Recent Blog Posts
When Is Contesting a Medicare Demand Letter Successful?
If you were hurt in an accident and Medicare paid for your medical care, you may later receive something called a Medicare Conditional Payment Letter or Medicare Demand Letter. These letters often, but not always, come after someone receives money from a personal injury settlement or insurance payout that is meant to cover losses from an accident that Medicare already paid for. Medicare sends these letters because it wants to be paid back for the medical care it covers related to your accident — and that can feel confusing, frustrating, or even unfair, especially if you are still recovering.
The good news is that in many cases, these demand letters can be challenged successfully. Whether you live in Rockford, Peoria, Kankakee, Southern Illinois, or even outside the state in places like Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Arizona, or California, you have the right to ask Medicare to review the demand and lower or even cancel the amount they are asking you to repay. You do not have to do this alone - our Illinois Medicare conditional payment letter lawyer can help.
Defending Against TCPA Class Action Lawsuits in Healthcare Settings
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) regulates telemarketing communications, ensuring consumers are not subjected to unwanted calls, texts, and faxes. A key element of TCPA class action defense is arguing against the class certification, and a professional licensing attorney knows the laws that govern these cases.
If you are a medical professional or institution, such as an Illinois medical spa or hospital, and you are facing a class action lawsuit related to alleged TCPA violations, contacting our experienced Chicago, IL class action defense attorney may be the best first step. We will evaluate the plaintiffs’ claims and help you understand the legal ramifications and options available.
Common Claims From Plaintiffs in TCPA Class Action Lawsuits
To file a TCPA class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs must follow certain procedures and provide sufficient evidence to support the claim. Typical noncompliance claims seen in court include:
Opening a Medspa? Get Help With Compliance From a Lawyer
Medical spas, or "medspas," are an increasingly popular business venture, especially in high-end areas like Kenilworth, Oak Brook, Lakeview, and other affluent Illinois communities. Offering a blend of medical treatments and spa services, these businesses can be highly profitable — but they are also subject to complex regulations.
Opening and operating a medspa requires compliance with both medical and business laws. From ensuring proper licensing to avoiding allegations of unlicensed medical practice, legal pitfalls abound. At The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc., we provide comprehensive guidance on medspa compliance. Our Illinois medical spa license defense attorney is an experienced lawyer and a licensed pharmacist, offering unique insight into the regulatory framework governing medical and aesthetic treatments, and knowledgeable defense against medspa audits by the IDFPR or Attorney General’s office.
Ensuring Compliance with Telemedicine Technology Contracts
Telemedicine has transformed healthcare, allowing a full spectrum of healthcare providers to reach patients across state lines and offer convenient, efficient care. However, with this advancement comes increased scrutiny of telemedicine technology contracts. Healthcare professionals using telemedicine platforms must ensure their contracts comply with federal and Illinois state laws, as well as the ethical guidelines set by their licensing boards.
Failing to comply with these legal requirements can result in severe consequences, including license suspension, fines, and even criminal liability. If you are a medical provider using telemedicine technology, it is essential to understand your obligations under the law and how to protect your practice. Our Illinois professional license defense attorney can help.
What Should Be in a Telemedicine Technology Contract?
A well-drafted telemedicine contract should clearly define the legal responsibilities of both the provider and the technology vendor. Contracts typically outline data security measures, liability protections, patient consent requirements, and payment terms. However, many providers sign agreements without fully understanding their obligations, which can lead to compliance issues down the line.
What is the IDFPR Looking for in Medspa Inspections?
If you own or operate a medical spa in Illinois, an inspection by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) can be nerve-wracking. Whether it is a routine visit or the result of a complaint, inspectors will be looking for any violations that could lead to fines, disciplinary action, or even the suspension of your professional license. Understanding what they are looking for when they investigate medical spas and how to stay compliant is key to protecting your business, and our Illinois medical spa license defense lawyer can help.
What is the IDFPR and Who Conducts Medspa Inspections?
The IDFPR is the agency responsible for regulating professional licensing in Illinois. This includes doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers, as well as businesses like medical spas that offer cosmetic and wellness treatments. The agency ensures that licensed professionals follow the law and maintain ethical and safety standards.
What Happens if I Ignore a Medicare Demand Letter?
Imagine for a moment that you are seriously injured in an accident. Maybe it is a car crash, a bike crash, or even a skiing accident. You are out of work for weeks, if not months, and your medical bills add up to many tens of thousands of dollars. Thankfully, because you are covered by Medicare, your physical care is covered, including emergency transport, hospital stays, and surgery.
Then, imagine you get a settlement check from the person or party responsible for your injuries: a drunk driver, a reckless biker, a ski resort that negligently left a dangerous slope unmarked. You use this settlement to cover the expenses you accumulated while seeking treatment. You may never be the same again, but you feel like you are finally out of the woods.
Then you receive a letter from Medicare in the mail. They know you received that settlement check, and they want the money back that they spent on your healthcare. You only have 30 days to respond before they start adding interest to the money they say you owe, and, worse, they can go after your income and even your assets if you do not pay.
Can You Lose NABP Accreditation?
For specialty pharmacies, wholesale drug distributors, and other pharmaceutical businesses, accreditation from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) is a crucial credential that demonstrates compliance with industry standards. However, NABP accreditation is not permanent, and failure to meet strict ongoing standards can result in revocation.
Understanding the most common reasons pharmacies and distributors lose accreditation can help businesses avoid expensive mistakes. If a business is at risk of losing its NABP accreditation, our experienced Illinois NABP accreditation attorney with The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. can help address compliance issues and take corrective action.
What Should MedSpa Owners Do if They Get a Complaint?
Most business owners have legitimate concerns about whether complaints, true or false, could negatively impact reputation and revenue. In a worst-case scenario, a complaint can trigger an investigation or public outrage that results in a business’s closure.
Medical spas or med spa owners and operators are at particular risk of dangers stemming from patient complaints. Whether the investigation comes from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), the Office of the Illinois Attorney General, or even the police if the complaint alleges criminal conduct, med spa owners, operators, and employees need to be able to protect themselves from the implications of such complaints and investigations.
If you are a med spa owner, director, or employee and you are facing a complaint, get help immediately from someone who understands both the medical and legal landscape. Call The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc. to speak with our Illinois med spa defense attorney.
Getting Your Website LegitScript Certified and NABP Accredited
In today’s world, where much of the healthcare industry has shifted online, operating a pharmacy website comes with unique challenges. LegitScript certification and NABP (National Association of Boards of Pharmacy) accreditation are essential for online pharmacies and telehealth providers looking to build trust, comply with regulations, and avoid legal trouble. However, the certification and accreditation processes can be long and complicated, especially for first-timers.
As an Illinois professional license defense attorney who is also a pharmacist, Attorney Bogdan understands the complexities of the LegitScript and NABP processes better than most. His dual background allows him to help clients navigate the certification requirements and defend them if they encounter compliance issues.
What Is LegitScript Certification?
LegitScript is the gold standard for certifying online healthcare businesses, including pharmacies, telehealth platforms, and substance abuse treatment centers. It ensures that these businesses comply with federal and state laws, as well as industry best practices. Without LegitScript certification, major platforms like Google, Facebook, and Visa may block your website, ads, or payment processing.
Can You Fight a Medicare Demand Letter?
Getting a letter in the mail from Medicare demanding payment can be confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming. What is a Medicare demand letter? What are you supposed to do with it? What happens if you ignore it?
Most people have these questions after finding such a letter – also known as a Medicare Conditional Payment Letter, Medicare lien, or Medicare conditional payment notice – in their mailbox and are often afraid they may have to pay back money they simply do not have.
If you have gotten such a letter, contact the East St. Louis, IL Medicare Conditional Payment Letter attorney at The Law Offices of Joseph J. Bogdan, Inc.. In addition to helping fight Medicare demand letters for clients in Illinois, we help people from all over the U.S. with Medicare conditional repayment, including California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. No matter where you live, call us today to get the help you need.