Although the ink is barely dry on the proposed regulations for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), there are already harbingers that ACOs may not be the Health Care Reform savior they were intended to be.

First, a study by the American Hospital Association states that the estimate initially made by CMS for the cost of

Contibuted by Paul J. Welk

pwelk@tuckerlaw.com; 412.594.5536

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a Notice of Final Determination, marking the first civil money penalty issued by HHS for HIPAA Privacy Rule violations, finding that Cignet Health of Prince George’s County, Md., (Cignet) violated the

Every once in a while we try to provide some information that is interesting, helpful and a little different than our usual fair. I have attached a link to an article provided by nursingschools.net describing amazing emerging advances in medical technology. For the readers who would like more of this type of information, I have added nursing.net

Proposed regulations for the Affordable Care Act were announced today.  Insurers in all states are now required to publicly justify any unreasonable rate increases starting in 2011.  For 2011, proposed rate increases of 10 percent or higher will be publicly disclosed and thoroughly reviewed.

Links:

http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/12/20101221a.html

http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2010/12/21/white-house-white-board-health-reform-rate-review

http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-32143_PI.pdf

(CNN) — A Virginia federal judge on Monday found a key part of President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care reform law unconstitutional, setting the stage for a protracted legal struggle likely to wind up in the Supreme Court.

U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson struck down the "individual mandate" requiring most Americans to purchase health

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Amendments to Charges for Medical Records

 

Under 42 Pa.C.S. 6152 and 6155 (relating to subpoena of records; and rights of patients), the Secretary of Health (Secretary) is directed to adjust annually the amounts which may be charged by a health care facility or health care provider upon receipt of a request