0723_Hark & Hark profile - FINAL_Layout 1 7 / 31 / 23 4 : 13 PM Page 1 A Tireless Defender In light of increased governmental investigations into the healthcare industry , attorney Richard Q . Hark fights to protect the livelihoods of medical professionals caught in the crosshairs . by MAT T COSENTINO photos by ALISON DUNLAP The healthcare industry continues to recover utors of pain medication . ” laws and court cases discussing the appro - Enforcement now centers on medical priatenessof these investigations , the extent from the trials and tribulations associated with the COVID - 19 pandemic . As the indus - practitioners.Richard says the government’s of these investigations , and how to defend try attempts to focus on what it does best — investigation strategy focuses on small , in - these investigations . ” dependent pharmacies and pain - manage - Fortunately for individual practitioners , preventative care , the treatment of illness and disease , and improving patients ’ quality menthealthcare practices . Richard believes healthcare practices , and pharmacies in zealous prosecutors are looking to make a Pennsylvania and New Jersey , Richard de - of life — another challenge has risen to the forefront for doctors , nurses , pharmacists , name for themselves with “ trophy ” cases votes his Philadelphia law firm , Hark & that involve a doctor , pharmacist , physician Hark , to defending medical professionals and other health providers . With increasing ferocity , utilizing state - assistant , or nurse practitioner going to jail . facing criminal charges stemming from “ There are many patients who medically these investigations or practitioners ’ per - of - the - artartificial intelligence ( AI ) and data - base search technological tools , federal and require pain medication , ” he says . “ Health - sonal / privateconduct , and the ensuing jeop - care providers need to be compliant with ardy to their licenses . ( Editor’s note : That state governments have ramped up investi - gations and prosecutions of doctors engag - all DEA regulations . We focus on ensuring practice area was the subject of an article practitioners and their staff are up to date about Hark & Hark in the December 2020 ing in healthcare - related fraud in the form of public and private insurance theft and on the best practices for complying with issue of Suburban Life . ) billing for unnecessary medical treatment . federaland state DEA and public and private The current grand jury investigation insurance regulations regarding medical landscapehas led Richard to expand his of - Theseinvestigations and prosecutions place “ unbearable pressure on healthcare evaluations , medical records retention , and ferings and give aid to healthcare profes - prescribing or dispensing pain - management sionals bombarded with state or federal providers , whether they are a small , medium , or large practice , ” according to at - medications . ” grandjuryinquiries , many of which are un - torney Richard Q . Hark . Every practitioner needs to be aware warranted . “ The opioid crisis predated the pan - that the government is “ sending fake pa - Richard says state and federal investiga - tients into medical practices and pharmacies tors from the Office of Inspector General , demic , ” he says . “ This heightened enforce - ment environment has been around for to determine if the healthcare provider will theDrug Enforcement Agency , and the Fed - many years . The government’s opioid crack - write or fill a prescription without medical eral Bureau of Investigation use AI and records or for which there is no medical ne - searchalgorithms to comb through govern - downoriginally zeroed in on illicit narcotics then moved to concentrate on major man - cessity , ” Richard adds . “ We are up to date ment databases to identify high writers of ufacturers and large pharmaceutical distrib - onthe current landscape of federal and state narcotics and unique medical billing SUBURBANLIFEMAGAZINE.COM VOLUME 14 ISSUE 11 36 |