Articles and Blogs

OIG recently issued an advisory opinion related to a request by an ophthalmology practice (“Practice”) to examine four proposed funding arrangements for a continuing medical education (“CME”) program offered to local optometrists on current treatment and medication protocols for patients requiring ophthalmic surgeries. The CME program would offer 2-6 hours of CME, valued at... READ MORE

In December 2021, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of the Department of Health and Human Services published an Issue Brief titled “Medicare and Beneficiaries Pay More for Preadmission Services at Affiliated Hospitals Than Wholly Owned Settings” (“Brief”)(available here). The Brief discusses Medicare’s policy to bundle (or not separately pay) certain services provided by... READ MORE

Reimbursement under the new Patient Driven Payment Model, staff background checks, infection control programs, facility-initiated transfer or discharge of a resident and the use of psychotropic drugs are several new skilled nursing facility (“SNF”) areas of audit and focus of Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”). OIG publishes updates... READ MORE

Tuesday, May 26 Update Our Federal Advocacy Team is dedicated to providing frequent COVID-19 updates as they develop. Going forward, these updates will be distributed as developments warrant instead of nightly. These updates along with other resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website​. Note – ​we believe this is... READ MORE

Monday, May 11 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ OIG Updates FAQs on Administrative Enforcement Authorities on COVID-19 Arrangements OIG updated... READ MORE

Monday, April 6 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ Congressional Outlook The House and Senate remain in recess until at least... READ MORE

On April 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a report summarizing OIG’s interviews with hospital administrators across the country on COVID-19. The interviews, which Hall Render summarized in a previous alert, were conducted between March 23 through March 27 and focused on three... READ MORE

On March 30, 2020, OIG released a message to health care providers reinforcing OIG’s continued focus on aggressively pursuing bad actors exploiting the COVID-19 crisis but also praising the hard work and dedication of the frontline providers who are serving heroically in this crisis. This is in follow-up to our previous COVID-19-related guidance pertaining... READ MORE

Wednesday, March 25 Recap Note – ​We believe this is the most up-to-date information available at this time, but it is subject to change ​as circumstances warrant. Also, all finalized resources can be found ​on the COVID-19 ​Resource ​Center page ​of Hall Render’s website.​ Congressional Outlook Early this morning, the Senate finally reached a tentative agreement... READ MORE

Most skilled nursing facilities are not correctly complying with life safety requirements or emergency preparedness requirements, according to three recent reports by the Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. OIG recently issued three reports on its audits of life safety requirements or emergency preparedness requirements:... READ MORE