Case studies: Formerly addicted doctor and nurse can't bill Medicare or Medicaid

Abstract

The federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a policy, called the exclusion program, of banning health care providers from billing Medicare or Medicaid for five years, even if they are in recovery, cooperate with the courts, are abstinent, pass regular drug tests, have their medical licenses back, and have never harmed a patient. Last week, ADAW interviewed two such providers —a doctor and a nurse — who agreed to go public with their stories.