Health Care Fraud Liability for Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Fraud is an increasingly expensive cost to the health care industry, and the regulatory and prosecutorial focus during the fast few decades have focused on health care fraud by pharmaceutical manufacturers. This paper provides an overview of the current statutory and judicial environment. First, it examines some of the industry practices for which pharmaceutical companies may be held liable for fraud (as well as some of the reasons these practices are problematic). It then gives an overview of the dual regime of the Medicare and Medicaid Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act (“FCA”), as well as some of the other guidance documents available to pharmaceutical manufacturers. It also explores the relevant case history that has shaped liability—for health care providers and suppliers in general and for drug companies in particular—under the Anti-Kickback Statute and the FCA. The 2009 settlement between Pfizer and the government provides a useful example of the present state of affairs for pharmaceutical companies. Finally, the paper concludes with a brief overview of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit (and the newly implemented coverage gap discount program), which may result in increasing liability for pharmaceutical manufacturers in the future

Micro-Computed Tomography-Based Finite Element Analysis Of The Mechanical Integrity Of In Vivo Biodegradable Magnesium-Alloy Screw And Surrounding Bone

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, the most common knee injury, affects 100,000 to 200,000 persons in the US annually. Surgical repair is employed to restore the knee to its full range of motion. In the surgery, an interference screw is used to a secure a soft tissue graft that is used to replace the torn ACL. In 2012, orthopedic devices for knees accounted for the largest share of the $29.2 billion overall revenue for orthopedic devices. Biodegradable implants are expected to lead growth in the orthopedic sector by increasing the quality of life and decreasing recovery time after orthopedic injury for athletes and non-athletes and aging, osteoporotic, osteoarthritic and obese populations. Magnesium-based orthopedic devices, including interference screws, are being investigated because of their ability to provide high strength as a metal, but degrade like a polymer. One objective of this study was to compare the pull-out forces of an unnamed magnesium-alloy against a commercially available copolymer, 82:18 PLLA:PLGA, in woven bone using finite element analysis. The reaction forces in bone and displacement of the screws were used to assess the overall performance of each material in a pull-out test. The second objective of this work was to develop and evaluate micro-computed tomography-based finite element models of in vivo biodegradable screws of the unnamed magnesium-alloy over time in rabbit femurs. Several foundational observations were made about modeling in vivo degrading magnesium devices with a micro-CT to FEA protocol. The results of this work have shown that an unnamed biodegradable magnesium-alloy and a biodegradable 82:18 PLLA:PLGA copolymer performed equally in nodal displacement and that the Mg-based device only outperformed the copolymer in Emin woven bone

Achieving Success with PBIS: A Teacher’s Role

The goal of this presentation is to help high school teachers feel less overwhelmed with the idea of implementing PBIS in their daily routine. By clearly delineating the PBIS initiative: a definition of what PBIS is and what PBIS isn’t, how PBIS can impact your school culture, and the importance of data sharing By offering a step-by-step guide of what it looks like to implement PBIS in your classroom on a daily/weekly/monthly basis By providing PBIS resources and strategies: Examples of PBIS best practices utilized within Newton County High School

Foreword-Symposium: Gender, Work & Family Project Inaugural Feminist Legal TheoryLecture

This Symposium inaugurates the Annual Feminist Legal Theory Lecture Series of the Washington College of Law\u27s Gender, Work & Family Project. Martha Fineman, in honor of her two towering achievements in feminist jurisprudence, is the first lecturer. The first achievement is her ground-breaking work on dependency, about which we will say more later. The second is her equally influential Feminist Theory Workshop, which she began at the University of Wisconsin, and has since moved to Columbia University and now to Cornell. The annual Workshop has provided the opportunity for scores of scholars to present papers related to feminist jurisprudence, helping to build a supportive intellectual and social network for feminists who can sometimes feel isolated in our respective institutions

Achieving Success with PBIS: The Teacher’s Role

The goal of this presentation is to help high school teachers feel less overwhelmed with the idea of implementing PBIS in their daily routine: By clearly delineating the PBIS initiative, a definition of what PBIS is and what PBIS isn’t, how PBIS can impact your school culture, and the importance of data sharing By offering a step-by-step guide of what it looks like to implement PBIS in your classroom on a daily/weekly/monthly basis By providing PBIS resources, strategies, and examples of PBIS best practices utilized at NH

RAMbassadorS: Making Student Leadership the Cornerstone of PBIS Success

The goal of this presentation is to share the impact of a successful PBIS student advisory organization. Presenters will give an in-depth explanation of the development of their program to include: We are RAMS: the history of PBIS at Newton High School and how it influences school culture. RAMbassadorS: Modeling the Ideal RAMS; using students to exemplify school expectations of success focusing on the following characteristics: mindset, service, and appearance Laying the groundwork: Preparing student leaders for service from application process to active dut

Mobilizing Undergraduates to Address the Social Determinants of Health in the Community: Year 1 of Health Leads at UMass Boston

Health Leads, a national non-profit organization, currently operates in six cities. Following successful partnerships with Harvard University and Boston University, Health Leads Boston initiated a partnership with UMass Boston in the Fall of 2012 to mobilize undergraduate students in addressing the social determinants of health for patients at Codman Square Health Center (CSHC). 16 undergraduates at UMass Boston were selected into the Health Leads program at CSHC, joining 17 students from Harvard and 4 students from BU. In 6 months, Health Leads at CSHC served 337 families, with students reporting positive experiences. Further expansion of Health Leads at UMB is planned with efforts focused on integrating the program on campus