Pain Management News
NewsWatch: Pain management firm settles for $16.3 million
A Baltimore pain management company that provides urine-testing services will pay $16.3 million to settle federal complaints that it paid kickbacks to physicians so they would steer Medicare business to it.
Ameritox, a portfolio company of Sterling Capital Partners of Baltimore and Chicago, agreed to the payment in a civil case prompted by a former employee and whistleblower, Debra Maul, who filed suit in 2007 in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Fla., according to federal prosecutors, who later joined as plaintiffs.
Maul, who was a senior sales representative at Ameritox and worked there from March 2005 until she was fired in May 2006, will receive $3.4 million of the settlement, according to a statement from prosecutors and the suit. Several states also sued Ameritox and will split $814,000 from the settlement.
Ameritox, which provides testing services to measure levels of prescribed narcotics in patients’ urine, also entered into a five-year agreement with federal authorities to engage an independent organization to monitor its contracts.
Company spokesman Symkai Scott was not immediately available for comment.
PharmAthene wins
longstanding suit
A breach-of-contract lawsuit filed four years ago by Annapolis biodefense company PharmAthene against Siga Technologies of New York will go to trial in January, PharmAthene announced Wednesday.
A Delaware Court of Chancery rejected Siga’s motion for partial summary judgment, clearing the way for a trial.
PharmAthene claims that it has development and marketing rights to Siga’s drug candidate, SIGA-246, which it is developing as a preventive and therapeutic product for smallpox, as per a merger agreement between the companies that was terminated in October 2006. PharmAthene also claims that Siga failed to negotiate those licensing terms in good faith.
Survey: Business activity
up sharply in Maryland
Business activity has risen significantly in Maryland this month, according to the Federal Reserve’s monthly survey.
The general business activity index increased to 24 from four in October, its highest reading since April. Sales and customer traffic grew, with labor conditions still weak. Expectations for future activity also increased, with two-thirds of the respondents anticipating more business activity six months from now.
“Somewhat unexpectedly, investment in new equipment and software rose for the month with the index reaching its highest level since the beginning of the survey in September 2007,” the Fed reported Wednesday.
WeatherBug is selected
for services in Spain
WeatherBug of Germantown was selected by Servicio de Salud de Castilla-La Mancha in Spain to provide its lightning detection technology to help the agency deploy its emergency medical helicopters more safely.
The WeatherBug system will help the agency “rapidly respond to calls made to our 112 emergency call centers in the safest and most effective manner possible,” said its general manager, Antonio Alvarez Rello, in a statement.
SunEdison completes
solar project in Italy
SunEdison, a solar energy services provider in Beltsville and subsidiary of MEMC Electronic Materials of St. Peters, Mo., reported that it has interconnected the largest single-operating solar power plant in Europe.
The 70-megawatt plant in northeast Italy, near Rovigo, was completed and interconnected in nine months, according to a company statement.
“With construction completion in less than one year, we believe this deployment signifies a new milestone for the industry and will become the standard for future mega projects,” said Carlos Domenech, SunEdison president.”
Prometric contracted for
radiology test conversion
Prometric of Baltimore has signed a long-term contract with the American College of Radiology in Reston, Va., to convert its paper-and-pencil diagnostic radiology training exam to a computerized format, according to a Prometric statement.
Starting in February, Prometric will manage the exam for the college and at the beginning of 2012 physicians in residency training programs at the college will be able to take their exam on a computer at any of Prometric’s secure test centers in North America and select non-U.S. locations.
“Computerizing the test allows us to better leverage technology to enhance security, widen the window of time during which it is available, and facilitate easy access for our residents and get the residency programs their scores more quickly,” Bill Murtagh senior vice president, sales and client services at Prometric, said in a statement.
According to company information, in addition to the accessibility of the exam, the computerized system will allow candidates to use online registration and their residency programs will receive their scores faster than from the paper-based version.
Edmonston nonprofit
to launch holiday event
Community Forklift, an Edmonston nonprofit that offers refurbished building materials from renovation leftovers, will host Green Friday this weekend.
Besides asking the public to bring in spare holiday decorations to help trim the warehouse for the season, the nonprofit is giving 25 percent off on selected renovation materials and hardware on Friday and 10 percent off selected antiques and architectural items in the salvage department.
The event also will include the Great Green Gift Extravaganza, which provides free space for local craftsmen, artisans and woodworkers to sell work made from recycled materials through Dec. 24.
Standard Solar
activates Rockville system
Standard Solar of Rockville, which installs and finances solar electric systems for commercial, government and residential customers, recently activated a 701-kilowatt solar energy system on the Rockville Ice Arena.
Tony Clifford, Standard Solar CEO, said in a statement that “having solar energy at the arena is literally a win-win for everyone.” He said the system, one of Rockville’s largest rooftop solar energy systems, will help control electricity costs, reduce carbon emissions and help guarantee the rink’s future as a training area for potential hockey stars.
The system is estimated to meet about 30 percent of the arena’s electricity needs and will help reduce carbon dioxide by about 757 tons each year, according to a news release. The installation also includes a large monitor where people can observe how much electricity the solar panel is generating.
Radio One regains
listing compliance
Radio One of Lanham reported that its class D shares have regained compliance for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
The stock price had fallen below the exchange’s minimum bid listing requirement.
MedAssurant expands relationship
with Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida has expanded its relationship with MedAssurant of Bowie by implementing MedAssurant’s program to help improve care coordination for its Medicare Advantage customers.
Eris to work on security center
at Virginia Tech campus
Eris Technologies of Annapolis has entered into a public-private partnership with Virginia Tech and L-3 Stratis, the information technology center for L-3 Communications in Reston, Va., to develop a security and incident management center at the school’s campus in Blacksburg, Va.
This center will allow Virginia Tech to display the partnership’s platform that incorporates applications for campus security, incident management and response, facility management, energy monitoring, and cybersecurity, according to a news release.
MdBio Foundation donates
$10,000 to Montgomery College
MdBio Foundation, an affiliate of the Tech Council of Maryland, has donated $10,000 to Montgomery College. The gift will support the MdBio Scholarship for students working toward their certificate or associate degree in biotechnology at the college’s Germantown campus.
The MdBio Foundation is a private charitable organization that provides and supports bioscience awareness, education and work-force development in the state. The foundation made an initial $20,000 commitment to establish the scholarship in 2007, and 21 Montgomery College students have received financial support over the past three years, according to college information. The college and the foundation also have partnered on educational projects to inspire interest in science among K-12 students.
The college program provides educational opportunities in applied biotechnology and bioscience, integrating laboratory and classroom instruction.
Freeman foundation awards
$43K to Montgomery nonprofits
The Carl M. Freeman Foundation of Selbyville, Del., announced the winners of its 2010 Faces grant cycle for Montgomery County nonprofits. A total of $42,500 was awarded to Montgomery nonprofits that were recommended by community leaders, residents and activists based on community needs and priorities.
Since the foundation started in 2000, it has awarded more than $500,000 to dozens of Montgomery nonprofits, according to a news release. Organizations receiving funds this year are Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding, Shepherd’s Table, Dwelling Place and the Red Wiggler Community Farm.
FDA Approved Pain Management Techniques at HealthQuest
HealthQuest, a multi-specialty healthcare center based in the Brooklyn area of New York City offers several FDA approved techniques for pain management. This includes the recently FDA approved BOTOX treatment for chronic migraine. Dr. Sady Ribeiro, an experienced interventional pain and headache specialist holding multiple qualifications renders these treatments aided by sophisticated technology.
The HealthQuest pain management methodology is unique, combining three kinds of care namely relief, correction, and maintenance. The center has pain management modalities to treat different kinds of pain ranging from pain in the lower back to pain arising from fibromyalgia or spinal stenosis. In order to get the best results from BOTOX for chronic migraine, Dr. Ribeiro utilizes a modern ultrasound machine that enables the most favorable needle guided injections, paving the way for superior outcomes.
Yet another FDA-approved technique that the doctor adopts is sodium hyaluronate for multiple peripheral joints. According to the doctor, a number of patients presenting with pain have experienced a better quality of life with HealthQuest’s treatment protocols for pain management.
Dr. Sady Ribeiro is fellowship trained in both headache medicine and pain management. The doctor has also finished an additional interventional pain fellowship through the World Institute of Pain. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Further information about pain management at HealthQuest or about Dr.Sady Ribeiro is available at 718-769-2521. Queries may be mailed to info@hqbk.com .