The Medicaid Managed Care Rule (Final Rule) finalizes several new and updated standards to support and improve managed care accessibility, finance, and quality in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Recently released by the Centers for Medicare &
Regulatory
Medicaid Managed Care Final Rule makes sweeping changes to state directed payments
The new Medicaid Managed Care Final Rule (Final Rule), recently released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), makes significant changes to state directed payments. The provisions in the Final Rule aim to enhance transparency and consistency in…
President Biden declares monkeypox a public health emergency
The US is approaching 7,000 cases, the largest number of any country around the world. Of concern to the Administration is the nearly 80 percent increase in cases over the last 7 days. Of equal concern is the lack of…
BA.5 transmissibility, new mask mandates, and the WHO declaration regarding monkeypox
Between 60 to 75 percent of new COVID-19 diagnoses are now said to be attributed the BA.5 variant. Health officials have advised anyone who has not had a second booster to do so now, with fears that existing immunity could…
Australia – TGA updates the Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code
The TGA has issued an updated Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (New Code). The New Code regulates advertising of therapeutic goods to consumers. Only certain therapeutic goods can be advertised to the public. The New Code seeks to ensure…
FTC announces 2022 HSR thresholds
On January 24, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced increased reporting thresholds under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Most importantly, the minimum “size-of-transaction” threshold will be increased from US $92 million to US $101 million; acquisitions below…
COVID-19 Update: New CDC Guidance About the Omicron Variant
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”) reported that the Omicron variant has been detected in all but sixteen of the United States. The Delta variant continues to be the main variant circulating in the United States, however. The…
CMS Publishes Final Guidance for Hospital Co-location with Other Hospitals or Healthcare Facilities
On November 12, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued its final guidance for hospitals to clarify how CMS and state agency surveyors will evaluate space-sharing or contracted staff and service arrangements with other hospitals or healthcare…
US OSHA issues COVID vaccine and testing Emergency Temporary Standard
On Friday, November 5, 2021, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) published an Emergency Temporary Standard (“ETS”) “to protect unvaccinated employees of large employers (100 or more employees) from the risk of contracting COVID-19 by strongly encouraging vaccination.”…
CMS Issues COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Interim Final Rule
On November 4, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule requiring that Medicare-certified providers implement policies for vaccination of all health care workers against COVID-19. Compliance with the requirement will be a Condition…