Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL 14.5% Medicare Part B premium hike: 7 things to know 7 due diligence issues to avoid False Claims Act lawsuits 9% CMS pay cut for physicians in 2022, practice costs on the rise 12 more states challenge healthcare worker vaccination mandate AMA urges against blocking federal vaccination and testing mandate Amazon’s healthcare business... READ MORE

After more than two years of anticipation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued final guidance pertaining to hospital co-location with other hospitals or health care facilities for purposes of compliance with the Medicare Conditions of Participation (“CoPs”) for Hospitals subject to 42 CFR Part 482 (“Final Guidance”). The original CMS guidance... READ MORE

On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its CY 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (“MPFS”) Final Rule. Simultaneously, CMS released its CY 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“OPPS”) Final Rule with comment period. Below is a high-level summary of significant changes established by the MPFS Final Rule. For... READ MORE

As Hall Render previously reported last week, 10 states challenged the CMS and HHS Interim Final Rule (“IFR”) requiring vaccination of staff of certain Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers. Yesterday, 12 more states filed a similar suit challenging the IFR in the Western District Court of Louisiana—a court in the Fifth Circuit that... READ MORE

On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the calendar year (“CY”) 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“OPPS”) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (“ASC”) Payment System final rule (“Final Rule”). Simultaneously, CMS released its CY 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (“MFPS”) final rule. Below is a high-level summary of the... READ MORE

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) wants surveyors to add extra attention and increase oversight in nursing homes regarding the quality of care and quality of life for residents. On November 12, 2021, the Quality, Safety & Oversight Group at CMS issued a memorandum entitled “Changes to COVID-19 Survey Activities and Increased Oversight in... READ MORE

On November 8, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) revised its Self-Disclosure Protocol (“SDP”) for health care providers for the first time since 2013. OIG’s revisions brought the SDP in line with the current statutory penalties under the Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) and Civil Monetary Penalties Law... READ MORE

Within days after the federal government’s adoption of a vaccine mandate for most hospitals and other participants in Medicare and Medicaid, the first court challenge has surfaced. On November 10, 2021, a coalition of 10 State Attorneys General filed suit against the federal government seeking to invalidate the interim final rule (“IFR”) issued on... READ MORE

NATIONAL 11 states sue over federal vaccination mandate for private businesses 26 states file suits against Biden’s vaccine mandate for big companies 9 medical associations, leaders react to CMS final payment rules 320K Impacted in EHR Vendor Breach, Ransomware Hits Health Systems Biden to continue FEMA virus aid for states until April 1 CMS... READ MORE

As Hall Render discussed here and here, on November 4, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) simultaneously released vaccine mandate rules. These, along with the federal contractor vaccine mandate, will require a majority of the American workforce to be vaccinated by January 4, 2022. Since... READ MORE