Beyond Fear
Ted Giovanis
In this gripping story, one man provides a front-row seat for how he—a self-employed healthcare finance and regulatory consultant—overcame extraordinarily long odds in his battle with the federal government, culminating in one of the largest court settlements in the history of Medicare.
On May 3, 2006, Ted Giovanis emailed a U.S. government official, seeking clarity on an arcane issue: the calculation used by Medicare to determine reimbursement rates for certain kinds of hospitals. Though he expected a routine exchange, what unfolded was anything but.
Buried in the official’s response was a piece of information that marked the start of a six-year odyssey that led Giovanis to sue the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of 730 hospitals. The U.S. Court of Appeals eventually ruled unanimously in Giovanis’s favor, and the federal government paid out approximately $3 billion to hospitals.
Beyond Fear provides a blueprint for how concerned citizens can seek to remedy federal transgressions while also showcasing the ways in which career bureaucrats can and often do shape public policy. Giovanis recounts the myriad challenges that stood between him and success, including securing a first-rate legal team, tangling with less-informed rivals, and developing compelling arguments to help judges understand a very complex issue.
Framed by his humble beginnings as well as the love and loss of his wife, Jayne, Beyond Fear is a surprisingly personal story of intrigue, hard work, and, ultimately, reward.
Duration - 4h 31m.
Author - Ted Giovanis.
Narrator - Mark Hamilton Peters.
Published Date - Sunday, 22 January 2023.
Copyright - © 2021 Ted Giovanis ©.
Location:
United States
Description:
In this gripping story, one man provides a front-row seat for how he—a self-employed healthcare finance and regulatory consultant—overcame extraordinarily long odds in his battle with the federal government, culminating in one of the largest court settlements in the history of Medicare. On May 3, 2006, Ted Giovanis emailed a U.S. government official, seeking clarity on an arcane issue: the calculation used by Medicare to determine reimbursement rates for certain kinds of hospitals. Though he expected a routine exchange, what unfolded was anything but. Buried in the official’s response was a piece of information that marked the start of a six-year odyssey that led Giovanis to sue the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of 730 hospitals. The U.S. Court of Appeals eventually ruled unanimously in Giovanis’s favor, and the federal government paid out approximately $3 billion to hospitals. Beyond Fear provides a blueprint for how concerned citizens can seek to remedy federal transgressions while also showcasing the ways in which career bureaucrats can and often do shape public policy. Giovanis recounts the myriad challenges that stood between him and success, including securing a first-rate legal team, tangling with less-informed rivals, and developing compelling arguments to help judges understand a very complex issue. Framed by his humble beginnings as well as the love and loss of his wife, Jayne, Beyond Fear is a surprisingly personal story of intrigue, hard work, and, ultimately, reward. Duration - 4h 31m. Author - Ted Giovanis. Narrator - Mark Hamilton Peters. Published Date - Sunday, 22 January 2023. Copyright - © 2021 Ted Giovanis ©.
Language:
English
Opening Credits
Duration:00:00:14
Author's Note
Duration:00:01:30
Introduction
Duration:00:04:09
Chapter 1: About Me
Duration:00:09:07
Chapter 2: The Medicare Industrial Complex
Duration:00:17:17
Chapter 3: Understanding Budget Neutrality
Duration:00:11:34
Chapter 4: Seeking Guidance from the Government
Duration:00:09:21
Chapter 5: The Government Goes Mum . . . So I Start Recruiting Lawyers, Hospitals, and a Financier
Duration:00:09:39
Chapter 6: The Legal Eagles
Duration:00:11:17
Chapter 7: Developing a Legal Strategy
Duration:00:21:28
Chapter 8: Incompetent Competitors
Duration:00:07:35
Chapter 9: The Government's Strategy
Duration:00:07:14
Chapter 10: The Smoking Gun
Duration:00:11:18
Chapter 11: The District Court Decides
Duration:00:14:27
Chapter 12: Victory in the Court of Appeals
Duration:00:17:27
Chapter 13: Trying to Reach a Settlement
Duration:00:25:14
Chapter 14: The Feds Pay Up and We Pay Out
Duration:00:11:16
Chapter 15: Jayne
Duration:00:21:13
Chapter 16: Creating a Foundation
Duration:00:06:37
Conclusion
Duration:00:15:20
Appendix 1: The Intersection of the Inpatient Prospective Payment System and the Area Wage Index
Duration:00:02:03
Appendix 2: Budget Neutrality (BN) Explained
Duration:00:06:09
Appendix 3: How Advocacy -- and Benefit Changes -- Caused a Federal Program to Explode in Size
Duration:00:07:41
Appendix 4: Solicitation of Hospitals
Duration:00:17:55
Appendix 5: Post-Settlement Email to Hospitals
Duration:00:03:51
Closing Credits
Duration:00:00:18