Florida Tax Return Preparer Engaged in Fraud and Earned Income Credit Schemes

The United States has asked a federal court in Miami to permanently bar a South Florida man and his two Miami businesses, Ebenezer Tax Services Inc. and Primo Tax Service Inc., from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the Justice Department announced today. He is alleged to have defrauded the government out of more than $20 million



  • OPA Press Releases

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Michigan Home Health Agency Owner Pleads Guilty to Participating in $22 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A greater Detroit-area owner of three home health agencies pleaded guilty today for his role in a $22 million home health care fraud scheme



  • OPA Press Releases

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Louisiana Psychiatrist Sentenced to Serve More Than Seven Years in Prison for His Role in $258 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Louisiana psychiatrist was sentenced in federal court in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, today to serve 86 months in prison for his role in a $258.5 million Medicare fraud scheme involving partial hospitalization psychiatric services. He was further ordered to pay $43.5 million in restitution and to forfeit all proceeds from the fraudulent scheme



  • OPA Press Releases

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Owner of Home Health Care Company Sentenced to Nearly Six Years in Prison for Role in $6 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A co-owner of Professional Medical Home Health LLC was sentenced today to serve 70 months in prison and ordered to pay $6.2 million in restitution for her participation in a health care fraud scheme involving the now defunct home health care company



  • OPA Press Releases

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Detroit-Area Man Indicted for Attempting to Conceal Evidence in Connection with Upcoming Trial for $30 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

A Detroit-area man was indicted today for obstruction of justice in connection with his alleged attempts to conceal evidence relevant to his upcoming trial for an alleged health care fraud scheme with estimated losses exceeding $30 million.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Owner of Home Heath Care Company Sentenced to 75 Months in Prison for $6.5 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme

The owner and operator of a Miami home health care company was sentenced to 75 months in prison today for her participation in a $6.5 million Medicare fraud scheme involving the now defunct home health care company, Nestor’s Health Services Inc.



  • OPA Press Releases

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United States Pursues Claims Against Neurosurgeon, Spinal Implant Company, Physician-Owned Distributorships and Their Non-Physician Owners for Alleged Kickbacks and Medically Unnecessary Surgeries

The United States has filed two complaints under the False Claims Act against Michigan neurosurgeon Dr. Aria Sabit, spinal implant company Reliance Medical Systems, two Reliance distributorships—Apex Medical Technologies and Kronos Spinal Technologies—and the companies’ owners, Brett Berry, John Hoffman and Adam Pike.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Justice Department and CNCS Announce $1.8 Million in Grants to Enhance Immigration Court Proceedings and Provide Legal Assistance to Unaccompanied Children

The Department of Justice and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers AmeriCorps national service programs, has awarded $1.8 million in grants to increase the effective and efficient adjudication of immigration proceedings involving certain children who have crossed the U.S. border without a parent or legal guardian.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Ambulance Company Manager Pleads Guilty to $5.5 Million Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

The general manager of a Southern California ambulance company pleaded guilty yesterday in Los Angeles to conspiracy to commit Medicare fraud, conspiracy to obstruct a Medicare audit, and making materially false statements to law enforcement officers.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Detroit-Area Doctor Admits to Providing Medically Unnecessary Chemotherapy to Patients

A Detroit-area hematologist-oncologist pleaded guilty today for his role in a health care fraud scheme, admitting that he administered unnecessary chemotherapy to fraudulently bill the Medicare program and private insurance companies. According to court records, the scheme enabled the doctor to submit approximately $225 million in claims to Medicare over six years.



  • OPA Press Releases

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Owner of Three Los Angeles Clinics Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Medicare Fraud

The former owner and operator of three medical clinics located in Los Angeles was sentenced today to 78 months in prison for his role in a scheme that submitted more than $4



  • OPA Press Releases

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Three Men Sentenced to Prison for Credit Card Fraud Scheme

RICHMOND, Va



  • OPA Press Releases

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New FDA guidance on alternate approaches in premarket notification for Class II medical devices

By Alice Li, MD, MSc, RAC (CAN), Regulatory Scientist, Cato Research FDA issued “The Abbreviated 510(k) Program – Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff” on 13 September 2019. The content of this guidance supersedes the content from 1998 guidance “The New 510(k) Paradigm – Alternate Approaches to Demonstrating Substantial Equivalence in Premarket …

Continue reading »




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FDA Gives Nod To Medtronic's Hemodialysis Device For Pediatric Patients

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted marketing authorization to Medtronic Inc.'s CARPEDIEM System, a new device for continuous dialysis therapy for use in pediatric patients with certain kidney conditions. The system is indicated to provide continuous hemodialysis or hemofiltration therapy to critically ill pediatric patients weighing between 2.5 and 10 kilograms.




edi

Medifast Recalls Optavia Oatmeal For Undeclared Milk

Baltimore, Maryland-based Medifast, Inc. is recalling certain Optavia Oatmeal products citing undeclared milk, a known allergen, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said in a statement. The recall involves around 24,923 boxes of OPTAVIA Essential Old Fashioned Maple & Brown Sugar Oatmeal. The product is packaged in yellow and white cardboard boxes with the brand name.




edi

Pew Calls On DEA to Expedite Addiction Treatment Regulation

Pew’s substance use prevention and treatment initiative sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on April 27 encouraging the agency to expedite a final rule that will help opioid treatment programs (OTPs)—federally regulated facilities where patients take medications for opioid use disorder under the supervision of medical staff and receive counseling and other care services—...




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The Health Care Practitioner Channel: Connecting Industry and Medical Professionals

Selling directly to health care practitioners, supplement companies can foster open dialogue about their products; but, every regulation applies to products in this channel, too.




edi

Recent Weight Management Ingredient Research Reflects Emerging Trends

Emphasis on fat and protein intake, reduced carbohydrate intake and gut health for managing weight are trends affecting the global weight management category.




edi

Ingredient Manufacturer Announces Non-GMO Project Verified Caffeine Ingredient

Applied Food Sciences, Inc. (AFS) takes the next step in demonstrating complete transparency by getting four of its core ingredients Non-GMO Project Verified.




edi

A Thoughtful Innovation: HP Ingredients Launches Quantum IQ for Cognitive Health

The cognitive-boost market just received another potent supplement ingredient–Quantum IQ Polygonum minus extract, exclusively from HP Ingredients, Inc. (HPI).




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NutraIngredients to announce 2020 award winners online

NutraIngredients is pleased to announce the shortlisted finalists for the 2020 edition of the NutraIngredients Awards ... with the winners to be announced in the first online awards ceremony next week (May 13th).




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APEC Small and Medium Enterprises Ministers Issue Joint Statement

Ministers in charge of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the APEC region issued a statement following their meeting in Concepcion, Chile, on 5-6 September 2019.




edi

Promoting Trade in Medical Goods Will Save Lives

Medical supplies and personal protective products are facing barriers worldwide




edi

RE: Guidance for off-label use of medical devices in Canada (Health Canada)?

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
Thank you Dinar! ------------------------------ MARIA GUDIEL Brea CA United States ------------------------------




edi

RE: Guidance for off-label use of medical devices in Canada (Health Canada)?

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
Thank you Richard! ------------------------------ MARIA GUDIEL Brea CA United States ------------------------------




edi

RE: Medical Device Submissions - Worldwide

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous Have you looked into PRA Health Sciences?




edi

PLM v. Re-seller for CE Mark of Medical Device System

From : Communities>>Regulatory Open Forum
Hi All, Always appreciate and respect the great advice that comes through this forum: The scope of my question is CE Mark of a Class IIa medical device system under the MDD (and then eventually MDR): We have Class I devices which will be CE Marked through self-certification. These devices can be used with other CE marked products (not owned by us). One of which is not CE Marked as a medical device (conformity to machinery and low voltage directives). In terms of what we consider this vendor, what [More]




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Philly-based gene therapy firm teams up with UMass Medical researcher

Guangping Gao, the head of the Horae Gene Therapy Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, will partner with Philadelphia-based Spark Therapeutics to figure out better ways to get disease-curing genes into cells. The collaboration, announced this morning, gives Spark (Nasdaq: ONCE) the option for an exclusive, world-wide license for any intellectual property to come out of it. No financial terms were disclosed. Earlier this year, Gao was featured in Newsweek magazine for seemingly…




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​Medtech startups to pitch investors at annual MassMEDIC Showcase

On Friday, 21 emerging medical device companies will present their technologies and business plans to a group of local investors at the annual MedTech Showcase, hosted by the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council. More than 300 venture leaders and business leaders are expected to attend the event tomorrow, Oct. 28 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Westin Waltham, 70 Third Ave. As a main event, John McDonough, president and CEO of Lexington-based T2 Biosystems (Nasdaq: TTOO), will be interviewed…




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New Bipartisan ChiPACC Act Provides Better Medicaid Coverage to Children in Need

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill giving a full range of medical services to families with children who have life-limiting illnesses and who qualify for Medicaid, which currently has gaps in such coverage.

The Children’s Program of All-Inclusive Coordinated Care (ChiPACC) Act (H.R. 6560) would let states create comprehensive care programs for these children. Its authors are the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus: Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX), Jackie Speier (D-CA), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and Mike Kelly (R-PA), together with Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Families with children facing life-limiting illnesses need all the support they can get, and they should be empowered to seek out that support,” the bill’s sponsors said in a joint statement. “We owe it to these kids and their loved ones to help ensure more compassionate care in their most trying times.

Gaps in Medicaid coverage of hospice and palliative services have deprived many beneficiaries of the care they need because the program does not cover some of children’s unique medical needs.

Under this bill, the family of every child who qualifies for Medicaid will receive a specialized care plan covering a range of services – palliative, counseling, respite, expressive therapy and bereavement – providing them and their families greater comfort and peace of mind.

###

 




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Immunomedics closes $459m stock offering to launch drug, scale manufacture

April saw the company add new CEO, receive approval for lead ADC drug, and launch a public offering of stock.



  • Markets & Regulations

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Principles for COVID-19 Healthcare Communications – 2 – The Virtual Medical Meeting

Virtually everyone is going virtual. Even in February, which seems like a very long time ago, many organizers began either postponing or canceling major conferences and meetings. This has included major medical meetings and given that large gatherings will be … Continue reading




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T-Minus COVID-19 – Impact of Pandemic on New Medicine Launches

As the coronavirus pandemic began to unfold, focus on the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors was on the most immediate and apparent concerns – the impact on the supply chain for drugs that are currently in the market and on the … Continue reading




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Canadians kept in the dark over substandard medicines

Posted by Roger Bate A Star Newspaper investigation of drug quality in Canada (see here) demonstrates the risks patients in rich nations like Canada run from receiving poor quality medicines, especially imported from India. What is most worrying is the lack of transparency at some western health agencies. What the investigation shows is that Health Canada has hidden information about problems with medications. While it is true that educated people occasionally make bad medicine choices (think [...]




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WHO to ignore powerful producers of substandard medicine

Posted by Roger BateThe World Health Organization just posted its new report on inferior medicines (http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA68/A68_33-en.pdf). It is called the member state mechanism (MSM) report on Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/falsified/counterfeit medical products - SSFFC for short. This report is the culmination of multiple meetings of health bureaucrats to finalize how to combat inferior medicines. Or rather that is what one hoped for when the SSFFC process began [...]




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Supplies of some COVID-19 medicines to run out within days, government warns

Supplies of certain drugs used when intubating patients with COVID-19 will run out “over the coming days”, the government has warned.

To read the whole article click on the headline




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COVID-19 LATEST: Valproate reviews must not be delayed, says medicines regulator

All the most important developments in the COVID-19 pandemic for pharmacists and their teams, as they happen.

To read the whole article click on the headline




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Herbal ingredient supplier benefits from incontinence product supply problems

The unpredictable spikes in demand that are distorting the supply chain in the current crisis has created another opportunity, in this case for herbal ingredients that help adults deal with urinary incontinence issues.




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Case Study: When does “technology” turn into medical device

This semester I’ve embarked on an adventure to co-teach a class in the University of Wisconsin-Madison Masters in Biotechnology program. What sold me on the experience was the majority of my responsibility is interacting with second year students on their final major project (essentially their thesis). That said, I will give one lecture, which will be “health

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New EU Rules for Medical Devices

After four years of negotiations, European lawmakers agreed on June 15 on a new EU Medical Devices Regulation (MDR). The MDR is the equivalent to the FDA’s CDRH regulations in the United States and essentially specifies the applicable rules when importing medical devices into Europe, which is the world’s second-largest device market. Rules relate, for...… Continue Reading




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10 Predictions for healthcare



  • in the news

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New MDCG guidance on temporary extraordinary measures related to medical device Notified Body audits during COVID-19 quarantine orders and travel restrictions

When it rains guidance, it pours. The MDCG just released Guidance on temporary extraordinary measures related to medical devices Notified Body audits during COVID-19 quarantine orders and travel restrictions. The guidance takes immediate effect and is valid for the whole period of duration of the pandemic COVID-19 as declared by the World Health Organisation. It […]




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First coronavirus, now 'murder hornets'? 'The Simpsons' predicts the future again

Bill Oakley, a writer on "The Simpsons," admitted on Twitter that perhaps the animated TV show did forecast some of our troubling current events.




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Editorial: L.A.'s trails and parks are reopening. C'mon, people, don't screw it up this time

For goodness sake, if you're going to hike, wear a mask.




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Editorial: California was ready for a recession, but nothing could have prepared it for coronavirus

The good news: The state is far better prepared to meet this challenge than it was a decade ago. The bad news: It will need help from the feds, and a lot of it.




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Letters to the Editor: Old Americans shouldn't have to prove their value to combat ageism

The idea that old people are worth something because they contribute significantly to society puts us on a slippery slope.




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Letters to the Editor: Mr. President, protect us with testing. Then we'll be your coronavirus 'warriors'

Trump admits that he's putting Americans at grave risk by encouraging economices to reopen. He should protect us with testing.




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Letters to the Editor: The agony of having family in locked-down nursing homes

If nursing homes will remain closed until a COVID-19 vaccine is available, there will be no family visits for more than a year. That's intolerable.