On November 4, 2014, voters in Berkeley, California, passed a 1-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened soft drinks and juices levied on distributors, known as Measure D. This tax, however, exempts sweetened milks, creamers, alcoholic drinks, infant formula, and juices with
US Supreme Court to hear ACA subsidy case
On Friday, the US Supreme Court announced it will hear King v. Burwell, setting the stage for a decision from the high court that could significantly impact the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The issue in
Latest DOJ inpatient/outpatient settlement: Dignity Health’s $US37M agreement
Last week, Dignity Health, a hospital system based in San Francisco, California, agreed to pay the United States US$37 million over a five-year period to settle allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare and TRICARE in violation of
CMS issues FY 2015 Medicare OPPS final rule
On October 31, 2014, CMS issued the Medicare Outpatient Prospective Payment System (“OPPS”) Final Rule for calendar year 2015.
The final rule is available at the Office of the Federal Register Public Inspection Desk until its publication in the November
CMS cuts payments to home health agencies in 2015
The CMS issued a final rule on October 30 that includes changes to the Medicare home health prospective payment system (HH PPS) for 2015, which changes are projected to reduce Medicare payments to home health providers by 0.30 percent, or
CMS issues final rule to update ESRD PPS
The CMS issued a final rule on October 31 updating the End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for renal dialysis services furnished to beneficiaries, effective January 1, 2015.
For Calendar Year (CY) 2015, the ESRD PPS base rate
CY 2015 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule
On October 31, 2014, CMS issued the Calendar Year 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
The final rule is available online until its publication in the November 13th Federal Register.
Some of the highlights of the final
OIG releases FY 2015 Work Plan
OIG Releases FY 2015 Work Plan
On October 31, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) published its Work Plan for fiscal year (FY) 2015. The OIG announced that in the upcoming year
Although CME exclusion no longer available, broader approach may apply for Sunshine Act reports
CMS has finalized four revisions to the Sunshine Act (Open Payments) regulations as part of the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
These revisions are effective as of October 31, 2014, and will be implemented for the 2016