Articles and Blogs

New pay transparency rules for federal contractors went into effect last month. Specifically, the new rules prohibit federal contractors from discriminating or retaliating against employees and applicants who inquire about, discuss or disclose their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Exceptions exist for employees who have access to the compensation information of other…Read More

Bipartisan Telehealth Bill Introduced Includes Provision Proposed by Hall Render On February 3, Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced legislation to expand the use of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring (“RPM”) under Medicare to increase cost savings and quality care. The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (“CONNECT”) for Health…Read More

On February 1, 2016, the EEOC made public a proposed revision to the Employer Information Report (“EEO-1”) to include collecting pay data from employers, including federal contractors, with more than 100 employees. According the EEOC, the collection of this pay and hours data will help in “identifying possible pay discrimination and assist employers in promoting equal…Read More

Many employers have rules prohibiting the recording of conversations or the taking of photos or videos in the workplace. Even if there is no rule, many employers will tell an employee who wants to record something that it’s not allowed. Presumably, there may be several legitimate reasons for the employer’s reaction to workplace recordings. It…Read More

Hall Render Provides Recommendations to Congress on Stark Law Changes On January 29, Gregg Wallander, Hall Render attorney and leader of the firm’s Health Care Practice Group, provided recommendations to congressional staff on changes to the Stark Law that would provide relief for hospitals and health systems that are required to comply with its burdensome requirements….Read More

As a result of legislation passed by the Indiana General Assembly in 2014, two important property tax dates are changing for 2016 and going forward.

Background The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR”), as amended, requires all persons contemplating certain mergers or acquisitions that meet or exceed the jurisdictional thresholds (shown below) to file notification with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division and to wait a period of time before consummating the transaction.

As lawmakers return for the second session of the 114th Congress, physician-owned hospitals (“POHs”) across the country are closely watching the status of the Promoting Access, Competition, and Equity Act of 2015 (H.R. 2513) authored by Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX). Also referred to as the PACE Act of 2015, H.R. 2513 would change existing law…Read More

This week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) posted a much-anticipated FAQ related to off-campus provider-based departments and use of the “PO” modifier. Reporting of the modifier was voluntary in CY 2015 but mandatory beginning in CY 2016. CMS clarified that the “PO” modifier is only required for items and services provided in…Read More

Executive Summary On December 30, 2015, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court struck down a provision of the Older Adults Protective Services Act that barred individuals convicted of certain crimes, such as murder and rape, from working in nursing homes or other health care facilities serving the elderly. In Tyrone Peake et. al. v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,…Read More