Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Bankruptcy StrategistLJN NewslettersNewsSections

The Patient Care Ombudsman: Controlling Costs

By Martin G. Bunin and Nadjia I. Bailey

The 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (“BAPCPA”) gave patients of insolvent health care facilities a clear voice in bankruptcy proceedings by creating a new role in bankruptcy cases ' the Patient Care Ombudsman (“PCO”). Bankruptcy Code ' 333 requires bankruptcy courts to appoint a PCO “to monitor the quality of patient care and to represent the interests of the patients,” which may include interviewing patients and physicians, conducting on-site inspections, monitoring services provided and reviewing patient records. See 11 U.S.C. ' 333(b). Every 60 days following appointment, the PCO is required to report its findings to the court in writing or at a hearing. Importantly, the PCO is also required to warn the court immediately if patient care significantly declines or is materially compromised in any way.

The appointment of the PCO, which must occur within 30 days of a Chapter 7, 9 or 11 bankruptcy petition date, is mandatory in all cases involving health care facilities, unless “the court finds that the appointment of such ombudsman is not necessary for the protection of patients under the specific facts of the case.” 11 U.S.C. ' 333(a)(1) (emphasis added).

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

Judge Rules Shaquille O'Neal Will Face Securities Lawsuit for Promotion, Sale of NFTs Image

A federal district court in Miami, FL, has ruled that former National Basketball Association star Shaquille O'Neal will have to face a lawsuit over his promotion of unregistered securities in the form of cryptocurrency tokens and that he was a "seller" of these unregistered securities.

Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

Blockchain Domains: New Developments for Brand Owners Image

Blockchain domain names offer decentralized alternatives to traditional DNS-based domain names, promising enhanced security, privacy and censorship resistance. However, these benefits come with significant challenges, particularly for brand owners seeking to protect their trademarks in these new digital spaces.

Coverage Issues Stemming from Dry Cleaner Contamination Suits Image

In recent years, there has been a growing number of dry cleaners claiming to be "organic," "green," or "eco-friendly." While that may be true with respect to some, many dry cleaners continue to use a cleaning method involving the use of a solvent called perchloroethylene, commonly known as perc. And, there seems to be an increasing number of lawsuits stemming from environmental problems associated with historic dry cleaning operations utilizing this chemical.