APRIL 4 (and April 9)

It's been good to be home and getting to see our sons, daughter-in-law, future daughter-in-law, grandson, dad, friends, neighbors, etc...  I'm constantly amazed at how blessed we are.   We spent several days back in Whitehouse and got caught up on some paperwork, getting to visit with folks, etc...

A few days ago, we headed down to San Antonio to visit with the clinic here and do some training with the staff.  It was good to see them, meet our new receptionist (it's fun to sign in at the window as "R.U.Kiddon" and then watch her face as she calls out for you and realizes what she's saying). 

I also had the pleasure of visiting with a doctor that I've known for alot of years here in San Antonio yesterday for awhile, and it looks like we'll be doing quite a bit of work with her and helping her practice.  Because of size restraints, we'll probably only be able to help her increase about $60K a year instead of the usual $125K, but give her some time and then we'll see what we can do.

Something very puzzling and frustrating occured today.  Gayle (my assistant) called and asked if I was expecting anything from the Secretary of State.  When I asked her what it is, she opened it and informed me that an insurance carrier in Texas is suing a doctor in Texas and me as co-defendents.  

((OK - my attorney advised me to remove any of the specifics about the lawsuit, so I have followed his advice))

Now, I find out that this doc lied to the carrier and that really ticks me off.  That is a very STUPID thing for him to do, as now I'll use the FOI (Freedom of Information) Act to request the CPT codes the doc is billing Medicare, Medicaid and Tri-care.  Once I see what they are paying this doc for, I'll then examine it to see if there are any that I know are on the OIG watchlist and then find out if the doc has certain equipment and he'll be the FIRST one that I ever file a QUI TAM on in federal court.  As the relator, I get 15% of the fine they assess the doctor.  I'll teach that *#$#%$()(**** to lie to the carrier.   That will pay for my legal fees!!!!

You know that I warn docs about billing for things illegally,   That carrier may not know it yet - but only a couple of hundred thousand doctors  in the country know that I advise docs to ALWAYS follow the regs and NEVER bill for anything illegal, unethical or with improper coding.  This doc may learn a lesson about lying that is very costly to him! 

On other subjects, we've had a phenomenal week in helping physicians over the past 5 days.  On top of that, I had an EKG today and it looked ok, but they want me to have a nuclear stress test next week, so I'm getting scheduled for that.  I'm also having a STAR TREK PROCEDURE next week as well (GOING WHERE NO MAN HAS GONE BEFORE), so I'm scheduled for a screening colonoscopy next Thursday.

Don  (revised on Wednesday April 9 at 9:17pm)


Oh well - on other subjects.  Angie is feeling well.  Other than the stress of this BC crap, I'm feeling great too.  Hmmm - I wonder if I could countersue them for the left arm pain and high blood pressure they are causing me?  Hmmmm.   I'll just take an aspirin and put that on the list of questions I'll ask an attorney.

OK - tomorrow, we head to Houston, for one single reason.  We want to have dinner tomorrow night with one of my favorite clients and his wife (David and Donna Braunreiter).   This will the first time that Angie gets to meet them and vice-versa.

On Sunday - we head back to Whitehouse.  On Monday, I'll call an attorney and get that ball rolling and I also need to find a gastro and schedule a screening colonoscopy.  I'll be 52 this year and don't remember having one before, and even though I don't have any problems, it's best to be safe and get a screening done.   Just like I expect Angie to have her screenings, I need to do the same thing. 

hey folks - let me know if you're reading these and what you think.   I'm so perplexed tonight about this lawsuit garbage, that I don't know if I'm going right or left.           DON