TO ALL MEMBERS, STUDENTS, FACULTY: 

ALL ARNP'S AND PA'S NEED TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL REGARDING THEIR PRACTICE TO PREVENT THEMSELVES FROM GETTING INTO A SERIOUS LEGAL BIND.  BELOW IS A CASE THAT ALL OF YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF AS YOU NOT ONLY PREPARE TO GRADUATE BUT AS YOU PRACTICE AS A SEASONED ARNP/PA. PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR ARNP AND PA COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS.

BECAUSE THIS ARNP WROTE A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE PRESCRIPTION WITH DOSAGES AND AMOUNTS ON A PRESCRIPTION WHICH WAS PRE-SIGNED BY HER COLLABORATING PHYSICIAN AND THE PHYSICIAN LEFT THESE IN THE OFFICE, SHE IS BEING CHARGED WITH THE UNLICENSED PRACTICE OF MEDICINE (A CRIME) FOR WHICH SHE IS FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR FRAUD AND IS LOOKING AT 21 MONTHS JAIL TIME, LOSS OF HER LICENSE AND EXORBITANT ATTORNEYS FEES.

I CAN NOT STRESS TO YOU ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMING YOUR PHYSICIAN, OFFICE MANAGER, ETC THAT IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR PRE-SIGNED RX PADS TO BE LEFT IN THE OFFICE---EVEN IF THE PHYSICIAN IS ON THE PREMISES, LET ALONE WHEN HE IS ON VACATION.  IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR THEM TO MAKE COPIES OF BLANK SIGNED RX'S FOR THE OFFICE STAFF TO WRITE XRAYS, MAMMOGRAMS, ETC ON.

PLEASE DO NOT BE CAUGHT IN THE TRAP THAT THIS ARNP WAS--IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO KNOW THE LAW AND TO ADVISE THE PHYSICIAN OF THE SAME (ALTHOUGH THEY SHOULD KNOW).  INFORMING THE STATE ATTORNEY DURING YOUR INVESTIGATION THAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW IS NOT GOING TO CUT IT!!

THEY WILL CHARGE YOU WITH FRAUD AND PRACTICING MEDICINE WITHOUT A LICENSE.

ALSO, ON ANOTHER NOTE----IF YOUR PHYSICIAN BILLS MEDICARE "INCIDENT TO"

WHEN YOU SEE A PATIENT THEY MUST BE IN THE OFFICE AT ALL TIMES.  THIS MEANS THEY ARE COLLECTING 100% OF MEDICARE ALLOWABLE IF YOU SEE THE PATIENT. IF THEY ARE NOT IN THE OFFICE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO ASK HOW THEY ARE BILLING FOR YOUR PATIENTS BECAUSE THEY MUST BILL UNDER YOUR NUMBER AT 85%.  IF NOT THEY ARE FRAUDULENTLY BILLING MEDICARE. DON'T BE CAUGHT IN A LEGAL BIND BECAUSE OF THIS