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Please Click HerePosted on April 4, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
In February, we reported on revisions to the Conditions of Participation for Home Health Agencies (HHA) released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS has now proposed the effective date of new Conditions of Participation (CoP) be delayed by six months. The original effective date of the new regulations was July 13, […]
Posted on April 4, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
On April 3, 2017, the United States Supreme Court denied a request from the Trump Administration to place a hold on the pending litigation in which the EPA’s and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s Clean Water Rule is being challenged. The basis for the Trump Administration’s request was the Executive Order signed on February […]
Posted on April 3, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
When you hear the words “estate planning,” what do you think? The most common answers I hear mention “wills” or “trusts.” Although estate planning includes those documents, which carry out your plan after death, it also includes documents to help carry out your wishes while you are living. These documents are called powers of attorney, […]
Posted on March 30, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The HHS Office of Inspector General offers providers an opportunity to self-disclose certain violations in exchange for avoiding some of the more draconian penalties that may otherwise apply under applicable regulations. Even though the OIG’s Provider Self-Disclosure Protocols (“SDP”) can be very compelling, the decision whether to utilize the OIG’s self-disclosure protocols is often very […]
Posted on March 30, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
You have adopted your basic compliance policies and procedures, established a reporting system and visibly rolled out your new compliance program. Your board of directors has passed a resolution decisively stating its commitment to compliance. The CEO issued a letter stating her commitment to compliance and mandating every person in the organization follow the Code […]
Posted on March 30, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
I frequently hear attorneys claim the Stark law applies equally to hospitals and physicians. This position is sometimes taken in the process of negotiating a transaction between a hospital and a physician or physician group. In this context it is limited to simple posturing to attempt to get a better financial deal in the negotiated […]
Posted on March 23, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR), dental practices are not required to have a business associate agreement with their dental laboratory before sharing protected health information. The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to covered entities (including dental practices) and their business associates. As you know, for the past few […]
Posted on March 22, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
I recently posted a blog article about a document released by the Department of Justice entitled “Evaluation of Compliance Programs.” As the title of the document might suggest, the DOJ release covers a variety of issues it looks at when evaluating the effectiveness of compliance programs. The document includes some guidance on how a corporate […]
Posted on March 21, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Wisconsin Court of Appeals issued a decision in an unemployment insurance benefits case on March 8 that provides clarity where an employee is discharged for absenteeism. The case is Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, et al (2017 WL 946724). In doing so the court of appeals described […]
Posted on March 17, 2017 by Ruder Ware Alumni
In 2013, the HHS Office of Inspector General issued revised protocols outlining the process through which health care providers are able to self-disclose and resolve potential liability under the OIG’s civil monetary penalty (CMP) authorities. The 2013 Self Disclosure Protocols (SDP) clarified the process of self-disclosure and provided answers to some of the questions previously […]