CNN - DaVita Medicare Fraud

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

CNN - "Company accused of giant Medicare fraud." (DaVita)

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2012/11/29/ac-griffin-medicare-fraud-investigation.cnn

[nursetaminator]

Caught that on the news last night. Very interesting.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

As far as I know, with the current Fe protocol, that's the way FMC does it too....

[Joni's Mom]

In my clinic if a pt needs 50 they get 50, if they need 100 they receive 100, not 2/50's. If they need 1 gram of Vanco they get a 1 gram vial not 2/ 500 vials.

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

I could maybe understand a little better if they were using 2 - 500mg vials, trying not to over do it, but what they were doing is flat out wrong. They should be using smaller vials if they're trying some optimal dosing regimen.

[midido80]

I just quit Davita a couple months ago after 5 years, this doesn't surprise me one bit. Kudos for that doc and rn for taking a stand.

[adnrnstudent, ASN, RN]

(In my post above, #4, I said using 500mg, meant 50mg.)

According to Venofer PI, it's stable in a syringe for 7 days. I don't think they're going to have an easy time using "contamination defense."

My hospital draws insulin for several pts out of same bottle.

I see no legit reason for using multiple bottles of Fe on same pt.

http://www.venofer.com/PDF/Venofer_IN2340_Rev_9_2012.pdf

[4080mark]

All,

The reporting by CNN was sensational journalism at its worst. The allegations expressed are about an issue that first came up in 2007. At that time, DaVita actually took the process now in question (before implementation) and demonstrated it to the federal governement. At that time, regulators blessed their dosing process, again...BEFORE they implemented it. When this doc from Georgia filed the complaint, the DOJ investigated for many months as they are required when such allegations are made. At that time, they too determined there was no issue and DID NOT PURSUE THE CASE nor require any changes to DaVita's policy. The net is that twice now, once pre and once post initiation the federal government has blessed this policy. We have a case here of money hungry attorneys looking to gouge a responsible healthcare provider for their own enrichment. Plain and simple. The facts above are all readily verifiable, and were provided to Mr. Blitzer before he launched his mis-infotainment piece. Its easy to hear one side of a story and jump on the band wagon. A little harder to dig, but we should. Next time it may be your employer on the receiving end, your livelyhood jeopardized, your daily contribution to your patients questioned.

[midido80]

Davita was my livelyhood for many years before I got tired of the horribly understaffed, dangerous working conditions and "number crunching". And when I say understaffed I don't mean short on hired employees, I'm referring to workers getting cut early and sent home, leaving 1 tech and and 1 rn alone with 10-12 patients by the end of the day. This company would do anything to save a damn buck. Yes I realize this is the case with most Fortune 500 type corporations, imho these types of for-profit "businesses" have no place in healthcare.

[netglow, ASN, RN]

New member as of today November 30, 2012. Hmmmm. Not like I am wondering about it or anything...

All,

The reporting by CNN was sensational journalism at its worst. The allegations expressed are about an issue that first came up in 2007. At that time, DaVita actually took the process now in question (before implementation) and demonstrated it to the federal governement. At that time, regulators blessed their dosing process, again...BEFORE they implemented it. When this doc from Georgia filed the complaint, the DOJ investigated for many months as they are required when such allegations are made. At that time, they too determined there was no issue and DID NOT PURSUE THE CASE nor require any changes to DaVita's policy. The net is that twice now, once pre and once post initiation the federal government has blessed this policy. We have a case here of money hungry attorneys looking to gouge a responsible healthcare provider for their own enrichment. Plain and simple. The facts above are all readily verifiable, and were provided to Mr. Blitzer before he launched his mis-infotainment piece. Its easy to hear one side of a story and jump on the band wagon. A little harder to dig, but we should. Next time it may be your employer on the receiving end, your livelyhood jeopardized, your daily contribution to your patients questioned.

[BrandonLPN, LPN]

Well, all those musketeer costumes ain't cheap.

[Kidrn911]

Don't know anything about 4080, but will agree that CNN is all about sensationalism, just another Geraldo Rivera except on a news station.