Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL 2023 forecast: As the COVID-19 vaccine market evolves, what’s next for the top players? Amazon Could Fuel Doctor Buyouts In 2023 If One Medical Deal Goes Through Citing Medicaid misery, 25 governors push for PHE’s end in April CMS Responds to Third-Party Data Breach Impacting 254K Medicare Beneficiaries Congress’ last-minute $1.7 trillion omnibus... READ MORE

On December 15, 2022, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) settled its investigation of a potential Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) violation by a primary care provider in Florida. Following the announcement of 3 right of access investigation resolutions on September 20,... READ MORE

On December 1, 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a Bulletin on the obligations of covered entities and business associates (regulated entities) under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (“HIPAA Rules”) when using online tracking technologies, such... READ MORE

The U.S. Department of Labor released new Consumer Price Index (“CPI”) Data. The November CPI, for the period over the past 12 months, rose to 7.1%, down from 7.7% in October. The CPI peaked at 9.1% in June. A growing number of health care companies have received credit downgrades over the past few months according... READ MORE

NATIONAL 33 CMS updates in 2022 4 Ways Hospitals Can Reshape Their Future A Rural Hospital’s Excruciating Choice: $3.2 Million a Year or Inpatient Care? AMA applauds MedPAC for acknowledging physician pay gap AMA, medical societies decry pending Medicare cuts Beyond the Big Three PBMs CareOregon announces plans to combine with California health care... READ MORE

Realtor Magazine released 10 Headwinds the Real Estate Market Faces Next Year which include: 1) Inflation and interest rates; 2) Hybrid work models; 3) Labor shortages; 4) Housing imbalances; and 5) ESG requirements. On November 30, FASB proposed several changes to its lease accounting guidance for legally enforceable terms and leasehold improvements involving related-party... READ MORE

NATIONAL Amazon’s Creep Into Health Care Has Some Experts Spooked $3.1 million grant aims to fight long-term care nurse burnout A sign CMS’ vaccine mandate is no sure thing Amazon Ends Support for Third Party HIPAA-Eligible Alexa Skills Behavioral health takes center stage Biden administration considers proposal to end military COVID vaccine mandate CISA,... 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 $489 for calendar year 2023. The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its medical staff... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published a recent Memo reminding hospitals and other Medicare certified health care entities of their regulatory obligation to maintain a safe setting for patients, residents and staff. CMS’s action comes at a time when violence in health care settings is on the rise. Although the Memo... READ MORE

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published FAQ guidance on December 2, 2022, indefinitely extending the current enforcement discretion for non-compliance with the No Surprises Act requirement that Good Faith Estimates (“GFEs”) for uninsured or self-pay patients include expected charges from co-providers or co-facilities until future rulemaking is issued. Since January 1,... READ MORE