WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 21, 2020)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released additional information on the Provider Relief Fund deadline for submitting revenue information. The Agency is also reminding eligible providers that they have until June 3, 2020, to accept the Terms and Conditions and submit their revenue information to support receiving an additional payment from the Provider Relief Fund $50 billion General Distribution.
HHS
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 19, 2019)—President Donald Trump signed HR 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act into law yesterday. The bill responds to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) by providing paid sick leave and free coronavirus testing expanding food assistance and unemployment benefits, and requiring employers to provide additional protections for health care workers.
Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act of 2019 HR 2477/S 1280
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 12, 2020)—This week, the President’s Fiscal Year 2021 Budget was published by the Trump Administration. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published an accompanying Budget in Brief that highlights all the proposals that impact health care.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 22, 2019)—The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently conducted an audit of hospice organizations to check on the quality of hospice care and ensure registered nurses were conducting visits every 14 days. Below is a summary of the findings. The full report is found here.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 25, 2019)—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) has responded to members of the House of Representatives who joined a Congressional sign-on letter asking the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS to reconsider plans to include non-invasive ventilators in Round 2021 of the competitive bidding program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 18, 2019)—Recently the Senate Appropriations Committee announced legislation funding the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education. This legislation outlines discretionary spending limits allowable to HHS as well as recommendations from Congress on how the money is allocated within agencies and programs. This is an annual process dictating spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year.
Complying with HIPAA in the face of data breaches and ransomware attacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2019)—More than 40% of the members of the United States House of Representatives have joined a letter asking federal regulators to keep noninvasive ventilators out of the next round of the competitive bidding program for HME.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 18, 2019)—The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued a proposed rule significantly revising the nondiscrimination regulations that implemented Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The revisions are intended to reduce burden, eliminate redundancy with several other nondiscriminatory regulations, and provide clarity in the application of nondiscrimination requirements.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2019)—As the home medical equipment industry prepares for the next round of the competitive bidding program, patient advocacy groups are rallying around the latest category added to the program—non-invasive ventilation (NIV).
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (April 30, 2019)—On Friday, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new interpretations to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act of 2009 regarding HIPAA violations.
The HITECH Act outlined four tiers of violations for covered entities by level of culpability:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (February 15, 2019)—The National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) over a misguided policy determination that could significantly reduce patients’ access to home infusion therapy services.
LENEXA, Kan. (October 1, 2018)—WellSky, a health and community care technology company backed by TPG Capital, announced that recently acquired BlueStrata EHR, a cloud-based electronic health record (EHR) for long-term post-acute care providers, is taking on WellSky’s branding to become WellSky Long-Term Care.
(August 13, 2018)—Since inception in March 2007, the 10 Medicare Fraud Strike Force units have charged more than 3,700 defendants who collectively have falsely billed the Medicare program for more than $14 billion, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). A new force in the Newark, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania region has just been added.
Hospital-acquired condition rates falling with improved best practices.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 6, 2018)—Data released this week by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) show continued progress in improving patient safety, a signal that initiatives led by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are helping to make care safer.
Conducting a mock audit shows good intentions to payers and auditors
Report does not adequately assess beneficiary access issues, CQRC says.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 29, 2018)—The Council on Quality Respiratory Care (CQRC) today warned a report released by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG)—Round 2 Competitive Bidding for Oxygen: Continued Access For Vast Majority of Beneficiaries—underestimates the negative impact the Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medicare Equipment (DME) continues to have on beneficiary access to home respiratory supplies and services.