 
News of the Day ... in Perspective4/8/2004Office of Inspector General warns physicians against charging Medicare patients “extra fees.” In a March 31 OIG Alert, HHS Acting Principal Deputy Inspector General Dara Corrigan warned against “charging extra fees for already covered services paid for by Medicare,” threatening civil monetary penalties and exclusion. A recent case involved a physician who asked $600 per year for services that included coordination of care with other physicians, comprehensive assessment and a plan for optimal health, and extra time spent on patient care. The physician had to pay the OIG an undisclosed amount and stop offering the contracts. Additional information: AAPS tells docs: get out of Medicare, August, 2000. Medicare Myths and Facts by Lawrence R. Huntoon, M.D., Ph.D., August 2000. A Declaration of Independence from the Medicare Program by John Bennett, D.O
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