Articles and Blogs

On April 10, 2024, CMS released the FY 2025 IPPS Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule updates Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) payment rates and makes changes to Disproportionate Share Hospital (“DSH”) payments, various Quality Reporting Programs and requests feedback from the public on several issues. Increase to Payment Rates Under the IPPS... READ MORE

On March 13, 2024, Indiana joined a growing number of states in enacting health care merger notification laws when Governor Eric Holcomb signed Senate Enrolled Act No. 9 (“SEA 9”) into law. SEA 9 places increased scrutiny on health care mergers and acquisitions throughout the state by requiring certain health care entities involved in... READ MORE

Medical Properties Trust has sold its interests in ten hospitals for approximately $1.1 billion. Five of the hospitals are located in Utah and leased to an affiliate of CommonSpirit. They were sold to a joint venture. The remaining five hospitals are located in California and New Jersey. They were sold to Prime Healthcare. The... READ MORE

NATIONAL 96% of hospitals share website data: Study 5 numbers on the rise of Stark law violations Aetna lawsuit could reshape MA supplemental benefits AHA concerned over penalties for cybersecurity standards Corporate groups pass hospitals in ownership of physician practices Doctors suggest ways to improve Medicare for physician payments, patient care EEOC finalizes rule... READ MORE

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) published a Final Rule implementing 340B Program Administrative Dispute Resolution Regulations (“ADR Rule”), which can be found here. The ADR Rule is set to be published on April 19, 2024, and will go into effect 60 days after the publication date... READ MORE

On April 17, 2024, the United States Supreme Court issued an important decision under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) which clarifies the harm necessary to make a claim of discrimination actionable when the claim rests on a job transfer. Title VII provides, in part, that it is unlawful... READ MORE

Health care continues to drive private equity (“PE”) activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s PE team of attorneys and advisors leverage... READ MORE

On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a memorandum to state survey agency directors highlighting revisions and clarification to the Hospital Interpretive Guidelines for Informed Consent (the “Guidance”). The Guidance clarifies informed consent requirements for the performance of... READ MORE

Last week’s CPI report indicated persistent inflation, leading the WSJ to report that Federal rate cuts are now a matter of “if, not just when.” Interest rates remaining higher for longer could cause more pain in the commercial real estate industry, although some experts predict owners will give up on waiting. Hartford HealthCare issued... READ MORE

NATIONAL 2nd ransomware group reportedly tries to extort Change Healthcare 4 priorities for tackling the next public health emergency A new study reveals the states where private equity has the most influence on housing, health care, jobs and pensions About half of rural hospitals had negative margins in COVID-19 pandemic Amazon’s effect on physician... READ MORE