Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL 79 percent have positive outlook for senior living and care: NIC 12 key legal issues impacting health systems AHA: 94% of hospitals financially impacted by Change Healthcare’s cyberattack A conversation about the HHS plan on AI in health care A new kind of hospital is coming to rural America. To qualify, facilities must... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently announced the ACO Primary Care Flex Model (“Flex Model”), a new voluntary model within MSSP for low-revenue ACOs, that begins January 1, 2025. The Flex Model will utilize a prospective primary care payment option to increase flexibility for low-revenue ACOs to increase access to high-quality... READ MORE

On March 18, 2024, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued an update to its December 2022 Bulletin regarding the usage of online tracking technologies by HIPAA-regulated entities. When originally published, the Bulletin aimed to clarify when identifiable information collected by tracking technologies on a regulated entity’s website may constitute protected health information (“PHI”)... READ MORE

CMS recently issued a final rule to require health care payers to improve communications between the payers, providers and patients and to improve the prior authorization processes (“Final Rule”). The Final Rule aims to improve electronic exchange of health care data with a particular focus on improving the prior authorization process through the implementation... READ MORE

The cybersecurity incident recently experienced by Change Healthcare has materially disrupted the health care delivery system and created significant financial, operational and legal challenges for many health care organizations. Organizations impacted by this incident should be careful to react thoughtfully and deliberately when addressing these challenges to ensure that any steps taken do not... READ MORE

NATIONAL 3 things to expect from the pharmaceutical supply chain in 2024 Absence of AI hospital rules worries nurses American Academy of Dermatology votes to keep its diversity policies after anti-DEI proposal Are digital health partnerships replacing M&A? Becerra to stakeholders: It’s time to take accountability for cybersecurity Biden’s $7.3 trillion budget: 16 healthcare... READ MORE

Average MOB cap rates have increased for five consecutive quarters, ending Q4 2023 at 6.9%. Average MOB triple-net asking rent increased by 0.4% year-over-year to $23.66 per sf. Hackensack Meridian Health (NJ) broke ground on a $200M health and wellness facility being built adjacent to a public transit facility to enhance access for patients.... READ MORE

On February 8, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office for Civil Rights and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”) issued a Final Rule that modified the “Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Records” regulated by 42 CFR Part 2 (“Part 2”). The Final Rule was published... READ MORE

On January 30, 2024, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Request For Information (“RFI”) seeking input from interested parties regarding Medicare Advantage (“MA”) data. CMS’s goals for the RFI are to enhance data capabilities “to have better insight into [MA] programs, consider areas to increase MA data transparency, and propose... READ MORE

NATIONAL 34.5% of hospitals complying with price transparency rule, report says 19 health systems that partner with Amazon’s One Medical AHA Expresses Concerns with UHG Program in Response to Cyberattack on Change Healthcare As Medicare price negotiations roll on, drugmakers counter HHS’ initial offers At HIMSS24, perspective on safeguarding ePHI and restricting unauthorized access... READ MORE