The final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2026 has now taken effect. Under the new rule, Center for Medicare Services (CMS) finalized two separate Medicare conversion factors depending on participation in a qualifying Alternative Payment Model (APM). For physicians who do not qualify as APM participants, the 2026 conversion factor is $33.4009, representing a 3.26%
A Personal Message on My Retirement
A personal message from Mike Cassidy on his retirement.
Virtual Healthcare Law Presentation: Understanding Restrictive Covenants and Key Contract Terms
On Thursday, May 22, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM, attorneys Michael Cassidy and Adam Appleberry will present a virtual program focused on the legal framework surrounding restrictive covenants in healthcare employment contracts.
The presentation will cover recent developments in the law, including the Fair Contracting for Health Care Practitioners Act, and other regulatory changes that
CMS Halts “No Surprises Act” Arbitration
CMS has halted the arbitration process for “Surprise Billing” established by the “No Surprises Act” for the second time, stating as follows:
UNPLANNED OUTAGE
“On August 3, 2023, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas issued a judgment and order in Texas Medical Association, et al. v. United States Department of Health
Reforming Prior Authorization Process: Federal and Pennsylvania
Both the federal government and the Pennsylvania state government are taking steps to reform the prior authorization process. Take a look at the Pennsylvania Insurance Department press release that was issued November 3, 2022, touting the passage and signing of Pennsylvania Act 146, which is described as creating a new and more effective process for
Future of telehealth: Boom or back to business as usual?
This article written by Michael Cassidy appeared in the September issue of the Allegheny County Medical Society Bulletin.
Use this link to read the article.
Mike Cassidy Named a Fellow of the American Health Lawyers Association
Tucker Arensberg, P.C. is pleased to announce that Michael A. Cassidy has been honored as one of only seven healthcare lawyers in the nation to be selected in 2019 as a Fellow of the American Health Lawyers Association (“AHLA”). Only a fraction of 1% of AHLA’s nearly 14,000 members are selected for fellowship annually. This
2018 National Practitioner Data Bank Guidebook
In October 2018, the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) published the third edition of the NPDB Guidebook.
NPDB publishes monthly “NPDB insights”. I could not send the link to that, but I have attached a copy of the page announcing the new Guidebook here: NPDB Insights.
I am also attaching a link to the
2018 Pennsylvania Approved Medical Records Fees
On December 2, 2017, the Department of Health issued the new maximum fees for duplication of medical records. The link to the Pennsylvania Bulletin Announcement follows:
Telehealth Reaches Tipping Point – Now Included in OIG Audit Plan
Telehealth has apparently reached the tipping point in its significance to the Medicare budget, because OIG has now announced that it will “review Medicare claims for telehealth services provided at distant sites that do not have corresponding claims from originating sites to determine whether those services met Medicare requirements.”
The expected issue date of the