Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL How to make healthcare more like Amazon? It comes down to data and payer-provider collaboration How hospitals will handle outpatient competition & disruption in 2019 White House reportedly reviewing final rule to reverse nursing home arbitration ban CMS Lifts Moratoria on Home Health After 5 Years Amazon’s PillPack secures more state licenses, could be…Read More

S&P Global Ratings, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service recently released their Nonprofit Healthcare 2019 Outlooks, which are largely consistent with 2018, despite changes in the health care industry over the past year. Fitch and Moody’s issued negative outlooks for the nonprofit health care sector, while S&P’s sector outlook was stable. Despite their differing views…Read More

HHS Previews 2019 Regulatory Agenda At a symposium on Tuesday, Deputy HHS Secretary Eric Hargan and CMS Administrator Seema Verma outlined the administration’s health care strategy for 2019, which includes advancing the use of technology, adjusting payments in rural areas and testing new ways to reward high-quality care and reforms to the Stark and Anti-Kickback…Read More

On January 31, 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a proposed rule that, if finalized, would eliminate Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) safe harbor protection for prescription drug rebates paid by manufacturers to pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), Medicare Part D plans and Medicaid managed care organizations (“Proposed Rule”). OIG…Read More

NATIONAL Why hospitals’ future will involve keeping people from showing up GAO: Advantages of Voluntary and Mandatory Bundled Payments Study: Hospitals dramatically increase ad spend following data breaches Study finds freestanding EDs charge more than urgent care centers Stephen Klasko: Hospitals of the future won’t look the same Why some nonprofit hospitals are turning to…Read More

Once again, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) is demonstrating its strong stance against harassment in the workplace. The EEOC recently announced a partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, allowing for quicker action against state and local government employers in harassment allegations – keep in mind that county hospitals typically fit the definition of…Read More

Welcome to Practical Matters! This series aims to provide an overview of trending topics in a variety of service areas. Our goal is to present current topics to spark discussion within your organization that could lead to a new approach and result in a positive impact. As we begin 2019, many health care organizations strive…Read More

The Oregon State Legislature is considering a bill that bases the determination of tax-exemption for hospital property on the relationship between hospital executives’ compensation and the amount of charity care provided by the hospital. While a number of other states have passed legislation that threatens a hospital’s property tax-exempt status where a hospital fails to…Read More

Under Ohio’s spousal necessaries law, an individual has a duty to support his or her spouse, which includes the obligation to pay for medical care received by the spouse. A recent Ohio Supreme Court case determined that a creditor must present its claim for unpaid necessaries to the decedent’s estate before the creditor can pursue…Read More

Short-Term Funding Deal Reached to End Government Shutdown This afternoon, President Trump announced a deal to temporarily reopen the federal government and end the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The deal funds the remaining federal agencies until February 15, giving lawmakers more time to try to work out a compromise on the immigration and border…Read More