Articles and Blogs

Join Hall Render attorneys at the 2016 Conference on Health Reform in San Francisco October 27-28. Takeaways from this informative seminar will include a thorough understanding of the changes that are restructuring the health care system, the relationship between physicians and hospitals, the actions needed to protect future appeal rights of significance to hospitals and much... READ MORE

On September 28, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a complete overhaul of Part 483 to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, the Requirements for States and Long-Term Care Facilities. CMS’s Final Regulations (the “Final Regulations”) cover many regulatory requirements for long-term care facilities (“Facilities”) and create new... READ MORE

On September 14, 2016, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued a list of Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQs”) addressing the language tagline requirements imposed by Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Along with the FAQs, OCR also released a list of the top... READ MORE

On Friday, September 23, 2016, the EEOC filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania health system for allegedly firing six employees who refused flu vaccines. The complaint brings Title VII claims for failure to accommodate sincerely held religious beliefs. Generally, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits most employers from discriminating against employees on... READ MORE

Earlier this year, we reported on several benefits associated with the new Stark exception for timeshare arrangements. While we believe that, under many circumstances, the new timeshare exception is an improvement over the space lease exception, it does have several limitations. Before a health care provider enters into a timeshare license that is designed... READ MORE

As part of their mission and outreach, health care providers (“Provider(s)”) often establish patient assistance programs offering free or discounted services or items in an effort to promote preventive health and wellness in their communities (e.g., free health screenings, treatment or testing, pharmaceuticals, accommodations and transportation services) (“Programs”). The goals of such Programs are... READ MORE

Recently, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) issued New Enforcement Guidance on workplace retaliation (the “Guidance”). The Guidance was influenced by several Supreme Court decisions addressing retaliation under EEOC-enforced laws and a significant increase of retaliation claims found in EEOC charges. In addition to the Guidance, the EEOC issued a question-and-answer reference guide... READ MORE

On August 2, 2016, the Treasury Department issued Proposed Regulations under Section 2704 of the Internal Revenue Code. This development has been reported as one of the most significant developments in the federal estate and gift tax law in the last 25 years. If you own stock in a family Subchapter S or Subchapter... READ MORE

Long-Term Care and Rural Hospital Bills Pass House On September 20, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill that is intended to provide relief to long-term care hospitals from the “25 percent rule.” The CMS rule, which has been delayed by Congress for years, allows for no more than 25 percent of patients... READ MORE

Last month on August 2, 2016, the Treasury Department issued Proposed Regulations under Section 2704 of the Internal Revenue Code. This development has been reported as one of the most significant developments in the federal estate and gift tax law in the last 25 years. These Regulations relate to valuing stock, partnership interests and limited... READ MORE