Articles and Blogs

In 2016, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (“SAMHSA”) National Survey on Drug Use and Health estimated that 11.8 million people misused opioids, including prescription pain relievers and heroin. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2016 is estimating that drug overdose deaths, most of them due to opioids, will exceed... READ MORE

On September 20, 2017, the Michigan Senate Committee on Health Policy recommended Senate Bill 541 (2017) (the “Bill”), which would authorize licensure for dental therapists in Michigan. The Bill would allow licensed dental therapists to perform certain dental services under the supervision of a dentist pursuant to a written practice agreement. Specifically, the Bill... READ MORE

NATIONAL 3 biggest opportunities for ASCs today and 4 healthcare reforms that will affect ASCs most in the future Why blockchain could transform the very nature of EHRs Economists: 3 takeaways from failed insurer mega-mergers Physician practice valuations: 14 things for health system leaders to know Hospitals could save about $10 million a year... READ MORE

On February 8, 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued an order requiring a hospital “to immediately submit to the National Practitioners Data Bank a Void Report” regarding a physician whose clinical privileges were restricted by the hospital’s medical executive committee (“MEC”), which resulted in a report to the... READ MORE

NATIONAL Malpractice fears are the No. 1 cause of overtreatment, physicians say Telehealth May Ease Docs into ACOs, MedPAC Suggests Survey: Few specialty practices prepared for MACRA Physician groups find both good and bad in the details of the proposed fee schedule AHA concerned with physician fee schedule for 2018 Total Cost of Care:... READ MORE

On April 6, 2017, Governor Hickenlooper signed into law Senate Bill 17-065, which created the Transparency in Health Care Prices Act (“Act”). The legislation passed with bipartisan support from members of the Colorado Legislature. The law will take effect on January 1, 2018, imposing pricing transparency requirements on health care providers and facilities. The... READ MORE

NATIONAL Health IT passes first big test with Hurricane Harvey Hickenlooper-Kasich health care proposal calls for retaining individual mandate, funding CSRs Bundled payments on ‘pause,’ but not for long After Harvey, telemedicine connects doctors to displaced patients New U.S. surgeon general sworn in Tuesday Specialty practices way behind on MACRA readiness, survey shows Sen.... READ MORE

Health-related entities and individuals should consider securing registration for “.health” domain suffixes associated with their legal and/or trade names during the health industry exclusivity period now through November 30, 2017. The new .health top level domain suffixes provide unique opportunities for health-related entities and individuals to solidify branding in their current and future digital... READ MORE

On September 6, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Survey and Certification (“S&C”) Memo 17-44 with new guidance to State Survey Agencies pertaining to the application of the Medicare statutory definition of  “hospital” and whether a hospital is “primarily engaged” in the provision of inpatient services. CMS clarified that... READ MORE

On August 25, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) posted Advisory Opinion 17-03 addressing a proposed arrangement whereby a pharmaceutical manufacturer of biologics and other products (“Supplier”) would replace products that require specialized handling[1] that could not be administered to patients for certain reasons, at no additional charge... READ MORE