Kickbacks from Placement agency's to discharge nurses

Gregmercer601 · Feb 7, 2012

A worthy effort - health care is so large, so complex, and so thoroughly infected with pervasive conflicts of interest that any attempts at reform attract foes that are numerous, powerful, highly motivated, and well-connected. The FDA has come to largely serve to provide Pharma with the appearance of regulation, not the actual variety - a form of public relations, very effective in its way. Most people, for instance, imagine that approved drugs have been proven safe or more effective than older ones. they mistakenly assume that claims for 'dietary supplements' are any more trustworthy more than they did a century ago - nothing. Only tort lawyers keep manufacturers on their toes. Insurance companies are routinely allowed some of the most pronounced conflicts of interest in modern times - your need for care is determined by the very people who profit form denying or obstructing it. And so on - top to bottom, our system is a bloated, wasteful, corrupt disaster, wildly successful in bringing tremendous wealth to those who provide no care, and keeping the rest of us distracted, divided, and too busy for most of us to care or do anything about it. Your approach might be the way to go - make small focused workable attacks where possible. Large-scale improvement, if possible, will only come through political organization, a tough road for certain. There is an example of an experimental project at wp.me/s278fi-178

jwignall · Feb 8, 2012

Well said. The warrior in me wants to fight. All of my 20 placement specialist are full time professional fire/ paramedics. The services we provide are head and shoulders above our competition. It is sad and disturbing, that some nurses are on the take. They get between $500-$1000 for each referral, from these placement agents. I think a fitting title for an article , about this ongoing practice, would be, " The Selling Of Grandma". I need help, and I agree that the most effective way to deal with this injustice is through the tort system. Few people know this, but the Whistle Blower Act, protects the people coming forward. They are even entitled to between 15-20% of the judgement. This case could be huge, not only in eliminating this practice, but also for the nurses that come forward to help me end this process. Thanks for responding.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Feb 8, 2012

Good luck. If your case is picked up by the Feds as a Qui Tam suit, you may be in line for a much larger monetary reward than you ever imagined.

Thisol'RN · Feb 8, 2012

I own a placement agency in California. I am in the begining stages of filing a class action lawsuit against several hospitals and SNF's, over the practice of receiving kickbacks from placement agency's. This practice is prevelant. I am soliciting ethical nurses to assist me in this endeaver. Any thoughts?

No doubt, this is merely the tip of the iceburg! Another area of concern is the contracted staffing/credentialing mediary between a hospital and per diem registries. Haven't quite figured out the "value" they provide facilities since the registries are required to do the credenitaling footwork....oh!!! as a subsidiary of large staffing/travel corporation, the mediary has a steady stream of RN recruits minus the cost of honest recruitment efforts. For the life of me, I don't see the benefit to a facility. Good morning, facilities!!!