by Hamil Little Healthcare Law

Our healthcare and business law firm works with healthcare providers and businesses to  IV hydration therapy practices.  The IV hydration therapy industry has grown drastically over the past few years.  Some states and medical boards have developed laws and rules governing IV Hydration Therapy practices.  In 2022, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (“Medical Board”) conducted an investigation into ten businesses advertising retail IV hydration therapy services.  The investigation revealed that many IV therapy businesses allowed unqualified people to treat patients.  Although IV therapy is relatively safe, there are still risks, such as harm to the patient’s kidney.  Because there were no rules or regulations directly governing IV therapy businesses, the Medical Board issued a declaratory ruling.  This blog post summarizes the Medical Board’s answers to three key questions relating to retail IV Therapy practices in Alabama.  If you have a question about the Alabama Medical Board’s rules or would like to discuss this blog post, you may contact our healthcare and business law firm at (404) 685-1662 (Atlanta) or (706) 722-7886 (Augusta), or by email, info@hamillittle.com. You may also learn more about our law firm by visiting www.hamillittle.com.

1. Is IV Hydration Therapy the Practice of Medicine?

Yes, “the diagnosis of the patient’s condition and the recommendation of IV therapy constitutes the practice of medicine.”  It is a Class C felony for a person to practice medicine or osteopathy without a medical license.

2. Who can evaluate, diagnose, treat, and prescribe IV Therapy?

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Our healthcare and business law firm consistently works with physicians who are dealing with complications resulting from adverse reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank (“NPDB”).  A previous blog post outlines the process for disputing an NPDB report.  Although difficult, our law firm has had success in appeals to HHS resulting in void reports. This post provides more information about the process of disputing a report directly with HHS and what occurs with a successful resolution.  If you have a question about the NPDB or would like to discuss this blog post, you may contact our healthcare and business law firm at (404) 685-1662 (Atlanta) or (706) 722-7886 (Augusta), or by email, info@hamillittle.com. You may also learn more about our law firm by visiting www.hamillittle.com.

Initiating the Dispute with HHS

As mentioned in our previous blog post, Two Steps to Dispute an NPDB Report, after attempting to resolve a dispute with the reporting entity, a provider can elevate the dispute by submitting a dispute to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (“HHS”).  HHS’s jurisdiction to review reports is strictly limited, such that it can only review: (a) “if the report was submitted in accordance with reporting requirements”; (b) “if the reporting organization is eligible to report the information”; and (c) “if the report accurately depicts the action taken by the reporting organization and basis for the action in the organization’s written record.”  It is important to frame the request in a way that allows HHS to agree and exercise its jurisdiction.  For example, in a recent matter our firm worked on, our client resigned from employment while the entity was conducting an investigation into matters relating to our client. Continue reading ›

Our healthcare and business law firm consistently works with physicians who are dealing with complications resulting from adverse reporting to the National Practitioner Data Bank (“NPDB”).  Certain entities, including medical licensure boards, facilities with a peer review process, and medical malpractice payers, have a duty to report specific actions or events to the NPDB. Any practitioner who has had the misfortune of having an action reported to the NPDB is likely aware of the negative impact such a report can have on his or her ability to practice.  Sometimes, however, the information reported to the NPDB is inaccurate in whole or in part or, even if accurate, inappropriately reported.  Inaccurate or inappropriate reports can have equally serious adverse impacts on a medical provider’s ability to practice as any correctly submitted NPDB report.  This post outlines the process for disputing a report that is inaccurate or inappropriately report. If you have a question about the NPDB or would like to discuss this blog post, you may contact our healthcare and business law firm at (404) 685-1662 (Atlanta) or (706) 722-7886 (Augusta), or by email, info@hamillittle.com. You may also learn more about our law firm by visiting www.hamillittle.com.

STEP 1: Dispute the Report with the Reporting Entity

The NPDB directs providers to contact the reporting organization before initiating a formal dispute with the NPDB.  Doing this is as simple as it sounds: contact the reporting entity, explain why the report is inaccurate or not reported in accordance with NPDB requirements, and request they correct or void the report.  If the report is accurate, yet a new action should have also been reported, you can also request that the reporting entity file a Revision-to-Action Report.  Although reporting entities have a duty to correctly report to the NPDB, entities can be sanctioned for not reporting.  As such, entities have an incentive to report if there is any question as to whether reporting is required.  Motivating an entity to modify a report to make it more factually accurate is a much easier feat than motivating an entity to void a report.  In our experience, entities have little incentive to void a report; they would rather the provider dispute the report to HHS and have HHS direct them to void the report. Continue reading ›