Articles and Blogs

Last week saw two major federal policy actions related to the provision of gender-affirming care to minors. On August 11, 2026, CMS issued a final rule entitled “Prohibition on Federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Funding for Sex Rejecting Procedures Furnished to Children” (the “Final Rule”). On August 13, 2026, the U.S. Department... READ MORE

The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently issued a favorable opinion, AO 26-16, regarding a federally qualified health center’s (“FQHC’s”) provision of produce boxes and vouchers to patients diagnosed with certain health conditions (the “Arrangement”). Although the Arrangement would generate prohibited remuneration under the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary... READ MORE

NATIONAL 8 ASCs to 32 in 8 years: The site-neutral payment math behind this ASC group’s growth 2 operational changes from CMS’ payment rule SNFs need to start today 6 health systems warn of MyChart ‘Medicare Kit’ scam 5th Circuit strikes down parts of No Surprises QPA rule, rejects air ambulance challenge AHA warns... READ MORE

Since 1966, employers, labor organizations, educational institutions and government entities have been required to submit workforce demographic information to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) through various EEO data reports. These reports have served as a cornerstone of the EEOC’s efforts to monitor employment trends and identify potential discrimination, but this longstanding framework may... READ MORE

NATIONAL 9 states, hospitals using Rural Health Transformation funds for remote patient monitoring 5 physician leaders on what comes next in healthcare 5 generations now mingle in the healthcare workforce. Can they continue doing so without driving each other away? A $5B wave of M&A hits the ASC industry AHA to CMS: Lift caps... READ MORE

On July 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its final rule updating Medicare payment policies and rates for skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) under the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (“SNF PPS”) for federal fiscal year (“FY”) 2027. The final rule also includes significant revisions to the Skilled Nursing... READ MORE

On August 5, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has begun the decertification process for Network for Hope, the organ procurement organization (“OPO”) with a service area that includes Kentucky and portions of Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia. According to... READ MORE

NATIONAL CMS Medicaid fraud unit flags 50 providers, $203M in payments CMS’ proposed remote patient monitoring ban, explained D.C. appeals court sides with HHS in 340B drug discount program rebate challenge Federal rural maternal health program logs care gains for mothers, infants: 6 details HHS appeals decision vacating provisions of 2025 ACA marketplace rule... READ MORE

On July 7, 2026, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) issued a proposed policy statement addressing what it describes as the “suppression of accuracy” in artificial intelligence (“AI”) systems. The proposal would apply traditional deception principles under Section 5 of the FTC Act to AI systems whose outputs are allegedly steered away from users’ objectives... READ MORE

On July 10, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (“District Court”) in Right to Life of Michigan v. Nessel pressed pause on reaching the constitutional question at issue: whether Michigan’s expansion of sex-based discrimination to include the termination of pregnancy violates Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights. Instead, the District Court... READ MORE