Legislation and Public Policy
April 24, 2020 | John F. Queenan | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy
Although Executive Order 202.10 gave health care providers some immunity for COVID-19 related care, this immunity does not extend to actions by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs (“Justice Center”). A provider or facility could be prosecuted for allegations of abuse or neglect by the Justice Center for actions taken during this
Read MoreApril 23, 2020 | Henry M. Mascia | COVID-19 | Employer/Employee | Legislation and Public Policy
After a teaser on Twitter and a verbal preview during a press conference, President Trump has signed an executive order preventing certain foreign nationals from receiving an immigrant visa for the next 60 days. The purpose of the order is protecting United States workers from competition from foreign workers. In reality, however, the order will
Read MoreApril 22, 2020 | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Litigation
Two recent decisions of the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) illustrate that age and disability status cannot be used as blanket criteria for denying access to health care services, even during a pandemic. This should serve as a warning to healthcare providers about the risks in making triage decisions
Read MoreApril 20, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Nursing Homes
On April 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that it had paid out over $34 billion under the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to healthcare providers affected by the coronavirus public health emergency. Two days later, the figure had grown to $51 billion.
CMS announced an expansion of the program on
Read MoreApril 16, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | COVID-19 | Employer/Employee | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Nursing Homes
An April 13 article in Part B News, “Seeking a lifeline: COVID-19 loans, advance payments on offer, but watch terms,” discussed programs under which healthcare providers can seek financial assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Medicare’s Accelerated and Advance Payment Program and the U.S. Small Business Association’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Rivkin Radler’s Robert Iseman
Read MoreApril 16, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy
An April 15 article in Law360, “Tenn. Hospital Bankruptcy May Be the First of Many,” discusses the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the financial well-being of U.S. hospitals and health systems. Rivkin Radler’s James Lagios, Robert Iseman and Stuart Gordon collaborated on the article.
The article points out that in recent years, U.S. hospitals
Read MoreApril 14, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | COVID-19 | Fraud and Abuse | Home Health | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid
In the latest installment of Rivkin Radler’s COVID-19 Business Briefing Series, held on April 14, Geoffrey Kaiser and Ada Kozicz presented on the recent issuance by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) of blanket Stark Law waivers for certain types of business arrangements, intended to help address the current health emergency. On
Read MoreApril 7, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Cybersecurity | HIPAA | Home Health | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Private Insurers | Telehealth
On April 6, Rivkin Radler’s Eric Fader presented a COVID-19 Business Briefing on Telehealth. The Briefing covered recent developments in federal and state law and policy, and changes in private insurers’ policies, that have been aimed at encouraging the use of telehealth during the current public health emergency.
This Business Briefing was the second in
Read MoreApril 6, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | COVID-19 | Employer/Employee | Legislation and Public Policy
On April 6, Rivkin Radler’s Robert Iseman presented a COVID-19 Business Briefing on the Paycheck Protection Program that was created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Paycheck Protection Program will make up to $349 billion in loans available to small businesses that
Read MoreApril 1, 2020 | Margarita Christoforou | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Nursing Homes
As healthcare providers continue to fight the coronavirus outbreak, many practices are suffering major disruptions due to the cancellation of elective surgeries and office visits, among other things. In an effort to lessen the financial hardships facing these providers, on March 28 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an expansion of its
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