On November 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued two important final rules: one that included updates and policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and aspects of Medicare Part B, and the other that finalized Medicare payment rates for hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgical center (ASC)
In recognition of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued its October 2022 Cybersecurity Newsletter addressing best practices and tips for compliance with HIPAA’s Security Rule. The Newsletter discussed the ever-increasing need for members of the healthcare industry to be vigilant in their practices, as research shows a 42% increase in
As we reported back in July on this blog, the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year held that the federal government improperly lowered drug reimbursement payments to certain 340B hospitals that serve low-income communities. Following that decision, the case was remanded back to the lower courts for further proceedings consistent with the Court’s ruling.
On
Many believe that the future of technology is artificial intelligence (AI). Everywhere we look, we see examples of AI seeping into various aspects of our lives. The complex algorithms that operate the facial recognition on our cell phones, the smart home devices that learn our preferences, the social media platforms that personalize our content, or
As we reported recently in a Client Alert, the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s recent decision in Rivera v. The Valley Hospital, Inc. aligned with prior case law in confirming that punitive damages in medical malpractice actions are only available in “exceptional cases.” Although the Rivera decision does not immunize medical defendants from claims
On August 12, 2022, the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota entered an order in favor of Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, dismissing the complaint filed by SJ Computers, LLC, a Minnesota-based computer store. The case should serve as a cautionary tale to businesses across the country, underscoring the critical need
On July 20, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a Special Fraud Alert for telemedicine, telehealth, and telemarketing services. During the pandemic, the OIG has responded to the expansion of telehealth services by aggressively pursuing fraud investigations against providers. Using these as examples, the OIG
On the heels of last month’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court reversing cuts by the federal government to hospitals reimbursed under the federal 340B program, this past Friday the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its anticipated 2023 Hospital Outpatient Payment proposed rule. As discussed by Nick Hut of the Healthcare Financial
Among the numerous decisions making headlines by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent weeks was a lesser noted decision impacting the Medicare reimbursement to healthcare facilities across the country. In a rare unanimous decision, the Court held that the federal government improperly lowered drug reimbursement payments to hospitals and clinics that serve low-income communities.
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In 2016, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act to drive the electronic access, exchange, and use of health information. On March 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released its Final Rule, which established exceptions to the Act’s information blocking provision