Articles and Blogs

The first nationwide test of a mandatory episode-based payment model has been unveiled. In the Fiscal Year (“FY”) 2027 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) Proposed Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) proposes resurrecting and expanding the original Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (“CJR”) Model to establish a mandatory, nationwide episode-based payment model for most hospitals paid under... READ MORE

The Indiana Court of Appeals (the “Court”) affirmed the trial court’s order for a temporary commitment which authorized forcibly medicating the patient. The Court held that the hospital presented clear and convincing evidence, primarily through detailed physician testimony, that both commitment and involuntary medication are appropriate. In re Commitment of L.F., No. 26A-MH-658, 2026... READ MORE

NATIONAL 150+ healthcare organizations accepted into CMS’ ACCESS Model AbbVie challenges ‘outdated’ 340B drug discount program guidance in new lawsuit AHA names its preferred cybersecurity provider CMS accepts more than 150 providers, digital health firms for ACCESS model CMS Launches First Wave of Health Tech Ecosystem Health Information Sharing and Access Tools CMS pitches... READ MORE

JLL reports that the medical outpatient building sector remained active entering 2026, with national occupancy reaching a record 92.7% in Q4 2025 and average rents increasing 3.3% year over year, despite reimbursement pressure and regulatory policy uncertainty. Health systems continued to drive both leasing and development activity, accounting for 46% of MOB leases and... READ MORE

Hall Render is pleased to announce that Jane Francis Nowell has joined the firm in its Raleigh office. Jane Francis is a health care transactions attorney who represents hospitals, health systems and physician groups in complex mergers, acquisitions and strategic transactions. She advises clients through all phases of the transaction lifecycle, including structuring, due... READ MORE

Hall Render is pleased to announce that Divenna Chamblee has joined the Firm in its Dallas office. Divenna is a health care regulatory and litigation attorney who represents hospitals, health systems and providers in compliance, enforcement and medical malpractice matters. Drawing on prior medical malpractice litigation experience, Divenna partners with clients to navigate regulatory... READ MORE

The FFY 2027 IPPS Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”) was released on April 10, 2026, and CMS published the associated tables on its Proposed Rule homepage. The Proposed Rule was published in the Federal Register on April 14. The release of the Proposed Rule and the accompanying tables triggers the start of several deadlines for... READ MORE

NATIONAL 5 fights disrupting the physician workforce 4 Joint Commission moves 3 million in rural counties lose MA coverage: Report A dismantled federal patient care research agency: 9 updates AbbVie sues HHS over 340B patient definition CDC clears path for 2nd vaccine advisory panel overhaul CMS finalizes Medicare Advantage star ratings overhaul, sending billions... READ MORE

Two legislative bills in the Tennessee General Assembly could change the hospital and health care landscape in the state. The first bill would remove the Certificate of Public Advantage given to Ballad Health, a 20-hospital system in the state, which receives certain protections. The other bill would repeal the state’s Certificate of Need (CON)... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a Proposed Rule that would significantly change prevailing wage calculations for foreign workers under the permanent labor certification, H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 visa programs. At the center of the proposal is an increase in the prevailing wage levels based more heavily on statistically derived wage percentiles from the... READ MORE