Articles and Blogs

In two recent civil antitrust complaints, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) alleged that hospital systems used payer contracting provisions—so‑called steering restrictions that require hospitals to be included in nearly all of an insurer’s commercial networks at the most favored level of benefits—to restrict health insurers’ ability to offer narrow... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) has issued a meaningful Request for Information (“RFI”) seeking stakeholder input on potential new or modified Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) regulatory safe harbors and Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalty (“CMP”) exceptions for remuneration to clinical trial participants. The RFI was published... READ MORE

The Surry County (NC) commissioners unanimously approved a deal to transfer Northern Regional Hospital to Novant Health. The agreement protects more than 1,000 jobs, with Novant committing more than $135M in investment. After the Charity Hospital building in New Orleans sat empty for over 20 years, Tulane University has announced plans to buy and... READ MORE

National 1.4 million patients, 7 health systems caught in AI company data breach 4 hospital groups call for federal action as Eli Lilly strips 340B discounts AHA files amicus brief in case challenging HHS, CMS on provider taxes AMA overhauls maternity care billing codes for 2027 Amazon One Medical faces proposed class-action lawsuit over... READ MORE

The Gap Between FDA Authorization and Medicare Coverage In April 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) announced a proposed initiative, the Regulatory Alignment for Predictable and Immediate Device (“RAPID”) pathway, intended to expedite Medicare coverage of certain Class II and Class III devices... READ MORE

The Indiana Court of Appeals (“the Court”) affirmed a temporary commitment order after finding clear and convincing evidence that a patient was gravely disabled because of mental illness. Rejecting the patient’s argument that medication noncompliance, denial of his diagnosis and temporary homelessness were insufficient to establish grave disability, the Court emphasized the totality of... READ MORE

A federal court in Pennsylvania (“the Court”) ordered the unsealing of nearly a decade’s worth of False Claims Act (“FCA”) filings, holding that the government failed to overcome the strong presumption of public access to judicial records. In U.S. ex rel. Compton v. HCR ManorCare, Inc., No. 16-0851 (E.D. Pa. Apr. 17, 2026) (“Compton“),... READ MORE

Hall Render has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as a member of the BTI Client Service A-Team 2026, one of the legal industry’s most respected client service recognitions earned solely through feedback from corporate counsel and legal decision-makers. As a firm dedicated exclusively to the health care industry, Hall Render is proud to be... READ MORE

National 7 CMS rules and policy updates to know in 2026 Agencies issue proposed rule codifying Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program AHA calls for improvements to FY 2027 payment updates for long-term care hospitals AI use is surging across HHS, jumping 148% at the FDA in 2025, Bipartisan Policy Center data finds Backed by... READ MORE

Atrium Health has submitted a certificate of need application to develop a new hospital in Wilmington, North Carolina. Atrium’s application follows applications submitted by Novant Health and UNC Health for new hospitals in Wilmington. State regulators have determined the Wilmington area is in need of 225 more hospital beds. Cone Health has submitted a... READ MORE