Articles and Blogs

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) Medicare Advantage final rule for 2024 (“Final Rule”) clarified that Medicare Advantage plans must adhere to the “two-midnight rule” when making coverage determinations for inpatient services. However, CMS also stated that care spanning two midnights is not “presumed” appropriate for an inpatient level of care under... READ MORE

NATIONAL 3 physician shortage numbers making leaders nervous A shortage of hospital pharmacists is on the horizon, leaders say AHA, Others Urge Congress to Reauthorize Health Care Preparedness Law CMS toughens nursing home ownership disclosures in final rule Congress delays Medicare lab payment cuts for one year Demand—and pay—keep growing for nurse practitioners, physician... READ MORE

Hall Render, a national health care-focused law firm, is pleased to announce the recent addition of Tim Shaw as Chief Information Officer (CIO). Tim will facilitate the firm’s efforts to align IT operations with Board-directed strategic growth initiatives, lead the firm’s IT department, oversee significant technology initiatives and partner with firm leadership on the... READ MORE

Billing for Advanced Practice Professionals (“APPs”) has been a challenging area for providers and practitioners because of different and changing Medicare, Medicaid and state law requirements. Medical record documentation and employment relationships are key to supporting how services are provided and billed. Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and regulators have... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) recently released updated guidance in its October 2023 Cybersecurity Newsletter emphasizing the importance of sanction policies in maintaining HIPAA compliance. This guidance builds upon a threat brief previously issued in August 2022 by HHS’ Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center (“HC3”).... READ MORE

On November 6, 2023, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued new General Compliance Program Guidance (“GCPG”) for members of the health care compliance community and other health care stakeholders. Since the release of its first compliance program guidance (“CPG”) for hospitals in 1998, OIG has developed a... READ MORE

NATIONAL 340B repayments welcomed but concern remains, hospital group says 4 pieces of legislation fighting to alleviate the physician shortage crisis AHA Files Lawsuit Challenging HHS Guidance on Tracking Technologies AHA says 3.1% hospital outpatient payment increase is not enough Amazon launches One Medical for Prime American Healthcare REIT may acquire Trilogy Health Services... READ MORE

Presbyterian Healthcare Services and UnityPoint Health executives have agreed not to pursue a planned cross-market merger that would have created a system of nearly 50 hospitals. The nonprofit systems proposed the partnership in March; however, financial issues have led to the merger being abandoned. Walgreens plans to close 60 underperforming VillageMD clinics and exit... READ MORE

NATIONAL A quiet ‘pharmageddon’ walkout AHA: Nursing Home Staffing Mandate Would Not Align with Modern Clinical Practice, Stifle Innovation AMA, allies plead for leniency as Medicare pay penalties loom ANA announces support for federal staffing ratios bill Apple eyes behavioral health space Clinically integrated networks poised to boost rural healthcare CMS’ CFO on the... READ MORE

Healthpeak Properties, Inc. and Physicians Realty Trust have announced an all-stock merger valued at around $21 billion. The combined company will possess a 52-million-square-foot healthcare real estate portfolio. The company will operate under the name of Healthpeak Properties, Inc. and trade as “DOC” on the NYSE. Last week, mortgage rates reached their highest level... READ MORE