CCSVI Debate--CMSC June 1-4 Montreal

[Shayk]

Hi all

Just discovered that this year's Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) will be held in Montreal June 1-4.

At quick glance a highlight appears to be a debate between Dr. Freedman and Dr. Zivadinov about CCSVI. Hopefully some of our Canadian friends (others too of course) will be able to attend.

CMSC Annual Meeting Info

Per their info, Clay Walker also scheduled to perform. This could be really interesting.

Take care everyone --I'll look forward to reports from someone.

Sharon

[Brightspot]

Sounds very interesting. Hope someone from here attends and reports!

[cheerleader]

Hi Shayk---

The Consortium was in the news this morning, for laundering pharma dollars. At the center of the scandal is June Halper, executive director of the CMSC.

Frank Timmons, Serono employee stated to Amato, "We have a whole money-laundering thing going on with June Halper."

Serono has been fined $44 million by the US government, because they filed claims with Medicaid and Medicare to write off these Rebif kickbacks to neuros.

Here's the lawsuit initiated by Serono employee and whistle blower, Tim Amato in 2005....
http://freepdfhosting.com/543bcc781b.pdf

I believe that the CMSC no longer has any credibility within the MS community, and executive director June Halper and the doctors who received kickbacks, including Dr. Alan Bowling of Colorado and Dr. Dan Mikol of Michigan, should be indicted.
cheer

[Shayk]

Thanks for the info Cheer

As you might suspect, I'm not surprised by this news.

Since this lawsuit originated in 2005 I am really surprised though that Dr. Bowling and June Halper continue to hold important positions in the professional MS community. I can only guess that one reason may be that this sort of behavior is commonplace and hence acceptable to their peers (i.e., nothing out of the ordinary). Clearly it wasn't an issue for their employers (assuming of course their employers knew about it) and if their employers didn't know about it, that's a whole other thing.

As an FYI, Dr. Bowling is identified in the current NMSS magazine, "Momentum", as the Medical Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Service at the Colorado Neurological Institue and clinical associate professor of Neurology at the University of Colorado-Denver and Health Sciences Center.

The beat goes on....the debate at CMSC should still be interesting tho.

Sharon

[1eye]

Who are our members

* Neurologists
* Neuroradiologists
* Physiatrists
* Urologists
* Primary Care Physicians
* Physician Assistants
* Nursing Professionals (LPNs, RNs, NPs, APNs)
* Rehabilitation Professionals (PTs, OTs, SLPs, Vocational Counselors)
* Counseling Professionals (Social Workers, Psychologists, Neuropsychologists)
* Pharmacists
* Patient Advocates
* Basic Scientists
* Epidemiologists
* Other Medical Specialists
* Student Healthcare Professionals
* Bribery Experts
* Money Launderers
* Kickback Demanders
* Vanity Press Agents
* Trial Fixers
* Hush Lobbyists
* Forensic and Other Accounting Specialists
* Drug Dealers

[1eye]

Hi Shayk---

The Consortium was in the news this morning, for laundering pharma dollars. At the center of the scandal is June Halper, executive director of the CMSC.

Frank Timmons, Serono employee stated to Amato, "We have a whole money-laundering thing going on with June Halper."

Serono has been fined $44 million by the US government, because they filed claims with Medicaid and Medicare to write off these Rebif kickbacks to neuros.

Here's the lawsuit initiated by Serono employee and whistle blower, Tim Amato in 2005....
http://freepdfhosting.com/543bcc781b.pdf

I believe that the CMSC no longer has any credibility within the MS community, and executive director June Halper and the doctors who received kickbacks, including Dr. Alan Bowling of Colorado and Dr. Dan Mikol of Michigan, should be indicted.
cheer

This was not the only Serono story from 2005:

check this one

I suppose we should be glad they have changed management...