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IRS to Issue Regulations Addressing $10,000 Limit on State and Local Tax Deduction

Posted on May 24, 2018 by

Yesterday, the IRS issued Notice 2018-54 and an accompanying news release stating that proposed regulations will be issued addressing the deductibility of state and local tax payments for federal income tax proposes. As many of you know, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) limited the amount of state and local taxes an individual can […]

Treatment Center Pleads Guilty to Anti-kickback Statute Violations Involving Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Centers

Posted on May 24, 2018 by

The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced the guilty plea of two individual alcohol and substance abuse treatment center owners for their participation in what the DOJ labeled a “multi-million dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme.”  The two individuals owned a licensed substance abuse service provider (or treatment center) offering clinical treatment services […]

“Ban the Box” Legislation Expands – What should Employers Do?

Posted on May 21, 2018 by

We have seen a recent expansion of “Ban the Box Legislation” which prevents employers from asking information about the arrest or conviction record of an applicant for a position.  Some legislation prevents employers from conducting criminal background checks on applicants until a final selection has been made and a final candidate is being considered.  Wisconsin […]

You’ve Been Sued . . . Now What??

Posted on May 18, 2018 by

A man walks into a farmer’s barn and hands him papers. The farmer discovers he has been served with a lawsuit. Reactions typically vary from panic to choosing to ignore what has been received. Both are poor choices. There are instead logical steps to take. Start saving all documents that have anything to do with […]

Recent Fraud Settlements Illustrate Current Compliance Risk Areas

Posted on May 17, 2018 by

One of the reasons compliance officers and health care attorneys read fraud settlements is to identify issues the government is focused on.  The cases the government decides to pursue are very indicative of the areas of fraud enforcement they feel are important.  These are not the only issues that should be considered, but government enforcement […]

Attorneys Ronald Metzler, Christopher Pahl, and Chad Levanetz Join Ruder Ware; Firm Opens Green Bay Office

Posted on May 2, 2018

Attorneys Ronald Metzler, Christopher Pahl, and Chad Levanetz Join Ruder Ware; Firm Opens Green Bay Office Ruder Ware is pleased to announce the opening of its Green Bay office and that Attorneys Ronald Metzler, Christopher Pahl, and Chad Levanetz will be joining the firm.  The new office will be located at 222 Cherry Street, Green […]

Office Inspector General Launches New Compliance Resource Portal

Posted on April 30, 2018 by

At a recent Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) compliance institute, the Office of Inspector General announced it had launched a new resource portal focused on compliance issues.  A trip to the OIG’s web site, and sure enough, there is a brand spankin’ new compliance portal.  You can check out the portal at OIG Portal. On […]

The IRS Says Never Mind – You Can Have Your Higher HSA Limit!

Posted on April 30, 2018 by

I previously blogged about how unusual it was for the IRS to implement a retroactive change to a previously announced limit.  As you may remember, the $6,900 limit on HSA contributions for a taxpayer eligible for a family high deductible health plan (HDHP) previously announced May 4, 2017 was reduced on March 5, 2018 to $6,850, […]

Who Gets the Farm if There are On-Farm and Off-Farm Heirs?

Posted on April 10, 2018 by

Family farmers face a difficult issue of passing on the farm if there are both on-farm and off-farm heirs. A family farm is a business but also about family. Doing what’s best for both farm and family requires making difficult decisions and sometimes rocking the boat. Most parents try to treat their children equally when […]

What HIPAA Policies are Required for a Health Care Provider?

Posted on April 4, 2018 by

We are often asked to advise clients regarding the scope and content of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) policies and procedures that are required to be maintained.  HIPAA clearly requires health care providers, as “covered entities,” to maintain policies and procedures covering HIPAA issues that apply to their operations.  There is a core of […]