The pandemic has prompted the reallocation of hospital beds from psychiatric care to treatment of COVID patients. This has occurred as mental illness has been on the rise. To cope with the insufficient number of psychiatric beds, it is important for hospitals to curtail readmissions. An often-underutilized tool to do so is the assisted outpatient

The Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services (OIG) has finalized new safe harbors and modifications of existing safe harbors under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) to reflect a policy priority favoring a value-based health care system that “pays for health and outcomes” and that will “remove potential barriers to more effective

The COVID-19 pandemic has had another, less-discussed effect on hospitals. Hearings that traditionally take place in hospitals – such as guardianships, retention, medication over objection, or assisted outpatient hearings – have shifted to a virtual platform.

Below are some considerations for hospital personnel participating in virtual hearings.

(1) Familiarize yourself with the technology

Due to

The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) instituted changes to its annual compliance certification process, effective immediately. These changes apply to those Medicaid, Managed Medicaid, and Service Bureau providers subject to the mandatory compliance program requirements in Section 363-d of the New York State Social Services Law (SSL) and the Deficit

Bob Kern and Marc Ullman published the article, “Cannabis Investments and Exit Strategies: A Case Study” in Pratt’s Journal of Bankruptcy Law.

The article discusses the easiness with which investors can make investments in cannabis companies. However, due to the risks, they would be well-advised to have an exit plan in the event their investment

The cannabis industry is growing in leaps and bounds, but entrepreneurs interested in developing cannabis companies – as well as business people interested in investing in them – must make certain that they know what they are getting themselves into. That is where “due diligence,” including understanding how the bankruptcy law applies to

On June 9, the Beazley Group, a specialty insurer affiliated with Lloyd’s Underwriters, issued a pointed reminder that, as we continue to fight the global pandemic of COVID-19, the cyber pandemic of ransomware continues.

According to Beazley’s Breach Response Services group, ransomware incidents in the first quarter of 2020 increased by 25% compared to Q4

In our prior bulletin, we discussed the likely lack of civil immunity from Justice Center enforcement actions conferred in other contexts by Executive Order 202.10. However, other Executive Orders provided some relief in the form of certain suspended or waived requirements applicable to facilities licensed by the Office of People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD).

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False Claims Act, Medical Necessity and Government Regulation of Medicine

In recent years, much attention has been paid to what makes a claim “false” under the False Claims Act (“FCA”) when the underlying misconduct is based on the alleged lack of medical necessity for the services provided.  Bearing on this issue are Court of Appeals

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it had reached an agreement with Blue Bell Creameries of Brenham, Texas, to permit the company to plead guilty to two misdemeanor counts of distributing adulterated ice cream in violation of the federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act and pay a criminal fine and forfeiture amount