Articles
Workers’ Compensation Claims for Healthcare Professionals Exposed to COVID-19 in Pennsylvania
Just a few short weeks ago, during a press briefing by the Center for Disease Control’s Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, the director warned that the spread of coronavirus in the U.S. was “not a question of if, but when.” As of the date of this posting, there are now…
Hospital Groups File Lawsuit Challenging Rule That Would Require Them To Disclose Prices Given To Insurers
Click on the link to an article published in the New York Times (12/4, Abelson) reporting the American Hospital Association and other hospital groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump Administration “over a new federal rule that would require them to disclose the discounted prices they give insurers for all sorts of procedures.” The hospital…
Anti-Kickback EHR and Cybersecurity Safe Harbor
As another part of the Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care, OIG proposed revisions to the existing EHR Anti-Kickback Safe Harbor and added a cybersecurity component.
The initial EHR Safe Harbor was developed in response to President George W. Bush’s 2004 initiative to extend EHR nationwide within 10 years, i.e. 2014. The proponents of those EHR…
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Again Declines to Extend Consent Decree
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, on remand from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, has again decided that the previously agreed termination date of the access provisions contained in the UPMC/Highmark Consent Decrees, i.e. June 30, 2019, is not a term subject to the modification provisions of those Consent Decrees, and is definite. The adjudication of the Commonwealth…
Bring your own device (BYOD) to work day
This article by Mike Cassidy originally appeared in the Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin June Edition. To read the article click here.
CMS Issues Hospital Price Transparency Rules
This article originally appeared in the March edition of the Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin.
Updated Procedural History of UPMC – Highmark Litigation
Below is a summary of UPMC-Highmark dispute as of March 4, 2019. This information is limited to litigation proceedings with no discussion about prior contracts or negotiations.
- March 2011 – UPMC announces it will not renew UPMC-Highmark contract due to expire December 31, 2012.
- May 1, 2012 – Parties enter into mediated agreement which states
…
Procedural History of UPMC – Highmark Litigation
Below is a summary of UPMC-Highmark dispute as of February 22, 2019. This information is limited to litigation proceedings with no discussion about prior contracts or negotiations.
- March 2011 – UPMC announces it will not renew UPMC-Highmark contract due to expire December 31, 2012.
- May 1, 2012 – Parties enter into mediated agreement which states
…
Opioid Update: New Federal Law
Opioid Update: New Federal Law – The Substance Use-Disorder Prevention That Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act
On October 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act, also known as the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act…