tag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:/discussions/problems-v4/954-table-not-formatting-empty-table-columnsMultiMarkdown Software, LLC: Discussion 2018-04-17T16:28:12Ztag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:Comment/448109692018-02-28T00:27:43Z2018-02-28T00:27:43ZTable not formatting empty table columns<div><p>Can you send the actual table text you are using to create the table?</p>
<p>Did you leave empty space in the empty column(s)?</p>
<p>Fletcher</p></div>Fletchertag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:Comment/448109692018-02-28T13:59:39Z2018-02-28T13:59:39ZTable not formatting empty table columns<div><p>Fletcher,<br>
I did not include blanks. With Marked 2 if I include blanks it gives me different shades for each column, in this instance I want a single shade until the column with which I have data.</p>
<p>Attached is what Computer and Marked 2 look like if I do include blanks.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, please let me know.</p>
<p>All the best,<br>
Doug</p>
<h1><a name="three-federal-fraud-and-abuse-laws-explained-1-" class="anchor" href="#three-federal-fraud-and-abuse-laws-explained-1-"></a>Three federal fraud and abuse laws explained[^1]</h1>
<p>Health care fraud and abuse issues continue to be an area of focus and enforcement for the government. The legal framework and regulations can be intimidating. The chart below compares the three most common federal health care fraud and abuse laws. It is intended as background and to increase your basic understanding of these laws.</p>
<p>For a review or analysis of relationships or claims, or for more information, please contact the attorneys listed below.</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th>Anti-Kick Back Statute (AKS)</th>
<th>Stark Law</th>
<th>False Claims Act (FCA)</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Prohibitions</td>
<td>• Prohibits offers of, solicitation of, or payment or receipt of remuneration intended to induce referrals for health care services covered by a government program</td>
<td>• Prohibits referrals of designated health services by a physician that if the physician (or an immediate family member) has a financial relationship with the entity performing the designated health service</td>
<td>• Prohibits the submission of false or fraudulent claims, false statements material to a false claim, and conspiracy to commit violation</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>• Covers provision of anything of value to a person who refers, orders/purchases or recommends</td>
<td>• Regulates financial relationships with physicians only (and physician's immediate family members)</td>
<td>• Also prohibits concealing or avoiding obligation to repay money to government(failure to return overpayments)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>• Claims that violate AKS or Stark can also be considered false claims</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>• Common false claims: lack of medical necessity, billing/coding issues, retention of identified overpayments over 60 days , quality of care, off-label marketing</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Exceptions</td>
<td>• Arrangements are not required to fit within a safe harbor, however voluntary safe harbors exist</td>
<td>• The arrangement must satisfy an exception or it violates the Stark law</td>
<td>N/A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Penalties</td>
<td>• Applies to either party involved in an arrangement that violates AKS</td>
<td>• No criminal enforcement</td>
<td>• Treble damages</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>• Criminal penalties ({~~$25,000~> $100,000[^3]~~}/offense, up to {~~5~> 10[^3]~~} years imprisonment)</td>
<td>• Civil Monetary Penalty (CMP) enforcement for knowing violations: CMP up to {~~$15,000~> $30,000[^3]~~}/violation + 3x claims and/or $100,000 per circumvention scheme</td>
<td>• Per claim penalties between {~~$10,781~> $11,001[^2]~~} and {~~$21,562~> $22,002[^2]~~}</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>• Civil penalties (CMP 3x unlawful remuneration and {~~$73,588~> $100,000[^3]~~}/violation)</td>
<td>• Nonpayment of claims arising from prohibited arrangement</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>• Exclusion from federal health programs</td>
<td>• Exclusion from federal health programs</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>• FCA liability</td>
<td>• FCA liability</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>• Recoupment of amounts received</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Agency</td>
<td>Regulated by the OIG</td>
<td>Regulated by CMS</td>
<td>Regulated by DOJ</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>[<strong>Comparison of Anti-Kick Back Statute, Stark Law, and False Claims Act</strong>]</p>
<p>[^1]: Originally posted May 23,2017 by <a href="https://mcdonaldhopkins.com/wapi/Pdf/View?url=https://mcdonaldhopkins.com/Insights/Blog/Healthcare-Prescriptions/2017/05/23/3-federal-fraud-and-abuse-laws-explained%20%3Chttps://mcdonaldhopkins.com/wapi/Pdf/View?url=https://mcdonaldhopkins.com/Insights/Blog/Healthcare-Prescriptions/2017/05/23/3-federal-fraud-and-abuse-laws-explained">McDonald Hopkins</a> Accessed February 21, 2018. [^2]: HHS OIG has not published its 2018 updates as of February 21, 2018. These figures are based on 2018 updates posted by <a href="https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-11/pdf/2018-00288.pdf%20%3Chttps://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2018-01-11/pdf/2018-00288.pdf">Office of General Counsel, General Services Administration</a> Accessed February 21, 2018 [^3]: Penalty changes effective February 9, 2018; <a href="https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1892/BILLS-115hr1892enr.pdf%20%3Chttps://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1892/BILLS-115hr1892enr.pdf">Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018</a> page 157; accessed February 21, 2018</p></div>dgkitag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:Comment/448109692018-02-28T16:08:07Z2018-02-28T16:08:07ZTable not formatting empty table columns<div><p>Doug,</p>
<p>No -- I meant did you use a blank for the "skipped" column?</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<table>
<tr>
<th>foo</th>
<th>bar</th>
<th>bat</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>one</td>
<td>two</td>
<td>three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>one</td>
<td>two</td>
<td>three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td>two</td>
<td>three</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>one</td>
<td></td>
<td>three</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>(I tend to use tabs rather than spaces so that columns line up neatly, but it's the same thing).</p>
<p>Your table starts with <code>||||</code>, which in reality should be <code>| space |||</code>,<br>
where the first <code>|</code> is the start of a table row, and the group of three<br>
pipes means to merge the next two columns. The space simply means that<br>
there is nothing in that cell, but it could just as easily have<br>
something in it.</p>
<p>When you start a table row with <code>||||</code> it's ambiguous what the intent<br>
is, and MMD-6 treats it as the opening to a table row.</p>
<p>F-</p></div>Fletchertag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:Comment/448109692018-02-28T19:28:33Z2018-02-28T19:28:33ZTable not formatting empty table columns<div><p>Got it, Thank you.</p></div>dgkitag:support.multimarkdown.com,2013-02-12:Comment/448109692018-02-28T19:29:45Z2018-02-28T19:29:45ZTable not formatting empty table columns<div><p>If that doesn't do the trick for you, let me know and I can help more.</p>
<p>F-</p></div>Fletcher