A Medicare license revocation can drastically affect a provider or practice; for example, more than 90% of primary care providers accept Medicare, and Medicare beneficiaries account for at least 50% of primary care physicians’ patient population. A revocation can jeopardize providers’ livelihood and lead to other consequences, including loss of…
On November 5, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) released a public notice of the new “Connected Care Pilot Program” (hereinafter, “pilot program”). This pilot program has been allotted $100 million by the Universal Service Fund to promote telehealth services, particularly to low-income Americans and veterans. The period for healthcare…
On November 4, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) proposed a new rule that would require HHS to review many of its regulations every ten years. HHS proposed the new rule pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (“RFA”), which was enacted under President Carter in 1980. Under…
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, that an additional $333 million in performance payments will be granted to nursing homes that reduced their COVID-19 death and infection rates during August and September of the COVID-19 pandemic. HHS will allocate these payments to…
In late October 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) released guidance on use of Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”) payments to cover costs associated with a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Also, in late October, HHS Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) announced a review of the Health Resource and…
On October 29, 2020, the Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced that pursuant to credible information by HHS, the FBI, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), hospitals and healthcare providers are at an imminent risk of a cybersecurity attack.…
The Trump Administration is slated to announce a plan, in the next few days, to cover the COVID-19 vaccine (when it is approved) under Medicare and Medicaid. According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), it is Congress’s intent that Medicare beneficiaries have access to the vaccine once…
On October 21, 2020, Purdue Pharma pled guilty to three criminal charges as part of their $8 billion settlement surrounding the drug OxyContin, a drug that Purdue produced. The charges included: one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to violate the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and…
On October 22, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced changes to the allowable uses of a Provider Relief Fund (“PRF”) payment and also expanded the categories of providers eligible to receive a payment in the Phase 3 General Distribution. The PRF is a $175 billion fund…
Beginning January 21, 2021, only COVID-19 diagnostic tests that are completed within two days will be paid at the current rate by Medicare. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic testing has been an important part of strategies to combat the virus. In an early push to expand COVID-19…