Articles and Blogs

Late last night, Congress approved a bill to avoid the widespread tax increases and 2% across-the-board spending cuts known as the “fiscal cliff.”  While the legislation permanently raises taxes on individuals with incomes over $400,000 and couples making over $450,000, it only delays the 2% across-the-board spending cuts (including Medicare reimbursements) for two months... READ MORE

READ MORE

READ MORE

READ MORE

READ MORE

Overview and Executive Summary On Friday, December 21, 2012, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) released an important proposed rule governing the secure disposal of unused controlled substances.  This rule (the “Proposed Rule”) was developed to implement provisions of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010 (“Disposal Act”) and proposes a number of... READ MORE

Executive Summary On December 19, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of  Inspector General (“OIG”) posted OIG Advisory Opinion 12-20 (the “AO”) permitting a hospital (the “Requestor”) to provide to physicians, free of charge, an electronic interface that would enable the physicians to transmit orders for lab and diagnostic services to... READ MORE

Introduction On December 19, 2012, the Indiana Supreme Court issued a landmark decision holding that a self-pay or out-of-network patient who contractually agrees to pay “the account” for medical services rendered by a hospital, may be liable for rates as set by the hospital’s chargemaster.  The patient may not thereafter challenge the hospital’s billed... READ MORE

Executive Summary Under the Federal Stark Law, for calendar year 2013 hospitals may provide non-monetary compensation to physicians up to an aggregate amount of $380.  The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” (e.g., meals, parking, other items or incidental services that are used on the hospital’s campus) increases slightly for 2013 to less... READ MORE

Working from home and keeping time It’s becoming more and more common for employees to work from home.  Of course when they work they are to be paid for that work.  But what if the employee works but doesn’t follow the employer’s policy in keeping track of that time.  Are they still entitled to be... READ MORE