Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL Analysis shows U.S. nonprofit hospitals embracing more high-risk investments As digital health M&A grows, 2025 buyers show progress Bad debt, charity care surge continues to squeeze hospitals CMS stars redo lifts big Medicare Advantage insurers CMS appeals court ruling on Medicare Advantage star rating methodology as insurers file lawsuits Court upholds HHS control... READ MORE

On January 1, 2027, mandatory downside financial risk under the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (“CMS”) Transforming Episode Accountability Model (“TEAM”) will begin for most participating hospitals. TEAM is a mandatory, episode-based alternative payment model that took effect on January 1, 2026, and will end on December 31, 2030. Most hospitals located in... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has announced the nationwide implementation of a new Risk-Based Survey (“RBS”) process for qualifying nursing homes beginning September 8, 2026. CMS Memorandum QSO-26-14-NH explains that the RBS is intended to allow State Survey Agencies (“SAs”) to use fewer survey resources at higher-performing facilities and redirect resources... READ MORE

Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in hospitals and health care systems using credit tenant lease (“CTL”) financing for new outpatient projects. Below is an overview of CTL financing. Overview – CTL financing has been around for many years. In some circles, it’s referred to as lease financing or synthetic lease... READ MORE

NATIONAL 340B purchases reach record $100B: 5 things to know AHA urges court to reject AbbVie bid to change 340B program rules Amazon Pharmacy brings real-time drug pricing to clinicians CMS’ fraud crackdown may not be catching much fraud: Study Democratic bid to end WISeR prior authorizations program fails Digital health funding hits $7.4B... READ MORE

Last year, Hall Render introduced you to the APRN Modernization Act (“the Act”) after Wisconsin passed it into law in early August 2025. The Act, which takes effect on September 1, 2026, modifies licensure requirements so that qualified advanced practice nurses may practice without a collaborative arrangement with a physician or dentist. As September... READ MORE

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) is seeking public input as it prepares its 2026 report on the risks and benefits to health associated with non-device software functions, including their impact on patient safety and related best practices. Stakeholders have only about one month to submit comments, which are due by August 13,... READ MORE

On April 30, 2026, at the Health Care Compliance Association’s 2026 Compliance Institute, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) introduced its updated Corporate Integrity Agreement (“CIA”) template, using the Kinex Medical Company CIA as its model. The updated template retains the core elements of an effective compliance... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued Advisory Opinion 26-15 addressing a subscription-based referral management software platform used during hospital discharge planning. OIG concluded that, under the facts presented, the arrangement could generate prohibited remuneration under the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) because providers paying subscription fees... READ MORE

Williamson Health’s (Franklin, TN) Board of Trustees has voted to sell the county-owned health system to Ascension. The total value of the deal is over $950M, including a $700M purchase price and over $250M in commitments for facility improvements, electronic health records and other strategic projects. The deal remains subject to approval by the Williamson County Commissioners. Bridgepoint... READ MORE