04.20.20
As we work together to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, we are faced with a barrage of new guidance, regulations and mandates.
04.17.20
The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly upended many aspects of the healthcare system, including enforcement of three important federal fraud and abuse laws: the physician self-referral law, commonly known as the “Stark law”; the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS); and a civil monetary penalty ...
04.09.20
On Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an interim final rule with comment period outlining new flexibilities to pre-existing Medicare and Medicaid payment policies and provider regulations in the midst of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE).
04.06.20
On April 2, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a public notice (the Notice) stating that the department will not impose penalties under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) on business associates that use or disclose protected health ...
04.02.20
On March 30, 2020, CMS issued blanket waivers of the Physician Self-Referral Law, also known as the Stark Law (Social Security Act Section 1877), effective as of March 1, 2020, related to referrals and financial arrangements for COVID-19 Purposes.
On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) swept aside dozens of federal healthcare requirements using its emergency waiver authority under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA).
In response to the national emergency created by COVID-19, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar issued a declaration on March 13, invoking his authority under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act (SSA) to waive or modify certain federal healthcare requirements.
03.31.20
The nation’s nursing facilities, assisted-living facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities and home care providers—and their long-term care (LTC) workforce—are at the forefront of the COVID-19 crisis.
03.30.20
On March 27, Congress passed a third stimulus package in response to COVID-19—H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
03.27.20
From March 27 through the end of 2020, employers may use an Internal Revenue Code Section 127 educational expense reimbursement plan to assist employees in repaying their student loans obtained for qualified higher education.