Articles and Blogs

The Federal Reserve raised interest rates by another 25 basis points, bringing the Fed’s benchmark target to between 4.75 and 5%, the highest since September 2007. The increase poses challenges for hospitals, particularly for providers with lower credit ratings as they look to borrow funds, complete construction projects and control labor costs. Data from NIC MAP Vision shows…Read More

March 17, 2023, was the transition period deadline for full state compliance with the Home and Community-Based Services (“HCBS”) Final Regulation.  As part of the steps to get ready for this deadline, in late 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) visited several settings in multiple states that were identified by the state…Read More

It is hard to believe that spring is finally here and the Food and Drug Administration’s (“FDA”) Office of Prescription Drug Promotion (“OPDP”) has yet to take any enforcement action in 2023. While this seems unusual, it appears consistent with the OPDP’s seemingly measured approach to enforcement actions in recent years. It may also be…Read More

On January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced the COVID public health emergency (“PHE”) will expire and end on May 11, 2023. The end of the PHE has a significant impact on skilled nursing facilities (“SNFs”) as it ends the remaining regulatory blanket waivers, revisits resident Medicaid eligibility and changes many COVID regulations that were…Read More

VMG Health released its 2023 Healthcare M&A Report. The report mentioned the following: ASC transaction volume is expected to be strong as large operators continue to acquire smaller operators; Diagnostic imaging center transaction volume has been declining; Acute care hospital transaction volume has been relatively flat; Dental and eye care transactions make up a majority…Read More

Following on the heels of similar efforts in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the West Virginia Legislature passed CON legislation that exempts hospitals (inpatient services), ambulatory services and birthing centers from the need to obtain a CON. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is expected to sign the bill into law. The City Council…Read More

The Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) recently announced that hospitals have until March 23, 2023, to object to the release of certain data related to COVID-19 Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”) high-impact payments.  Although the scope of the release is limited, hospitals that do not respond by the deadline will be considered to have no…Read More