In Case You Haven't Heard…

Abstract

Our story on the federal government's exclusion policy banning formerly addicted doctors and nurses from billing Medicare or Medicaid for 5 years even after they have been abstinent for years—and in one case, the conviction was expunged—completed drug court and treatment, have their licenses back, are in good standing with their medical boards and are practicing medicine (see “Case studies: Formerly addicted doctor and nurse can't bill Medicare or Medicaid,” ADAW, Aug. 14; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adaw.33862) caught the eye of a television news program in Albany, New York. The ADAW editor was interviewed for that program on the story, and on the “unfair and punitive” policy, in the words of Peter Grinspoon, M.D., who was not a victim of the policy but who himself had been addicted to prescription opioids. Health care providers can easily obtain prescription opioids, of course, but if they do not obtain them legally, such as taking a medication meant for a patient or asking someone else to fill prescriptions for them, that is a felony. Also on the show was a nurse who fell victim to the policy. For a link to the 14‐minute news show, go to https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/central‐ny/politics/2023/08/21/formerly‐addicted‐doctors‐and‐nurses‐cannot‐bill‐medicare‐or‐medicaid#. As a reporter used to asking questions myself, I found the experience stressful but was grateful for such an intelligent and well‐informed interviewer.