Articles and Blogs

Nearly 2.2 million people have moved to the Southeastern U.S. over the past two years, creating a $100B wealth migration. For the first time in recent history, Florida, Texas, Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee collectively contribute more to the national GDP than states located in the Northeast. Inflation is beginning to ease, according to... READ MORE

On June 7, 2023, the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (“OPDP”) issued its first Untitled Letter of the year regarding violative promotional materials for a prescription drug indicated for the treatment of endogenous hypercortisolemia (high cortisol) in adults with Cushing’s syndrome. Specifically, OPDP alleged that a website promoting the... READ MORE

NATIONAL 3 Stark law updates changing the healthcare landscape Agency nurse prices move higher for skilled nursing as staffing minimum nears AHA Responds to Request for Information on Drug Shortages AHA responds to GOP inquiry on drug shortages, shares impact on hospitals and patient care Biden launches new initiatives to reduce health care costs... READ MORE

On July 10, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published a proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) that would create an informal dispute resolution process for some hospice citations, begin the hospice special focus program and create additional restrictions and steps for certain transfers of hospice ownership interests.  Proposed Informal Dispute Resolution Program In the... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) just released its Proposed Rule for repaying hospitals that were affected by the 340B OPPS payment cuts from 2018 through 2022. CMS has proposed that 340B hospitals will receive a one-time lump sum payment at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024. Each hospital’s payment... READ MORE

A recent report on construction costs and materials prices found that hospital construction costs in some large cities are as high as $970/sf (in Los Angeles). Of the large cities surveyed, maximum hospital construction costs were lowest in Las Vegas (up to $590/sf). Cement, concrete, structural block and gypsum materials all had double-digit year-over-year... READ MORE

As skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies work to assess and admit new residents and patients, they often face the challenge of obtaining all of the information about the individual to make a proper admission assessment and to begin to build a care plan designed specifically for the individual. When a patient is... READ MORE

On June 30, 2023, CMS released the CY 2024 Proposed Rule that would increase the payment rates for freestanding End Stage Renal Disease (“ESRD”) facilities and hospital-based facilities by 1.6% and 2.6%, respectively, and the ESRD Prospective Payment System (“PPS”) base rate to $269.99. For the CY 2024 wage index update, CMS intends to... READ MORE

On June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Groff v. DeJoy. The Court’s ruling “clarified” the “undue hardship” standard that an employer must establish to deny a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”). Before this decision, the undue hardship standard provided that an employer could... READ MORE

California officials have come to an agreement on how to allocate $19B in tax revenue and federal funding. A large portion of the funds will go to increasing Medi-Cal reimbursement rates, help struggling hospitals, and ease health care workforce shortages. A new article takes a deep dive into health care utilization trends. Outpatient surgery providers are reporting a surge in patient volume as... READ MORE