Articles and Blogs

On April 11, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced a new model for the way Medicare pays many primary care physicians. The Comprehensive Primary Care Plus (“CPC+”) model aims to enhance primary care through care redesign. CPC+ will include two primary care practice tracks with incrementally advanced care delivery requirements... READ MORE

CMS Begins Testing of Bundled Payment Program for Joint Replacement On April 1, CMS launched a bundled payment demonstration for inpatient knee and hip surgeries. The agency will pay nearly 800 hospitals across 67 metro areas bundled payments for joint replacement procedures, which is expected to save Medicare $343 million over the course of... READ MORE

An Indiana Federal District Court just published an opinion on an issue of first impression in the Seventh Circuit, the ability of the government to reject or approve a settlement in a case in which they did not intervene. The court also opined on the ability of a whistleblower to enter into a settlement that... READ MORE

CMS posted a notice on its website inviting stakeholders to submit questions and/or scenarios to CMS regarding implementation of the Budget Act provision impacting OPPS coverage for off-campus provider-based departments. The full notice, which can be found here, follows. Note Regarding Implementation of Section 603 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 CMS will... READ MORE

On Friday, March 18, 2016, CMS released a memo entitled “Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) – Implementation of required electronic submission of Staffing Data for Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities.” The memo reminds LTC providers that the mandatory PBJ submission period begins July 1, 2016. The memo also contains information on how to register for PBJ reporting and... READ MORE

Indiana health care providers involved in prenatal care need to be aware of recent Senate Bill 186 that was signed into law by Governor Mike Pence on March 21, 2016. The new law amends the Indiana Code on health professions standards of practice to clarify that licensed physicians, physician assistants, midwives and advanced practice... READ MORE

On Friday, March 18, 2016, CMS released a memo entitled “Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) – Implementation of required electronic submission of Staffing Data for Long Term Care (LTC) Facilities.” The memo reminds LTC providers that the mandatory PBJ submission period begins July 1, 2016. The memo also contains information on how to register for PBJ reporting and... READ MORE

For over five years, the U.S. Department of Labor has been pondering the issuance of new rules governing “persuader” activities. On  March 24, 2016, the new Persuader Rule was officially published in the Federal Register, is set to become effective on April 25, 2016 and applies to all arrangements, agreements and payments made on or after... READ MORE

Ways and Means Committee Urges CMS to Delay CLFS Implementation On March 29, 26 members of the House Ways and Means Committee sent a letter to CMS urging the agency to delay its implementation of the new Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (“CLFS”), which changes the way that clinical laboratory tests are paid for under... READ MORE

On March 11, 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) published a final rule amending the optional practical training (“OPT”) extension available to F-1 international students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (“STEM”) fields engaged in a standard 12-month period of OPT. Significantly, beginning May 10, 2016, the STEM OPT extension period will be... READ MORE