It is not only the weather outside that is frightful! The traditional Medicare administrative appeals process operates along a strict timetable that, in recent months, has been absolutely "snowed in" by the avalanche of requests for appeals hearings by Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) and significant administrative delays extending far beyond normal processing backlogs. These delays affect providers across the Medicare spectrum, including those who are contesting adverse coverage and reimbursement decisions, as well as those who are contesting overpayment ...
In a complimentary webinar on February 20 (1:00 p.m. ET), our colleagues Frank C. Morris, Jr., and Adam C. Solander will review the ongoing impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on employers and their group health plans.
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service recently issued highly anticipated final regulations implementing the employer shared responsibility provisions of the ACA, also known as the employer mandate. The rules make several important changes in response to comments on the original proposed regulations issued in December 2012 and provide ...
In a complimentary webinar on February 20 (1:00 p.m. ET), our colleagues Frank C. Morris, Jr., and Adam C. Solander will review the ongoing impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on employers and their group health plans.
The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service recently issued highly anticipated final regulations implementing the employer shared responsibility provisions of the ACA, also known as the employer mandate. The rules make several important changes in response to comments on the original proposed regulations issued in December 2012 and provide ...
Last week, the 2014 340B Coalition Winter Conference was held in San Diego, California (the "Winter Conference"), where representatives from the Health Resources and Services Administration ("HRSA") of the United States Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS"), the Office of Inspector General ("OIG") of HHS, and industry stakeholders (including Epstein Becker Green) presented on current developments with the 340B drug discount program (the "340B Program"). A brief summary of the 340B Program, including contract pharmacy arrangements, can be found ...
By Steven M. Swirsky, Adam C. Abrahms, Kara M. Maciel and Casey M. Cosentino
As previously predicted by the Management Memo on August 1, 2013 and October 30, 2013, the National Labor Relations Board (the “Board”) issued a second Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) to amend its existing rules and regulations governing union elections procedures. If they look familiar when you see them, there is a good reason for that: you have seen them before.
As readers of the Management Memo are well aware, the NPRM is the latest development in the long saga of organized labor’s attempts ...
By Constance Wilkinson, Alan Arville, and David Gibbons
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") Office of Inspector General ("OIG") released a Report [1] on February 5th based on in-depth interviews with a sample of thirty 340B Covered Entities – half were disproportionate share hospitals ("DSH") and half were community health centers ("CH") – and eight contract pharmacy administrators to gain a better understanding of how contract pharmacy arrangements operate under the 340B Drug Discount Program, codified as Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act ...
By Marshall Jackson and Alaap Shah
If you have tuned into the news over the last few months, you are likely aware that several major corporations—including one of the nation’s largest retail chains—have suffered data breaches. These breaches have affected hundreds of millions of consumers, and in some cases exposed sensitive financial data such as credit card information, as well as personal information including names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, usernames and passwords.
There is no doubt that a primary concern raised by these data breaches is risk ...
- H-1B Nonimmigrant Season Opens on April 1, 2014, for Fiscal Year 2015
- H-1B Petition Amendments May Be Required Due to Changed Job Location
- DOL's Administrative Review Board Applies "Bona Fide Termination" Rule to E-3 Worker
- Infosys Pays Record $34 Million in Settlement
- New York Federal District Court Awards Undocumented Immigrants FLSA Damages
- California Passes "Immigrant Friendly" Legislation
- OCAHO Provides ...
By: Alaap Shah and Ali Lakhani
Why is data breach such a rampant problem within the health care industry?
As health care rapidly digitizes through adoption of electronic health records, mobile applications and the like, the risk of data breach is rising exponentially. To effectively manage this risk, health care companies and their business associates must be vigilant by implementing and evaluating security controls in the form of administrative, physical and technical safeguards. Health care companies also have resources to assist them with managing this risk. Specifically ...
Our colleague Frank C. Morris, Jr., at Epstein Becker Green wrote the December issue of Take 5, with five key action items for employers in 2014. Following is an excerpt:
It’s December, and human resources professionals and law departments are reflecting on the issues addressed in 2013 and giving thanks for incident-free holiday parties. But the big question is this: What issues should get priority attention for 2014 as part of a proactive approach to workplace issues and limiting potential employment and labor law claims? This month’s Take 5 provides a “Top 5″ list of action ...
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Recent Updates
- The Rising Threats of Multi-Modal and Agentic AI in Cyber Attacks
- State Insurance Department Statements Scrutinize MA and MedSupp Unfair Trade Practices
- DOJ Subpoena Seeks Health Information of Hospital Patients Receiving Gender-Affirming Care: Will Judge Grant Motion to Quash?
- Podcast: 42 CFR Part 2 Final Rule: What’s Changing and What Do You Need to Know? – Diagnosing Health Care
- Congress Creates Yet Another Cliff for Medicare Telehealth Extensions (and We’re Running Out of Metaphors)