Georgia Cancer Specialists Settles with Feds over Medicare Billing

The U.S. Attorney's Office reached the $4.1 million settlement over allegations the oncology practice violated the False Claims Act.

Georgia Cancer Specialists has reached a settlement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia in which the medical practice agreed to pay $4.1 million to settle claims that it violated the False Claims Act in Medicare billing. The claims settled by the settlement agreement are allegations only; there has been no determination of liability. Georgia Cancer Specialists is one of the largest private oncology practices in the country with 27 offices located throughout the Atlanta metro area, including Marietta. The civil settlement resolves the United States’ investigation into Georgia Cancer Specialists’ practices relating to billing for evaluation and management (E&M) services on the same day as a related procedure…

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Traveling Hat Raises Cancer Awareness

An East Cobb humorist and author took her global effort to tackle childhood and ovarian cancer to her hometown this week.

The "Where in the world is Heather's hat?" summer tour arrived in Marietta this week as humorist and author Michele Wendling Ryan continued her global initiative with the personal mission of raising awareness for childhood and ovarian cancers.    Ryan, an East Cobb resident, spent some time visiting the Big Chicken in her work as MC for several Indie Music for Life fundraising events as well as Sophia's Hope, a benefit for a four-year-old girl with a rare brain tumor who earned her angel wings.  It's all part of the Cancer Has Cancer Foundation tour, which has extended from Washington, D.C., to California, to Ireland, New Zealand and now the Atlanta area, along with other communities across the nation. Ryan joined the Feel Teal Club that …

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Marietta Group Renews Hope for Families Affected by Childhood Cancer

Families with a child who has cancer "are in a dark valley." Marietta's Blue Skies lifts them "above the storms of cancer to the blue sky" by giving them the chance to unplug from the world and spend quality time at the beach as a family.

Lifting Families Above the Clouds of Childhood Cancer

Families with a child who has cancer "are in a dark valley." Marietta's Blue Skies lifts them "above the storms of cancer to the blue sky" by giving them the chance to unplug from the world and spend quality time at the beach as a family.

A message on your pillow, a tasty meal prepared for you, the smile on the face of someone you love, the support of a person you would have never encountered in your day-to-day world, an afternoon playing frisbee, the renewal of hope. It's the small things that make a difference, Melinda Mayton, the founder of Marietta's Blue Skies Ministries and a nurse at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, says. The journey of having a sick child can be difficult and leave you feeling isolated and in need of renewal and restoration, Mayton says. Blue Skies takes families who are walking through the valley of childhood illness on retreats. Families from around the country spend a week having fun at the beach. Children, both sick and healthy, laugh and play…

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Daily PatchCast

Police Hunt for Robbery Suspect; 'Cancer Never Sleeps'

Here is a roundup of news from Marietta and the surrounding area on Monday, May 21.

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WellStar Cancer Accredited by American College of Surgeons

The facility demonstrates a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program: committee leadership, data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the WellStar Cancer Network.  A facility receives a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation following the onsite evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement). In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards.  “This is an important accreditation for not only WellStar but, more importantly, cancer patients and families in our …

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Drink for Pink

The Pink Suitcase Sisters raised $601 Tuesday for the American Cancer Society and the Pink Ribbon Golf Classic.

The Pink Suitcase Sisters hosted a "Drink for Pink" at Loco Willy's on Whitlock Avenue. The money raised went directly to the American Cancer Society and the Pink Ribbon Golf Classic. The ladies only golf tournament will take place Oct. 3 at the Marietta City Club. The Pink Suitcase Sisters, an organization for women who want to travel but feel uncomfortable traveling alone, raised $601 Tuesday. Loco Willy's pitched in $1 for every drink sold.

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