Articles and Blogs

CMS Delays 2-Midnight Rule for Six Months Late on January 31, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced a further delay in the implementation of regulations known as the “2-Midnight Rule.”  As a result, Medicare Administrative Contractors (“MACs”) and other review contractors will not be permitted to perform post-payment “patient status reviews” of claims... READ MORE

Recently, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (“MedPAC”) recommended that Congress reduce or eliminate the Medicare reimbursement differences between hospital-based departments and freestanding physician practices for certain services.  If Congress enacts legislation based on this recommendation, hospitals could see a decrease in Medicare revenue of 0.6% or $1.1 billion per year. READ MORE

Executive Summary Recently, legislation was introduced in Congress that seeks to combat the growing problem of prescription drug abuse.  United States Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), along with his co-sponsor Representative Ben Lujan (D-NM), introduced H.R. 3392, the Medicare Part D Patient Safety and Drug Abuse Prevention Act of 2013, in a bipartisan effort to... READ MORE

Here We Go Again, “Quickie Election II” As we predicted in our last post, “It’s Official – The NLRB’s “Quickie Election Rule” Is Rescinded,” the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) announced on February 4, 2014 that it is issuing proposed amendments to its rules and regulations governing representation-case procedures. In substance, the proposed amendments... READ MORE

Executive Summary On January 31, 2014, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published its Work Plan for Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2014.  Normally, the OIG issues its Work Plan in early October to coincide with the beginning of its October 1 Fiscal Year. The Work Plan, which is published annually and describes the OIG’s new and... READ MORE

The Indiana Court of Appeals (“Court”) ruled that a daughter who signed a skilled nursing facility admissions agreement as her mother’s “responsible party” was not liable for her mother’s unpaid skilled nursing facility bill because the daughter did not have authority over her mother’s finances or access to her mother’s finances. READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published important payment adjustment information this week for health care providers participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Records Incentive Program (“Incentive Program”). Eligible Professionals (“EPs”) participating in the Incentive Program may be subject to payment adjustments beginning January 1, 2015. CMS will determine the payment adjustment based on meaningful use data submitted prior... READ MORE

The word on the street is that OFCCP will mail its next round of Corporate Scheduling Announcement Letters (“CSALs”) to unlucky federal contractors this week.  This is not a letter you want to receive, as it means your company has been targeted for an affirmative action compliance review.    READ MORE

Support Grows for Delaying 2-Midnight Rule A bill that would further delay enforcement of CMS’s 2-midnight rule has garnered the support of almost 70 members of the House of Representatives. The measure, introduced by Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-PA), would extend the current enforcement delay an additional six months to October 31, 2014 and implement a... READ MORE

On January 27, The Hill ranked Hall Render 8th on its 2013 top 10 list of lobbying firms based on the number of new client registrations. While it ranked just behind such venerable firms as Patton Boggs and K&L Gates, it was ahead of other established firms, including Hogan Lovells US, the Podesta Group and Akin Gump... READ MORE