The U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision on March 31 has held that providers do not have standing under either the Medicaid Act, Section 30(A), or the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution to mandate States to increase payment rates
House approves permanent solution to physician payments problem
On March 26, the U.S. House of Representatives by a 392-37 vote passed H.R. 2, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015. The Senate must approve the legislation before it can be sent to President Obama for
OIG holds that fee-waiver arrangement between labs and physician practices may violate Anti-Kickback Statute
In an Advisory Opinion posted on March 25, 2015, the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services stated that a proposed fee-waiving arrangement between a laboratory and physician practice could violate the federal anti-kickback
340B drug pricing program scrutinized
On March 24, the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled “Examining the 340B Drug Pricing Program.” Witness written testimony, along with the opening statements of Subcommittee Chairman Joseph R. Pitts, and
HHS releases proposed rules for Stage 3 Meaningful Use
On March 20, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two proposed rules intended to improve the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs.
The HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the
Hospital executives found guilty of kickback scheme
Three former hospital executives have been convicted of defrauding federal healthcare programs through an alleged kickback scheme to pay doctors to refer patients to the hospital.
An Illinois federal jury returned guilty verdicts on March 19, 2015 against the former
Chinese government introduces new regulations to enable private investment in senior care
Earlier this year, the Chinese government introduced further regulations setting out a framework for private investment in senior care. With the 60 and over population in China expected to reach 300 million by 2025, senior care is becoming a pressing
Government nets $3.3 billion from fraud-and-abuse program in FY 2014
In a report released on March 19th, the federal government stated that its Heath Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) recovered $3.3 billion during FY 2014, including $2.3 billion in healthcare fraud judgments and settlements. The HCFAC reported its
OIG urges cuts in hospital outpatient payment rates for ASC-approved procedures
On March 17, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) published its March 2015 Compendium of Unimplemented Recommendations (Compendium). The Compendium includes the 25 most significant unimplemented recommendations included in OIG recent final
U.S. House approves bill mandating patient notification of observation status
On March 16, 2015, the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 876, the Notice of Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility Act. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
If enacted as passed by the