Articles and Blogs

On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a memorandum to state survey agency directors highlighting revisions and clarification to the Hospital Interpretive Guidelines for Informed Consent (the “Guidance”). The Guidance clarifies informed consent requirements for the performance of... READ MORE

Last week’s CPI report indicated persistent inflation, leading the WSJ to report that Federal rate cuts are now a matter of “if, not just when.” Interest rates remaining higher for longer could cause more pain in the commercial real estate industry, although some experts predict owners will give up on waiting. Hartford HealthCare issued... READ MORE

NATIONAL 2nd ransomware group reportedly tries to extort Change Healthcare 4 priorities for tackling the next public health emergency A new study reveals the states where private equity has the most influence on housing, health care, jobs and pensions About half of rural hospitals had negative margins in COVID-19 pandemic Amazon’s effect on physician... READ MORE

On April 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the 2025 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule brings a significant change in that it confirms CMS will adopt updated labor market area delineations based on the 2020 Census, taking effect on October 1, 2024.... READ MORE

Health care continues to drive private equity (“PE”) activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s PE team of attorneys and advisors leverage... READ MORE

BBG Real Estate Services published its Seniors Housing Investor Survey 2024. Among the findings include: (i) cap rates for senior housing are expected to remain flat or decrease in 2024; (ii) rental rate growth is expected to increase significantly, particularly for assisted living and memory care; and (iii) higher transaction volume is expected to... READ MORE

NATIONAL 24 statistics on hospital profitability Cash-needy digital health startups scrambling for lifeline Change cyberattack likely ‘minor setback’ for nonprofit hospitals: Fitch Change Healthcare breach already impacting healthcare M&A Change cyberattack serves as wake-up call for healthcare cybersecurity CMS finalizes 2025 Medicare Advantage rates CMS proposes 2.6% payment increase for hospices CMS releases 4... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued Advisory Opinion No. 23-15 (“Advisory Opinion”), a favorable opinion involving a consulting firm’s (“Requestor”) proposal to offer gift cards to its existing physician practice customers for referring potential new customers. The OIG approved the Proposed Arrangement (defined below), noting... READ MORE

Health care continues to drive private equity activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s private equity team of attorneys and advisors leverage... READ MORE

Steward Health Care plans to sell its physician group to Optum. The health system has struggled financially and believes the sale will provide much-needed cash for the health system. Steward’s physician group operates in nine states. Georgia lawmakers have tentatively agreed on a plan to provide several exceptions to the state’s Certificate of Need... READ MORE