Articles and Blogs

Effective July 1, 2019, The Joint Commission (“TJC”) implemented new and revised requirements regarding suicide prevention for all TJC-accredited hospitals and behavioral health entities. The seven new and revised requirements, part of TJC’s elements of performance (“EPs”) under National Patient Safety Goal (“NPSG”) 15.01.01, are designed to improve quality and safety of care for... READ MORE

On July 10, 2019, CMS issued proposed rulemaking titled Medicare Program; Specialty Care Models to Improve Quality of Care and Reduce Expenditures. The rule proposes to implement two new mandatory Medicare payment models – the Radiation Oncology Model and the End-Stage Renal Disease (“ESRD”) Treatment Choices Model. Comments on this proposed rule are due... READ MORE

Surprise Billing Debate Continues: Legislation Passes House E&C Committee The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation (H.R. 2328) to protect patients from surprise medical bills. The measure would block providers from charging out-of-network rates to patients in certain emergency situations or when a patient unexpectedly receives out-of-network care at an in-network facility and... READ MORE

NATIONAL Mandatory bundled radiation oncology demo seeks to upend payment Premera Reaches $10M Settlement with 30 States Over 2014 Data Breach Study: Doctor burnout costs health care system $4.6 billion a year Uber, Lyft see $15B opportunity in healthcare: 4 things to know Hospital execs turning to EHRs, patient portals to improve patient experience... READ MORE

On July 16, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a pre-publication copy of the revisions (“Proposed Rule”) to Part 483 to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations the Requirements for States and Long-Term Care Facilities (“RoPs”). CMS stated that it identified a number of existing skilled nursing facility... READ MORE

On June 25, 2019, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (the “Act”) to make Illinois the eleventh state to allow recreational marijuana use. Effective January 1, 2020, adults age 21 and older may purchase and possess up to 1 ounce (30 grams) of marijuana at a time from a... READ MORE

This is another article in a series discussing the complete overhaul of Part 483 to Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations the Requirements for States and Long-Term Care Facilities (“Final Regulations”) by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”). To view other articles in this series, click here. Beginning on November 28,... READ MORE

House Subcommittee Passes Surprise Billing Measure Despite Member Disagreement On Thursday, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved 10 bills, including a measure addressing surprise medical billing. The “No Surprises Act” (H.R. 3630), introduced by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), would prohibit surprise billing and limit... READ MORE

On June 26, 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill dramatically limiting substantial portions of Florida’s Certificate of Need (“CON”) program. The new law takes effect in two phases. Effective July 1, 2019, general hospitals, comprehensive rehabilitation and “tertiary”[i] health services, such as pediatric cardiac catheterization, pediatric open-heart surgery and neonatal... READ MORE

Thanks to a final rule issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) this spring, Medicare Advantage (“MA”) plans will now be able to offer additional telehealth benefits to enrollees starting in 2020. Historically, MA plans have been able to offer more telehealth services compared to Original Medicare as part of their... READ MORE