Susan HuntingtonAs part of its 2018 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System and Long Term Acute Care Hospital Prospective Payment System Final Rule released on August 2,…
Ban on Home Health and Non-Emergency Ambulance Extended Again
Included as part of its final rule on the Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added…
OCR Updates HIPAA Breach Website
On July 25, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has implemented several changes to its…
OIG Work Plan Includes Review of Medicare Payments for Telehealth Services
The updated Work Plan published this month by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) includes a new audit…
Ban on Mandatory Arbitration in Nursing Home Contracts May Finally be Dead
On June 8, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a proposed rule which, among other things, rescinds a provision in a final rule…
HHS Task Force Releases Report That Concludes Cybersecurity is a Public Health Concern
On June 2, the Health Care Industry Cybersecurity Task Force released its 96-page final Report on Improving Cybersecurity in the Health Care Industry which outlines cybersecurity…
Supreme Court Decision Likely Dooms CMS Rule on Nursing Home Arbitration
On May 15, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Kentucky nursing homes use of mandatory arbitration agreements in nursing home admissions. In a 7-1 ruling,…
Media Release Results in $2.4 Million HIPAA Fine
On May 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with Memorial Hermann Health System (MHHS)…
HHS Announces Another HIPAA Fine Based on Stolen Laptop
On April 24, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reached a settlement with CardioNet,…
2018 Medicare Part C and D Rate Updates Released; CMS Solicits Additional Feedback by April 24
On April 3, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its 2018 Medicare Advantage and Part D rate policies. In its press release,…