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Showing posts from September, 2026

Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Pitfalls in Ancillary Service Arrangements

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Ancillary services — imaging, laboratory work, physical therapy, durable medical equipment, infusion, pathology — are often the most profitable lines in a medical practice or hospital system. They're also where compliance risk concentrates most heavily. The Stark Law (Physician Self-Referral Law) and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) were written with exactly these arrangements in mind, and enforcement agencies have shown no hesitation about pursuing organizations that get the structure wrong — even when everyone involved believed they were acting in good faith. For hospital administrators and physician groups building or expanding ancillary service lines, understanding where these two statutes diverge — and where they overlap — is the difference between a compliant revenue stream and a False Claims Act exposure sitting quietly on the books until an audit, a departing employee, or a whistleblower brings it to light. Two Statutes, Two Different Tests Stark Law is a strict l...

Is Florida Legalizing Weed? What Florida Law Says in 2026

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If you are wondering, “ Is Florida legalizing weed ?” , the answer depends on what you mean by “legalizing.” Florida permits medical marijuana for qualified patients under its state medical marijuana program, but recreational or adult-use marijuana is not currently legal statewide. Florida has taken steps toward expanding the legal framework surrounding cannabis, and a new adult-use marijuana constitutional amendment initiative is currently active for the 2028 election cycle. However, that does not mean recreational marijuana is legal in Florida today. For patients, healthcare providers, businesses, and anyone following Florida cannabis laws, understanding the difference between medical marijuana and recreational marijuana is essential. Is Weed Legal in Florida Right Now? As of 2026, Florida does not have a statewide recreational marijuana law allowing adults to purchase and possess marijuana simply for personal use. Florida does have a constitutional and statutory framework per...

Florida State License Lookup: A Guide for Healthcare Professionals, Employers, and Patients

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Verifying a healthcare license in Florida is a routine but critical task. Whether you're a patient checking a provider's credentials, an employer conducting due diligence before hiring, or a healthcare professional confirming your own record is accurate, a Florida state license lookup gives you direct access to that information, since Florida's licensing system is built to make it publicly accessible. This guide explains how the lookup process works, what information you can find, and why it matters from a legal and compliance standpoint. Who Regulates Healthcare Licenses in Florida? Most healthcare licenses in Florida are issued and regulated by the Florida Department of Health (DOH) , through its Division of Medical Quality Assurance (MQA) . MQA oversees licensing, renewal, enforcement, and disciplinary actions for more than 200 license types across over 40 healthcare professions — including physicians, nurses, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, mental heal...