Articles and Blogs

Framework for Permanent SGR Replacement Circulated On October 31, the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means committees released the framework of legislation that would permanently repeal and replace the Sustainable Growth Rate (“SGR”) formula. Given the bipartisan and bicameral nature of the proposal, it is a significant step in reforming the current Medicare payment…Read More

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced the retirement plan limits for 2014, some of which are unchanged from 2013.  The Social Security Administration has also announced the Social Security wage base for 2014.  The following are some key retirement plan dollar limits for 2014 for retirement plan sponsors and participants, along with the prior year’s…Read More

Effective October 25, 2013, CMS deleted citations for tag F-454 under 42 C.F.R. §483.70(a) pertaining to Physical Environment—Life Safety From Fire.  CMS noted, because these requirements are covered under the Life Safety Code (“LSC”), there was a duplication of findings and, therefore, only needed to be cited under the appropriate LSC K Tag requirements.  This…Read More

Introduction Effective July 1, 2013, pharmacists in Indiana are able to administer additional vaccines to patients beyond the flu and shingles vaccines that they have been able to administer historically.  On April 29, 2013, Governor Michael Pence signed House Bill 1464 into law, which now allows pharmacists to administer immunizations for pneumonia; tetanus, diphtheria and…Read More

Executive Summary On October 24, 2013, the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) released the results of a study beginning in the fall of 2012 on implantable spinal devices supplied to hospitals by physician-owned distributors (“PODs”). The OIG report entitled “Spinal Devices Supplied by Physician-Owned Distributors: Overview of Prevalence and Use OEI-01-11-00660” (“Report”) can be…Read More

If you are facing a meaningful use audit, you are not alone.  Medicare private contractors are out in force as they carefully review supporting documentation for a meaningful use attestation.  Providers who are utilizing a certified electronic health record (“EHR”) technology may find surprising challenges as they attempt to extract necessary information from the EHR…Read More

CMS to Delay 2014 Pay Rules On October 23, CMS issued a notice saying four 2014 Medicare payment rules will be delayed.  In a memo to providers, Robert Fritter, director of CMS’s Division of Provider Relations and Outreach, said that CMS intends to issue the final rules on or before November 27, 2013, to be effective…Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its MedWatch program, which gathers and shares important safety information about FDA-regulated products.  FDA gathers some of this safety information through reports of adverse health effects related to drugs, medical devices, biologics, dietary supplements and human tissue/cellular products submitted by health care…Read More

Earlier this year, a federal court called into question the tax treatment of physician loans, a practice common among hospitals and physician groups to attract top talent.

Congress Reaches Deal to End Shutdown, Raise Debt Limit On October 16, Congress passed and the President signed into law the Continuing Appropriations Resolution of 2014 (H.R. 2775). The deal ends the partial government shutdown by maintaining Fiscal Year 2013 post-sequester discretionary spending levels until January 15, 2014. The bill also renews the federal debt…Read More