Almost Clinical
Welcome to Almost Clinical, the podcast where healthcare, law, and business converge in the most captivating way. Hosted by the dynamic trio from Buttaci Leardi & Werner – Vincent Buttaci, John Leardi, and Paul Werner – this show is your backstage pass to the gritty, multifaceted world of healthcare management.
Every episode brings you face-to-face with the realities of running a healthcare practice, navigating legal hurdles, and capitalizing on business opportunities.
Forget the clichés and technical jargon – Almost Clinical is all about accessible, engaging conversations that cut through the noise. Here, you’ll get straight-talking insights and no-nonsense discussions perfect for savvy healthcare leaders and business owners with hectic schedules and a thirst for industry knowledge.
What makes Almost Clinical essential listening? It’s all about melding perspectives:
~Clinical Insights: Get the scoop on the latest in medical practice, patient care innovations, and what’s really needed to enhance healthcare delivery.
~Legal Realities: Learn about the pitfalls and legal entanglements healthcare practices face, and why compliance can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield.
~Business Opportunities: Find out who’s making waves in the industry, where the money is flowing, and how to seize emerging opportunities.
Almost Clinical isn’t just about talking shop; it’s about understanding the nuances and balancing acts that keep a healthcare practice thriving. Our goal is to make you feel like part of the conversation, providing insights that go beyond headlines and Twitter threads.
Our conversations are as engaging and enlightening, featuring guests from all corners of the healthcare world. Whether dissecting a new regulation or exploring innovative business models, we aim to shed light on the issues that impact the day-to-day operations of healthcare practices.
So, whether you’re a healthcare leader, a business owner, or simply someone interested in how these fields overlap and influence each other, be sure to tune in to Almost Clinical today!
Almost Clinical
EKRA: The Law That Changed How Behavioral Health Does Business
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In the latest episode of Almost Clinical, hosts and healthcare attorneys Vincent Buttaci, John Leardi, and Paul Werner dissect the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act (EKRA) and what the recent Ninth Circuit decision means for behavioral health providers, labs, and investors.
EKRA isn’t just another compliance acronym – it’s the law that upended how behavioral health operators, treatment facilities, and clinical labs market and grow their businesses. What began as Congress’s response to rampant patient-brokering and kickback schemes has evolved into one of the broadest and most unforgiving enforcement tools in healthcare.
Vincent, John, and Paul explain how EKRA expanded beyond the Anti-Kickback Statute, why “creative” inducements can now carry criminal risk, and how the Ninth Circuit’s decision made it clear that third-party marketers and investors are not immune. They also dig into real-world scenarios – from “free” flights and charitable donations to commission-based pay – that illustrate just how easy it is to step over the line.
Listeners will learn:
- How EKRA closed the loopholes left by the Anti-Kickback Statute;
- Why behavioral health became ground zero for kickback enforcement;
- What the Ninth Circuit’s ruling changes for marketers and investors;
- Why “intent” won’t protect you when enforcement comes calling;
- How free housing, charitable donations, and profit sharing can cross the line;
- What whistleblowers and DOJ pilot programs mean for operators;
- Practical strategies for staying compliant without killing your business, and so much more.
Please note that this episode discusses various forms of addiction and substance abuse facilities/programs. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Please contact ReachNJ at 844.732.2465 or reachnj.gov. Someone will be there to listen.
Produced by Buttaci, Leardi & Werner, the healthcare law boutique helping providers and investors navigate what’s legal, what’s risky, and what’s next.
Join Almost Clinical hosts Vincent Buttaci, John Leardi, and Paul Werner as they challenge each other’s views on how to operate, invest, and succeed in healthcare’s rapidly shifting landscape, translate legalese into business sense for healthcare providers, executives, private equity professionals, and strategic stakeholders, and explore the issues shaping the business of medicine today and tomorrow.