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Tenth Circuit Affirms OSHA Authority to Cite Health Care Employers for Workplace Violence Incidents Under the General Duty Clause

[03/20/26]

Posted on March 20, 2026 in Health Law News, HR Insights for Health Care

Published by: Hall Render

The Tenth Circuit recently issued two companion decisions confirming the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (“OSHA”) authority to cite employers for workplace violence hazards under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) (“General Duty Clause”). In both cases, the Tenth Circuit upheld OSHA’s enforcement actions and the... READ MORE

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CMS Issues Guidance Clarifying OPO and Donor Hospital Responsibilities During the Organ Donation Process

[03/13/26]

Posted on March 13, 2026 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On March 11, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a Quality, Safety & Oversight (“QSO”) memorandum and related updates to the State Operations Manual (“SOM”) interpretive guidance clarifying and reinforcing existing responsibilities of organ procurement organizations (“OPOs”) and donor hospitals throughout the organ donation process. While the memorandum largely reiterates... READ MORE

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CMS Issues Sweeping Anti-Fraud RFI Under New CRUSH Initiative

[03/06/26]

Posted on March 6, 2026 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS“) issued a wide-ranging Request for Information (“RFI”) on February 26, which could reshape current program integrity efforts to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse in government health care programs. CMS, under its new Comprehensive Regulations to Uncover Suspicious Healthcare (“CRUSH”) initiative, is seeking stakeholder input... READ MORE

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36-Month Rule Applies to DMEPOS Suppliers Effective January 1, 2026

[02/12/26]

Posted on February 12, 2026 in Health Law News, Long-Term Care, Home Health & Hospice

Published by: Hall Render

Effective January 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) implemented significant changes to the accreditation and enrollment framework for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) suppliers through the CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule (“Final Rule”). CMS adopted these changes in response to what it describes... READ MORE

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CMS Issues Health Care-Related Tax Final Rule

[02/02/26]

Posted on February 2, 2026 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On February 2, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published a final rule, effective April 3, 2026, that targets a perceived “loophole” in the current regulatory statistical test applied to State proposals for health care-related tax waivers. The test is intended to make certain that non-uniform or non-broad-based health care-related taxes,... READ MORE

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Proposed OPO Rule Signals Broad Operational and Compliance Changes Across the Donation and Transplantation System

[01/30/26]

Posted on January 30, 2026 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On January 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a proposed rule that would substantially revise portions of the Conditions for Coverage for Organ Procurement Organizations (“OPOs”) (the “Proposed Rule”). According to CMS, the Proposed Rule is characterized as building on changes in the 2020 OPO Conditions for Coverage rule... READ MORE

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CMS Announces $50 Billion Rural Health Transformation Program Awards to All 50 States

[01/06/26]

Posted on January 6, 2026 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On December 29, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced the first round of awards under the Rural Health Transformation Program (“RHTP”), a $50 billion, five-year initiative intended to strengthen and modernize health care delivery in rural communities nationwide. All 50 states will receive funding beginning in Federal Fiscal Year (“FFY”)... READ MORE

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2026 Non-Monetary Compensation to Physicians (And Chance to Review 2025)

[12/29/25]

Posted on December 29, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

Under the federal Stark Law (the “Stark Law”), hospitals, physician groups, labs and other provider entities may provide non-monetary (i.e., non-cash or cash-equivalent) compensation to physicians up to an aggregate amount of $535 for calendar year 2026. The dollar limit for “medical staff incidental benefits” provided by a hospital to a member of its... READ MORE

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CMS Extends Deadline Indefinitely for Disclosure Requirements for Skilled Nursing Facilities – Provider Enrollment Off-Cycle Revalidations

[12/12/25]

Posted on December 12, 2025 in Long-Term Care, Home Health & Hospice

Published by: Hall Render

On December 11, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) extended the due date indefinitely to complete and submit the new Form CMS-855A Skilled Nursing Facility  (“SNF”) Disclosures Attachment for every SNF. In its Medicare Learning Network, 2025-12-11-MLNC, CMS formally announced that enrolled SNFs should continue collecting data on ownership, managerial, and related party... READ MORE

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CMS Provides Guidance Regarding Provider Taxes Under Sections 71115 and 71117 of H.R. 1

[11/24/25]

Posted on November 24, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On November 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a letter, which it describes as “preliminary guidance,” concerning two significant restrictions on Medicaid provider taxes set forth in H.R. 1, including: (i) a change in the indirect hold harmless threshold for provider taxes—which, in effect, prohibits states from increasing the... READ MORE

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