Articles and Blogs

On November 7, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced that a Texas state agency (“State Agency”) will pay a penalty of $1,600,000 for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) Privacy Rule and Security Rule. According to the Notice of... READ MORE

On November 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released its final rule for the Calendar Year (“CY”) 2020 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“Final Rule”). Among many other changes, CMS finalized three key payment policy updates impacting hospital outpatient departments, including: (1) reducing payments for clinic visits at off-campus provider-based departments (“PBDs”);... READ MORE

NATIONAL CMS releases final site neutral and other payment rules CMS will pay $1.9 billion to hospitals in value-based payments for inpatient care A nationwide doctor shortage is looming. Rural areas will take the hardest hit. Cybersecurity, telehealth bills likely to stall in Congress, CHIME officials say Avoid the bright, shiny objects in health... READ MORE

On November 6, 2019, a federal judge sitting in the Southern District of New York voided the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Final Conscience Rule (“Conscience Rule”) set to take effect November 22, 2019.[1] In its ruling, the Court vacated the Conscience Rule in its entirety nationwide. A federal judge sitting... READ MORE

On November 5, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced that a New York Medical Center (“Medical Center”) will settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) by paying a civil penalty of $3 million and entering into a Corrective Action... READ MORE

On April 22, 2019, Governor Laura Kelly approved Kansas Senate Bill 15 (the “New Law”) into law. The New Law contains several changes to the Kansas change of ownership provision in the Kansas Adult Care Home Licensure Act (“Act”) and was effective May 9, 2019. Changes to Kansas’ Skilled Nursing Change of Ownership (“CHOW”)... READ MORE

On October 30, a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers reintroduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (“CONNECT”) for Health Act (S. 2741/ H.R. 4932). This legislation is intended to remove roadblocks to telehealth expansion in Medicare by giving providers the freedom to use alternative payment models and incentive programs, reducing... READ MORE

Pharmacies, distributors and third-party logistics providers (“3PLs”) that ship prescription drugs into Alaska should take careful note of the new Alaska Board of Pharmacy regulations that took effect on October 31, 2019.[1] Among other elements, the rules: 1) now require licensure of nonresident wholesale drug distributors (“WDDs”), 3PLs and outsourcing facilities (“OFs”) to ship, mail... READ MORE

Talk Is Cheap: Funding Negotiations Stall as Spending Deadline Approaches This week, the Senate had planned to begin deliberations on a legislative package that includes funding for the Department of Health and Human Services for fiscal year (“FY”) 2020. However, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) offered the motion needed to begin the debate,... READ MORE

NATIONAL Hospitals enter opioid litigation, sue drugmakers for cost of treating addiction Could Amazon be the next national telehealth player? Payments to high financial risk APMs slightly increased in 2018 compared to 2017: survey Healthcare Purchasing Strategies: How 2 Employers Are Driving Referrals Through RAND Hospital Price Transparency Findings Wave of deals expected as... READ MORE