In May 2017, the Texas Senate passed Senate Bill 1107,[1] which cleared a path for the State’s various heath care professional boards, including the Texas Medical Board (“TMB”) and Texas State Board of Pharmacy (“TBP”), to offer greater, easier access to telemedicine services. On September 15,…
The State Medical Board of Ohio recently issued a Frequently Asked Questions Guidance Document (“FAQ”) on Rule 4731-11-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code, which governs when a physician or physician assistant can prescribe medication to a patient that they have not conducted an in-person…
On September 7, 2017, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published Opinion 17-05 (“Opinion”) that allowed a retail pharmacy to include Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in the pharmacy’s discount benefit program. The OIG determined that the program design did not…
The Joint Commission is enhancing provider Element of Performance (“EP”) protocols regarding patient medications in response to the nation’s ongoing opioid crisis. Specifically, the Joint Commission has revised its Medication Management (MM) EPs “to assure the standards continue to reflect…
The Interim Study Committee on Public Health, Behavioral Health, and Human Services (“Committee”) met on September 28, 2017, to discuss the following topics: 1) Potential improvements to the INSPECT program; and 2) the shortage of health care providers in Indiana.
With regard to the first topic, the…
Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have devastated our nation in recent weeks and significantly impacted health care facilities in the affected areas. To better address preparedness for disasters such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued the Emergency…
A July 21, 2017 letter from CMS approves Indiana’s State Plan Amendment (“SPA”) 17-0002, which “proposes to bring Indiana into compliance with the reimbursement requirements in the Covered Outpatient Drug final rule with comment.”[1] In review of the approved SPA, one notable change emerges, and…
A quick peek at CMS’ FY 2018 budget (and beyond) indicates that CMS is investing heavily in rules enforcement.[1] Encouraged by a Fraud Prevention System return on investment of $11.50 for every $1.00 spent[2], CMS sees enhanced enforcement as a critical means of keeping (and returning) financial…
As part of the August, 14, 2017 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) Final Rule[1], the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (“CMS”) revised the public notice requirements for Medicare provider agreement terminations.
Previously, a Rural Health Clinic (“RHC”), Federally Qualified Health…
After months of negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell failed to find enough Republican support to advance some form of health care reform legislation late last week. Accordingly, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) continues to remain the law of the land, though…
Without surprise, not many hospital providers joined in the celebration of EMTALA’s recent 30th anniversary. A lack of shared joy notwithstanding, EMTALA remains as rigorous, nuanced, and enforced as when it was first enacted as part of the 1986 COBRA legislation.
The broad requirements of EMTALA…
A June 12, 2017, OIG report indicates that, between 2001 and 2014, CMS paid $730 million in electronic healthcare record (“EHR”) incentive payments to eligible professionals (“EPs”) who did not comply with Federal requirements for “meaningful use” of EHRs. In other words, the OIG believes these…
