An agreement announced Monday, the largest Medicare fraud settlement in state history, includes a $3.8 million payment to a whistleblower who sued Martin’s Point in 2018 alleging that it was miscoding the health conditions of Medicare Advantage patients.
Joe Lawlor
Staff Writer
Joe Lawlor writes about health and human services for the Press Herald. A 24-year newspaper veteran, Lawlor has worked in Ohio, Michigan and Virginia before relocating to Maine in 2013 to join the Press Herald. He is still considered “from away” but since then, he has learned what a “dooryard” is, eaten “whoopie pies” drank Moxie and boiled some “lobstahs.” The stories he enjoys most are when he learns something and meeting inspiring people.
He lives in South Portland - aka “SoPo” - with his wife, Melanie, and two school-age children.
Posted inHealth, Local & State, News
Lyme disease cases on near-record pace in Maine as tick population thrives
The number of Lyme disease cases in Maine so far this year is just behind last year’s record pace, and the recent wet weather isn’t helping.
advertisement
Posted inHealth, Local & State
Health care workers at refugee camp inspired career of Maine’s new CDC director
Dr. Puthiery Va’s family fled Cambodia and she was born in a refugee camp in Thailand before coming to the United States.
Posted inLocal & State
Mills administration names new director of Maine CDC
Dr. Puthiery Va, currently leading public health for the Navajo Nation in Arizona, will take over as Maine’s top public health official on Aug. 28.
Posted inLocal & State, Politics
Flavored tobacco ban gets tabled, faces uncertain prospects
The bill passed the Senate but failed to get a vote in the House, so advocates are regrouping for next year.
Posted inLocal & State, News
New law will put more dollars into pockets of older, low-income Mainers
About 19,000 Maine residents over 65, many of them low-income women living alone, will be made eligible for the program under the new law.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Mills administration to distribute test strips to fight latest overdose threat
A sedative named xylazine is being combined with fentanyl, and the combination is driving up the number of fatal overdoses in Maine and the United States.
Posted inLocal & State
As smoke shrouds Maine skies, scientist foresees more on the horizon
‘What we are seeing are climate change impacts in the here and now,’ says Gail Carlson, a Colby College professor.
Posted inBusiness, Local & State, News
Maine hospital operator settles contract dispute with Anthem
Covenant Health, which operates hospitals in Lewiston and Bangor, signs a 2-year deal with the insurance company, preserving in-network care for patients.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Promising research at UMaine may help curtail browntail moths
Scientists are studying how to disrupt the moth’s mating patterns by using a synthetically made product to confuse male moths and drastically reduce their ability to reproduce.