Articles and Blogs

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Background A major study of the board structures, processes and cultures of large, private, nonprofit health systems in the United States has just been completed by Lawrence Prybil, Ph.D., President of Commonwealth Center for Governance Studies, Inc., and his research team, which included Rex Killian, President of Killian & Associates (“K&A”) and... READ MORE

On June 29, 2012, The Joint Commission (“TJC”) released proposed requirements for the certification (“Certification Requirements”) of Primary Care Medical Homes, also known as Patient Centered Medical Homes (“PCMH”).  Although the certification will not be available until early 2013, TJC is seeking comments on the Certification Requirements until August 10, 2012. READ MORE

On August 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published a display copy of the Final Rule for the FFY 2013 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“PPS”).  Hospitals will see an approximately 2.3% net increase in payments in FFY 2013. Documentation and Coding Adjustment CMS continues to refine payments via documentation and... READ MORE

A July 24, 2012 article in the New York Times counted Louisville, Kentucky as a city that is touting itself as a market for business opportunities in the elder care arena. The article cites the construction of a new eight story commercial office and laboratory building near downtown Louisville as signaling an expansion of... READ MORE

National Government Services, Inc. (NGS) recently announced important information regarding Medicare claims and payments for Part A Indiana and Michigan providers.  With the impending transition of these providers to Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), NGS posted the following transition timeline: National Government Services Transition Timeline Date Activity July 19, 2012 {5:00 p.m. ET} National Government... READ MORE

This Health Care Tax News article is Part IV in a series discussing the Proposed Regulations under Code Section 501(r).  The first installment provided an overview of the Proposed Regulations, including the definitions of “Hospital Organizations” and “Hospital Facilities,” the second installment addressed the requirements for maintaining written financial assistance policies and written emergency... READ MORE

This installment of Hall Render’s Health Law Broadcast series on health care reform is designed to provide you with the insight, analysis and practical suggestions with respect to the various reform initiatives that will affect your organization. The Supreme Court issued its much anticipated opinion today by upholding the Affordable Care Act. The individual mandate... READ MORE

This Health Care Tax News article is Part III in a series discussing the Proposed Regulations under Code Section 501(r).  The first installment provided an overview of the Proposed Regulations, and the second installment addressed the requirements for maintaining written financial assistance policies and written emergency medical care policies. Under the Patient Protection and... READ MORE

On May 25, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) issued OIG Advisory Opinion 12-06 (the “AO”) finding that two proposed anesthesia services arrangements between a physician-owned anesthesia services provider and physician-owned ambulatory surgical centers (“ASC”) would violate the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) if the parties had... READ MORE

On June 26, 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced that it had reached a settlement with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (“Alaska DHSS”) arising from potential violations of the Security Rule under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”).  HHS learned of the circumstances... READ MORE