Articles and Blogs

NATIONAL Amazon launches AWS for Health: 5 things to know AAMC urges medical schools, teaching hospitals to require COVID-19 vaccination for employees How Amazon, Walmart & 7 others are expanding their telehealth business As 10% physician pay cuts loom, AMA urges Congressional action CMS proposed outpatient payment rule for 2022: 7 things to know... READ MORE

Hall Render recently published articles (see here and here) on OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”), which includes requirements that apply specifically to health care employers. Implementation of those standards will involve some or many employees in tasks related to COVID-19 safety at the beginning and end of their shifts, including screening and donning/doffing protective... READ MORE

NATIONAL 8 hospitals, health systems that launched innovation centers in 2021 10 most expensive brand name drugs in the US 200,000 patients exposed after hackers tried to wire money from ClearBalance funds Acting FDA commissioner calls for independent investigation into approval of Alzheimer’s drug Amazon’s healthcare data lake now available to providers: 7 things... READ MORE

CMS recently issued a Stark Advisory Opinion, which may offer additional flexibility for physician practices in growth mode. CMS-AO-2021-01 concerns a group practice’s proposal to furnish designated health services (“DHS”) through two wholly owned subsidiary entities that do not, themselves, qualify as group practices. CMS concluded the proposed structure did not preclude the group... READ MORE

In The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc. v. United States Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturned a 2020 Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) rule banning the use of electrical stimulation devices to treat patients suffering from severe self-injurious and aggressive behaviors. The court concluded the FDA... READ MORE

Earlier this year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) finalized a change to the exclusive use requirement of the Stark Law that affects space and equipment leases. The rental of office space exception and the rental of equipment exception now allow a lessee—and any other lessees operating in the same office space... READ MORE

In December 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued long-awaited final rules revising the Stark Law regulatory framework and updating the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (“MPFS”). Though many health care organizations considered both updated regulatory frameworks when establishing their physician compensation programs for 2021, stakeholders in the industry continue to... READ MORE

As the pandemic continues, health care providers, suppliers and managed care organizations are turning to incentive programs in an effort to boost COVID-19 vaccination rates. These programs offer various rewards, such as food and beverages or the chance to win free trips, cruises, groceries, event tickets or large cash prizes, to individuals who receive... READ MORE

The story of the rise and fall of the once multi-billion dollar health care company Theranos, Inc. (“Theranos”) and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, no longer serves merely as a bingeworthy weekend watch but rather yet another cautionary tale for corporations and their counsel. In 2015, Holmes touted a $9-billion dollar valuation of Theranos after... READ MORE

Hall Render is pleased to announce Vonne Jacobs has joined the firm in its Raleigh office. Vonne advises clients on transactions and serves as a regulatory advisor, providing fraud and abuse analysis in the context of a deal and ensuring clients remain compliant with the regulations that govern health care transactions. Vonne is admitted... READ MORE