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When it comes to Medicare Fraud, you would hope that the “independent” organizations running the government are not, in fact, in on the scam. A recent development, however, shows that may not be the case, as a high up administrator in the National Quality Forum allegedly received over Ten Million Dollars in kickbacks for his committee’s recommendation of potentially unsafe treatment methods and services. We initially blogged on this development HERE.
Now, Senator Grassley is getting involved, demanding copies of contracts and conflict of interest policies for the NQF, says ProPublica author Marshall Allen. Sen. Charles Grassley cited “serious concerns” about how the National Quality Forum vets its expert advisers and suggested the group may have endorsed a drug for a use the government hasn’t approved. The Quality Forum said it cut ties with Denham in 2010 and that the undisclosed money from CareFusion did not result in the panel recommending ChloraPrep, but that still raises some serious questions about the separation between a so-called independent agency (with a focus on protecting patients) and a company (with a focus on its bottom line).
According to the Justice Department, ChloraPrep was being marketed for uses that were not medically acceptable or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. ChloraPrep’s label says it is approved to “help reduce bacteria,” but that is different than the drugmaker’s claims that it reduced infections, according to court papers in the case. CareFusion settled with the government for $40 million without admitting wrongdoing.
At the very least, there should be an investigation into whether independent agencies that make policy recommendations on patient safety should be allowed to accept any funds from any health care provider or medical drug/device company.
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