Articles and Blogs

Senior Housing News published a list of anticipated trends for 2024, including the potential for larger markets returning to pre-pandemic occupancy, assisted living overtaking independent living as the most prevalent senior housing offering, more operators offering discounts and concessions to residents and the continued rise of luxury senior living accommodations. UC Davis Health and... READ MORE

NATIONAL 12 healthcare trends and issues we are following for 2024 AHA comments on proposed rule to discourage health information blocking Physician acquitted of $15M Medicare fraud conviction Bright Health finalizes MA sale to Molina, amends credit facility Cigna, HCSC in talks for Medicare Advantage deal: WSJ ‘Every hospital that does pediatric care is... READ MORE

Through the passage and signing of House Bill 4520 (“HB 4520”) and House Bill 4521 (“HB 4521”), the Michigan legislature and Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently took steps to increase financial penalties for those committing violence in the health care workplace. These bipartisan laws amend the Michigan Penal Code by doubling fines imposed on persons... READ MORE

NATIONAL 4 largest healthcare data breaches of 2023 Anesthesia practices sue CMS over reimbursement method Antitrust enforcements hit a high in 2022, with health deals impacted ASCs face leadership exodus CMS floats appeals process over observational stays CMS proposes additional Medicare appeals processes FTC eyes healthcare mergers, report shows Hospital merger activity to increase... READ MORE

On behalf of Hall Render’s real estate service line, Joel and I want to thank you for being a loyal subscriber to our Weekly Health Care Real Estate Briefing. We have enjoyed producing the briefing over the past year and appreciate the feedback you have provided to us. In previous years, we have produced... READ MORE

On December 18, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (together, the “Agencies”) released their finalized Merger Guidelines (the “Final Guidelines”). The Final Guidelines contain updates to the draft merger guidelines (the “Proposed Guidelines”) that the Agencies released in July 2023. The Final Guidelines are a significant... READ MORE

Under the federal Stark Law, hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities may provide non-monetary (i.e., non-cash or cash equivalent) compensation to physicians up to an aggregate amount of $507 for calendar year 2024. The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its medical staff... READ MORE

NATIONAL 5 of Amazon’s most disruptive moves in 2023 A Fifth of US Hospitals Have Been Warned Over Secretive Prices CMS announces Medicaid maternal health grants CMS asks health plans, PBMs to ease up on independent pharmacies CMS Model Aims to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes, Access to Care CMS reopens No Surprises Act dispute... READ MORE

On November 17, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) finalized its proposed rule (“Final Rule”), found here, implementing certain sections of the Affordable Care Act to require the disclosure of certain ownership, managerial and other information regarding Medicare-participating skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) and Medicaid-participating nursing facilities (“NFs”). As previously summarized by... READ MORE

S&P Global Ratings published a sector view report on the nonprofit hospital sector, indicating the agency expects a constrained operating environment in 2024 largely due to persistently high labor and operating costs. Another factor behind the negative outlook is that health care providers are restarting deferred capital projects and potentially looking to debt to... READ MORE