Articles and Blogs

On November 27, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“OPPS”) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (“ASC”) Final Rule (“Final Rule”). In this Final Rule, CMS made some significant changes, including implementing a policy to combine outpatient clinic evaluation and management visit codes into one APC and allowing... READ MORE

Hall Render is pleased to announce shareholder John F. Williams III was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis Local Public Improvement Bond Bank. The bank serves as conduit issuer for qualified entities and manages outstanding debt obligations of the qualified entities. Moreover, the Indianapolis Bond Bank supports and manages the operations... READ MORE

House and Senate Likely to Mark Up SGR Bills Both the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways and Means Committee tentatively announced they will mark up legislation to repeal and replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (“SGR”) formula before Congress leaves for Christmas break next week. If the Ways and Means Committee does mark up... READ MORE

On November 27, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued the Physician Fee Schedule (“PFS”) Final Rule for calendar year (“CY”) 2014.  The Final Rule calls for a 20.1% reduction in payments to physicians for services rendered in CY 2014, although Congress may act to avoid this reduction.  Additionally, the Final... READ MORE

On December 5, 2013, CMS issued a Medical Learning Network Letter noting that the deadline for physician-owned hospitals to report ownership and investment information as required by the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) has been extended to March 1, 2014.  READ MORE

Hall Render is pleased to announce associate attorney Amanda K. Maly, J.D., has joined the firm’s Michigan office. Maly practices in Hall Render’s Health Law practice group where she focuses on general health care matters and transactions, including supply chain contracting and hospital and physician arrangements and contracting. Maly completed her undergraduate education in... READ MORE

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Hall Render is pleased to announce associate attorney Liza M. Roe, J.D., has joined the firm’s Michigan office. Roe practices in Hall Render’s Health Law practice group where she focuses on supply chain structures and operations, mergers and acquisitions and general business transactions and services. Roe completed her undergraduate education with distinction from the... READ MORE

Executive Summary On November 27, 2013, President Obama signed the Drug Quality and Security Act (“Act”) into law.  The Act was introduced primarily in response to longstanding issues highlighted by a deadly fungal meningitis outbreak that occurred last year.  The Act, which is aimed at ensuring providers and patients have access to safe compounded... READ MORE

IRS rules governing health flexible spending arrangements (“FSAs”) require cafeteria plans to forfeit unused amounts left in a participant’s health FSA at the end of a plan year. This so-called  “use-it-or-lose-it” rule was perceived as a significant barrier to health FSA participation by many employees, especially lower and moderate income employees.  They are more... READ MORE