Articles and Blogs

Energy and Commerce Examines Surprise Medical Billing On June 12, the House Energy and Commerce health subcommittee held a legislative hearing on surprise medical bills as Congress continues tackling the issue on how best to resolve payment disputes between providers and health plans. There is broad agreement to pass legislation addressing surprise medical bills,... READ MORE

NATIONAL How CMS’ New Value-Based Bundled Payment Method Affects Healthcare Providers The Uber of prescription drugs: Web startups raise concerns about access to Rx medicine Cybersecurity lawsuit against Allscripts tossed by judge AMA’s president-elect is Texas allergist, immunologist Dr. Susan Bailey CMS plans to release list of 400 troubled nursing homes following Senate report... READ MORE

While much focus was given to the individual and corporate tax reductions provided in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”), the TCJA also stirred up a great deal of interest among investors with the designation of qualified opportunity zones (“Opportunity Zones”). The Opportunity Zone additions to the Internal Revenue Code allow... READ MORE

On Monday, June 3, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida (the “Court”) ruled that the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has the authority to regulate certain stem cell-based treatments offered by U.S. Stem Cell Clinic, LLC (the “Clinic”) and U.S. Stem Cell, Inc. After the Clinic failed to heed... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently made several announcements regarding graduate medical education (“GME”). This article discusses three matters that are particularly significant for teaching hospitals, teaching physicians and other GME stakeholders. First, CMS issued its inpatient prospective payment system (“IPPS”) proposed rule (“Proposed Rule”) for fiscal year 2020 and announced... READ MORE

House Committee Pushes Renewal of Health Programs, Debates Medicaid DSH Cuts The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee considered twelve health care-related bills in a hearing this week. Eleven of the bills renew funding for community health centers, doctor training programs and other public health initiatives which have funding authorizations that expire at the... READ MORE

NATIONAL They get around: How hospital leaders keep fingers on workplace pulse Hospital boards seeing low turnover rates, AHA finds New MGMA Research Finds Physician Compensation on the Rise Indiana EHR provider agrees to $900K HIPAA violation settlement with 16 states HHS looking to add innovation accelerators to drive network Safety-net hospitals faced higher... READ MORE

On May 1, 2019, the Michigan Medical Service Administration of the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services (“MDHHS”) issued Bulletin MSA 19-10 (the “Bulletin”), which set forth new enrollment and billing requirements for nurse practitioners (“NPs”) and clinical nurse specialists (“CNSs”) participating in the Michigan Medicaid program. Under the new guidelines, effective June... READ MORE

On June 3, 2019, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Azar v. Allina (Case No. 17-1484) and affirmed the provider-friendly decision from the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The win for hospitals comes following a lengthy challenge to various policies issued by the Centers for Medicare... READ MORE

NATIONAL Physician burnout costs the US health care system approximately $4.6 billion a year AMGA finds physician groups increase reliance on risk-based revenues; obstacles persist in move to value 6 latest healthcare industry lawsuits Highest-paid CEOs in 2018: Who made the list from healthcare State-by-state breakdown of rural health clinics Senate health committee takes... READ MORE