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DPM scope
- Thread starter dpmjeff77
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dpmjeff77 said:
FL already has a large scope of practice. They have bony priviledges almost to the knee and soft tissue priviledges to the hip.
You can find all the scopes of practice for ALL the states on the APMA website. www.apma.org -- they may require a membership number to log on. In that case call 1-800-ASK-APMA, tell them you're a 1st year student, ask them to email you the PDF document of the scopes of practice.
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diabeticfootdr said:
Thanks Lee. Do you know which states are hardest to practice in? Which state has the best reputation for pods? and worst?
Just off the top of your head...
J
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dpmjeff77 said:
When you say "best and worst", I'm assuming you mean scope of practice. In that case, off the top of my head and in no particular order . . .
BEST:
New Mexico, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Delaware, Iowa, CA (probably others)
WORST:
#1 = New York, then CT, Mass, Hawaii, (many New England states where there are strong MD/ortho lobbies.
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There was quite a bit of discussion about the Knee Seminar in Florida amd scope of practice here:
http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?t=373
http://www.podiatry-arena.com/podiatry-forum/showthread.php?t=373
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although the podiatrist scope may be limited to the bones below the knee and the soft tissue below the hip, you can do what a Tampa DPM allegedly did and hire a nurse practioner to treat the rest of the body. Allegedly, this wound clinic used NP's to perform debridement of wounds. The good doc, allegedly, took it one step further by claiming to perform the services below the hip and hiring an MD to "review notes" of the NP services above the hip. In each he used his or the respective MD's medcare provider # to, allegedly, bilk medicare at the physician rate (and not at the 80% rate). Below is the Florida Attorney General press release and a link to the complaint, which gives more details.
March 25, 2005
Attorney General Charges Podiatrist with Medicaid Fraud, ID Theft
TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist announced that his office today arrested a Tampa podiatrist for defrauding more than $120,000 from the state's Medicaid program by filing more than 6,800 false claims to the program. Dr. Donald Beckett was charged with Medicaid provider fraud, grand theft and identity theft. Crist also filed a civil action against the doctor today under the Florida False Claims Act.
According to investigators with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Beckett is a licensed podiatrist authorized to treat wounds below the hip. Beckett hired medical doctors to review treatment notes taken by nurses who provided wound care above the hip and then used those physicians' treating provider numbers as if they had treated the patients. A doctor is not entitled to bill Medicaid under a physician's provider number for services that were provided by nurses unless the physician directly supervises the nurses. Beckett did not inform the physicians that their names were recorded as the treating providers.
"Medicaid is a vital program for the citizens of Florida," said Crist. "We will continue to protect its integrity, no matter what schemes others may develop to take advantage of the system."
Beckett was arrested this morning by investigators with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The criminal case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution. If convicted, Beckett could face up to ten years in state prison. The civil action seeks triple damages and $10,000 for each of more than 6,800 false claims submitted.
A copy of the civil complaint against Becket is available at: http://myfloridalegal.com/BeckettComplaint.pdf
March 25, 2005
Attorney General Charges Podiatrist with Medicaid Fraud, ID Theft
TALLAHASSEE - Attorney General Charlie Crist announced that his office today arrested a Tampa podiatrist for defrauding more than $120,000 from the state's Medicaid program by filing more than 6,800 false claims to the program. Dr. Donald Beckett was charged with Medicaid provider fraud, grand theft and identity theft. Crist also filed a civil action against the doctor today under the Florida False Claims Act.
According to investigators with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, Beckett is a licensed podiatrist authorized to treat wounds below the hip. Beckett hired medical doctors to review treatment notes taken by nurses who provided wound care above the hip and then used those physicians' treating provider numbers as if they had treated the patients. A doctor is not entitled to bill Medicaid under a physician's provider number for services that were provided by nurses unless the physician directly supervises the nurses. Beckett did not inform the physicians that their names were recorded as the treating providers.
"Medicaid is a vital program for the citizens of Florida," said Crist. "We will continue to protect its integrity, no matter what schemes others may develop to take advantage of the system."
Beckett was arrested this morning by investigators with the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The criminal case will be prosecuted by the Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution. If convicted, Beckett could face up to ten years in state prison. The civil action seeks triple damages and $10,000 for each of more than 6,800 false claims submitted.
A copy of the civil complaint against Becket is available at: http://myfloridalegal.com/BeckettComplaint.pdf
