Articles and Blogs

On July 6, 2012, the FCC issued an order in which it indicated that it would likely issue revised regulations for the Universal Service Fund (USF). Specifically, within Docket 02-06 the FCC has been entertaining comments regarding reform to the USF in the following three areas:

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Implementations are complex and challenging. Even after substantial preparation, due diligence and physician commitment, implementations do fail. If you are struggling with an EHR implementation, here are four action items to help you navigate the storm:

The EEOC keeps track of what it’s doing.  Fiscal year statistics of filings in the various categories of discrimination show what’s trending in the most active areas of “interest” for employees and the EEOC. With that in mind, employers often find it helpful to stay on top of trends in those charges.  

Since 2005, a group of associations, such as LeadingAge, AHCA, AMDA, and many others, has hosted an annual summit to discuss the information technology (IT) issues long term care and post acute care providers face.  The group, known as the Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC)  Collaborative, publishes a Road Map for LTPAC providers to follow…Read More

The DSH Dilemma In a letter sent to governors this week, Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius made clear  the Obama Administration still intends to cut Disproportionate Share Hospital (“DSH”) funding despite the Supreme Court’s ruling that allows states to opt out of the Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA”) Medicaid expansion requirement.  What is not…Read More

When is “Treatment” actually treatment under the FMLA? Imagine that your employee who has been diagnosed with anxiety and chronic back pain asked for FMLA leave for an afternoon doctor appointment.  Your employee had already provided a doctor’s certification that his condition required periodic treatments but the afternoon appointment was with a different doctor.  So, you grant…Read More

The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) Competitive Bidding Program Round 1 Recompete will begin later this year.  Below is the schedule the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has announced so far:

The US Olympic team will be traveling to London this Summer with their usual delegation of equipment and support personnel; however, they will be missing thousands of pounds of customary travel companions- paper medical records. For the first time, thanks to a partnership between the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and General Electric, over 500 US…Read More

National Government Services, Inc. (NGS) recently announced important information regarding Medicare claims and payments for Part A Indiana and Michigan providers.  With the impending transition of these providers to Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), NGS posted the following transition timeline: National Government Services Transition Timeline Date Activity July 19, 2012 {5:00 p.m. ET} National Government Services…Read More

On Monday, July 16, 2012, from 10am to 4pm EDT, National eHealth Collaborative (NeHC) will be hosting the Consumer Consortium on eHealth Engagement Summit in Washington, DC, to bring together stakeholders with a common interest in engaging consumers and patients with health IT.  The Summit will highlight industry activities that are advancing the consumer engagement…Read More