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…
It Is Not Illegal to Pay Physicians More Than They Generate
While we are waiting for final disposition of the AKS Safe Harbors and Stark Exceptions proposed in October of 2019, since the comment period expired December 31, 2019 and final rules have not been issued, I thought we should reflect on the comments made and proposed regulations regarding physician compensation.
Physicians have become accustomed to…
Telemedicine Comes of Age: OIG is Prosecuting Telehealth Fraud
You can now tell that telemedicine is a mature industry, because it has achieved enough critical mass that the fraud has started and the OIG is beginning to prosecute. There is a lag time between when the cash flow and profit achieves sufficient critical mass to attract the criminals, the OIG identifies the problems, and…
Ambulance Company Pays $65,000 Settlement
On December 30, 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“HHS”) announced a $65,000 settlement with West Georgia Ambulance, Inc. for violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security and Breach Notification Rules.
According to HHS, in 2013 the ambulance company reported a breach…
Tucker Arensberg Attorneys to speak at the PBI Health Law Institute in March 2020
Tucker Arensberg is pleased to be a gold sponsor of the 26th Annual Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) Health Law Institute taking place from March 11–12, 2020 in Philadelphia, PA. Jerry J. Russo, Chair of the White Collar Criminal Defense Group and Kathleen A. Nandan, a former litigator with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the…
2020 Pennsylvania Medical Record Fees
Click the link to view the 2020 Pennsylvania Medical Record Fees: https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pabull?file=/secure/pabulletin/data/vol49/49-49/1816.html#
Telehealth Update: Connect for Health Act
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2019. A summary produced by that bipartisan group is attached.
If enacted, the CONNECT for Health Act solutions would be as follows:
- Create a bridge program to help providers transition to the goals
…
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…
Trump Administration Announces Historic Price Transparency Requirements
Attached are links to the CMS Press Release and the Trump Executive Order on Improving Price and Quality Transparency in American Healthcare to Put Patients First.
The Trump Executive Order was first issued on June 21, 2019.
The CMS Press Release indicates action on two rules.
First, the “proposed” transparency and coverage rule would…