Ericka L. Adler, JD

In the eyes of the law, prescribing opioids for patients with chronic pain means upholding ethical standards of professional conduct, not following a checklist.

Management Service Organizations are an increasingly popular practice. Here’s what you need to know before you agree to become a ‘friendly’ physician.

Physician practices in states with legalized medical marijuana or recreational marijuana need to consider how to draft policies detailing physician usage.

The dream of expanding your practice can be a reality-if you plan carefully.

Avoid legal trouble by doing a thorough review of the electronic prescription process, security options, audits and potential loopholes.

Nosy employees poking around in medical records or sharing passwords can put your practice at risk of HIPAA violations, lawsuits, and broken agreements with affiliate hospitals or practices.

Don’t feel attacked by negative online reviews or strung out by false reviews. Learn what your legal options are, then fight back.

The legality of caring for minor patients once they turn 18.

It’s great that you want to share the wealth with your nonphysician employees. Just make sure you draft a policy that also meets state and federal laws.

Lax policies regarding medical records and ordering prescriptions and tests puts physicians-and their practices-at risk of DEA and HIPAA violations.

Physicians who write a script for themselves, or their friends and family, risk a suspended license-unless they have a record of proper documentation.

More patients are recording their visits at the doctor’s office, sometimes without permission.

Providers must sign an agreement for how to handle disputes and terminations in the best of times to avoid bitter legal battles in the worst of times.

Before you sign on the dotted line, here are some legal issues to keep in mind for letters of intent.

Yes, you need to delegate some tasks to employees. But as practice owners and administrators, it’s your responsibility to oversee and double check-not blindly sign your name for a whole lot of trouble.

There are many ways in which a practice can grow, so it’s important practices expand in a way that’s sustainable to ensure long-term success.

Terminating a provider’s employment with a physician practice is a sensitive process that needs to be handled with care.

Representatives can play an important role in keeping physicians updated on proper use of manufacturers’ products. But they can also integrate themselves into practices in ways that violate the law.

Management service organization (MSO) models can be risky for physicians who may not consider the legality and associated financial and legal risks before agreeing to the arrangement.

Both employers and providers need to understand what factors will allow a noncompete provision to be found enforceable.

Physicians need to consider what they might need to do in order to repurchase their medical practice-then get those provisions in place before agreeing to the sale.

When patient discharges are necessary, here are some considerations on how to release patients with compassion and care.

Physicians have a responsibility to uphold ethical standards and ensure the people they associate with do, too. Otherwise, they risk their reputation being tarnished by association-or worse.

Physicians may be eager for the financial rewards of recruitment deals, but they need to understand such enticements can become a tremendous burden.

Addressing a patient’s ability and willingness to pay for services upfront can go far towards a practice’s financial health.

Here are four steps you should take if you want to hire a new physician that may be hampered by a non-compete provision.

Physician practices must take the time to evaluate their policies related to “outside activities."

Entering a new employment agreement? Here's why and how you need to plan your exit strategy as soon as possible.

There are many examples where an expired agreement can accidently violate Stark Law. Here's what you should know.

Approached by a company offering an opportunity to invest in a laboratory or laboratory MSO? Consider the following.