September 2010

Section 6409 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) required CMS to develop a Medicare Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP) to facilitate the resolution of potential Stark violations. The SRDP was published on September 23, 2010 with two caveats:

1.         Despite the fact that potential violations or situations might violate more than just the Stark

Contributed by Michael Cassidy & Donna Kell

mcassidy@tuckerlaw.com, djk@kellgroup.com

An overlooked byproduct of health care reform and the general economic recession is the “multiplier” effect of larger deductibles and co-pays and the reduced ability of patients to make those payments, resulting in more collection problems and the perhaps unintended creation of consumer financing issues. This

New – Medicare Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol

CMS has published the self referral disclosre protocol required by ACA. Link and announcement below. Analysis will be posted next week.

Section 6409(a) of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) ACA requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, in cooperation with the Inspector General of

Contibuted by Jo-Anne Mineweaser

412.594.3920, jmineweaser@tuckerlaw.com

On September 3, 2010, the Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2010-59 to provide guidance on the revised definition of “medical expenses” under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.   Beginning on January 1, 2011, expenses incurred for medicines or drugs may be paid or reimbursed by an employer-provided plan

In Vranos v. Skinner, the Massachusetts Appeals Court reaffirmed the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies. The Court affirmed the dismissal of the lawsuit arising out of a summary suspension of a physician’s staff privileges. The bylaws of Franklin Medical Center contained the typical internal grievance procedures. Dr. Vranos alleged that the hospital had not complied with