http://www.bittingerlaw.com Jacksonville, Florida Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:50:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Although many have argued that the healthcare reform law (PPACA) will have an indirect negative effect on physicians' practices, there are some provisions of the law that directly impact physicians as drivers in the healthcare industry.  Take physician-owned hospitals as one example.  One section of the act prohibits physician-owned Medicare hospitals ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=31 The ABIM sent letters to 139 physicians this week, sanctioning them for (ALLEGEDLY) soliciting or sharing confidential examination questions used to certifiy physicians.  It is interesting that the ABIM apparently gave the physicians no opportunity to explain or defend themselves before sending the letters to unexpecting physicians.  This firm has ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=30 Law firms are notorious for emailing "client alerts" and "client bulletins" to adorn clients' inboxes with impressive analysis of current legal developments. The bulletins sometimes come almost daily, explaining in excruciating detail and in thousands of words the latest legal changes, so as to impress clients. I take a different ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=29 Fee Splitting Prohibition Handbook In Florida, a physician can lose his or her license for splitting fees generated from patient care. The law, which came into effect in 1992, sets forth a list of actions or omissions for which the Florida Board of Medicine (the “Board) may take disciplinary ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=26   Consent and Privacy Issues to Address When Treating Adolescents Ann Bittinger, Attorney at Law The Bittinger Law Firm Editor’s Note: Ann Bittinger, board certified by The Florida Bar in health law, practices in The Bittinger Law Firm in Ponte Vedra Beach and specializes in health law matters. She received her B.A., cum laude, ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=17 by Ann Bittinger Because of the establishment of The Florida Bar’s Commission on the Legal Needs of Children and former Florida Bar presidents’ emphasis on the legal rights of children, Florida lawyers have witnessed unparalleled attention being given to children’s rights and legal needs. The emphasis on children’s rights, however, was ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=19 By TIMOTHY J. GIBBONS, The Times-Union Ann Bittinger is the type of person who makes it hard to tell lawyer jokes. When the former Jacksonville resident graduated from law school in Kansas, she knew one thing she was looking for in a job: "I wanted to do something I could feel ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=16 Ann Bittinger, Esquire The Bittinger Law Firm Jacksonville, Florida Since Congress enacted the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) in 1986, there has been interplay between EMTALA and common law professional liability actions.1 There is a private right of action against hospitals–not physicians—under EMTALA for patients injured by violations of the law.2 ... http://www.bittingerlaw.com/?p=18