National Neuromonitoring Services Victim Of Anonymous Smear Campaign, According To Court Testimony

SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A 15-month investigation by the Texas Medical Board (TMB) found no violations of the Texas Medical Practice Act by National Neuromonitoring Services, LLC (NNS) as wrongly alleged in earlier news reports.

An anonymous complaint filed against Dr. Thomas S. Loftus with the TMB was part of a smear campaign by Synaptic Resources, according to court testimony by a former employee of Synaptic. The employee, who has no relationship with NNS or knowledge about internal business operations at NNS, has given a sworn affidavit that Jon Schiff, the President of Synaptic Resources, filed the anonymous complaint against Dr. Loftus.

NNS believes that the anonymous complaint is a desperate attempt by Synaptic Resources to obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the intraoperative monitoring (IOM) services market.

"It is an outrageous abuse of the TMB to take advantage of their anonymous complaint system which is meant to protect the confidentiality of patients. The secret pedaling of malicious information wasted Texas' taxpayer's resources and created sensational headlines that were fake news, " said Scott LaRoque, the CEO of NNS.

The TMB issued a Mediated Agreed Order that did not find any improper relationship between Dr. Thomas S. Loftus of Austin and NNS or any of its affiliates as had been erroneously reported.

The TMB's inquiry also puts to rest anonymous false allegations concerning the ownership of a medical practice that contributed to inaccurate news reports. Dr. Loftus is the sole owner of his neurology practice.  No NNS affiliate has had or currently has an ownership or financial interest in any physician's medical practice. Furthermore, no physician has ever held any financial interest or ownership interest in NNS or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries. Neither NNS nor any of its subsidiaries pays any fees or remuneration amounts to any physicians for utilizing its services.

"Our company and its affiliates have gone to great lengths to ensure that our business operations fully comply with both state and federal laws. We are committed to conducting our business in accordance with all applicable laws, including applicable healthcare laws," said Scott LaRoque. 

Currently, insurance companies do not contract for IOM services on an in-network basis.  Consequently, IOM providers legally furnish this high standard of care at customary out-of-network rates.  Reporting about the TMB's investigation has created the false impression that billing for IOM services may be improper or unethical.  IOM has become the vital standard of care for spine and brain surgery in order to reduce the risk of nervous system injury which could result in paralysis or death.

Mediated Agreed Order, Texas Medical Board

Case Dismissed October 31, 2017

*Cause No. 2017CI13541
225th Judicial District - Bexar County, Texas
Exhibit A - Sworn Affidavit by former employee of Synaptic Resources

SOURCE National Neuromonitoring Services, LLC