On April 8, 2022, President Biden issued a memorandum ordering his executive departments to take steps to combat the long term effects of COVID-19. In particular, the memorandum focused on efforts to address the effects of “Long COVID.” The memorandum noted that “Long COVID” symptoms “can include anxiety and depression, fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty … Continue Reading
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) will be lifting its long-standing refusal to accept requests for advisory opinions if the request describes a course of action that is “the same or substantially the same” as a course of action that is either under investigation by OIG, or is the … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Marquan Robertson, a Reed Smith summer associate. In 2019, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced its Right of Access Initiative. The Right of Access Initiative realizes OCR’s commitment to ensuring the aggressive enforcement of patients’ rights to receive copies of their medical … Continue Reading
On January 28, 2021, the White House issued President Biden’s Executive Order on Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (the “Executive Order”), which seeks to increase access to affordable health insurance and strengthen Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, particularly in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this Executive Order, the … Continue Reading
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agency that enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), is the latest federal agency to jump on the HHS rulemaking bandwagon issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on December 10, 2020, that proposes pivotal changes … Continue Reading
On October 5, 2020, the White House issued President Trump’s Executive Order on Saving Lives Through Increased Support for Mental- and Behavioral-Health Needs (the “Executive Order”), which seeks to provide federal support to address mental and behavioral health concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order acknowledges the exacerbating effects that the COVID-19 pandemic … Continue Reading
Even amidst the chaos of a global pandemic, this year multiple U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies have dialed in on promoting and enforcing patients’ rights to access their health information. In just the past month, HHS’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agency that enforces the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability … Continue Reading
Following the distribution of billions of relief aid to healthcare providers and amidst the guidance issued around reopening of nursing homes throughout the country, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) unveiled a COVID-19 Response Strategic Plan on May 26, 2020 after updating its Workplan a few days earlier. … Continue Reading
The recently passed “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” (CARES Act) is sweeping legislation that will have widespread impact on companies in the health care and life sciences space. In addition to expanding coverage of COVID-19 testing and preventive services, the Act includes provisions to address health care workforce needs, eases restrictions surrounding telehealth … Continue Reading
Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced proposed changes to modernize the regulations that interpret the Physician Self-Referral Law (the Stark Law) and the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute. In a press release, HHS states these proposed rules are intended to “provide greater certainty for healthcare providers participating in value-based arrangements and providing coordinated … Continue Reading
On July 18, 2018, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for regulatory review a proposed rule entitled “Removal Of Safe Harbor Protection for Rebates to Plans or PBMs Involving Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Creation of New Safe Harbor … Continue Reading
Immediately following Sunday’s tragic shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, friends and family frantically gathered at Orlando Regional Medical Center, attempting to get information about their loved ones. However, hospital officials hesitated to provide specific updates. Why? Because the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and implementing regulations restrict the patient-identifiable health information that … Continue Reading
On June 17, 2015, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) issued a proposed rule to implement civil money penalty (CMP) provisions added to section 340B of the Public Health Service Act as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The proposed rule addresses three primary issues: (i) the calculation of the 340B “ceiling price” … Continue Reading
The Administration has updated its regulatory agenda, which lists major pending or planned regulatory actions and the anticipated timing of rulemaking activity. The agenda lists numerous pending HHS proposed and final rules in a range of policy areas, including Medicare payment updates, 340B drug pricing policies, and changes to fraud and abuse authorities, among many others.… Continue Reading
Today HHS published a request for public comments regarding the health plan identifier (HPID), including the requirements regarding health plan enumeration, and the requirement to use the HPID in electronic health care transactions. Specifically, HHS is seeking information regarding the following: The HPID enumeration structure outlined in the September 5, 2012 HPID final rule, including … Continue Reading
On May 8, 2015, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a final rule to implement the HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (HOPE Act), which modifies standards related to Organ Procurement Transplantation Network (OPTN) acquisition of organs from individuals known to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Under the final rule, organs from … Continue Reading
Today the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) officially requested White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review of new “omnibus guidelines” on the 340B drug discount program. While the guidelines are not yet available to the public, the document will presumably fulfill HRSA’s pledge last year to address “key policy issues raised by … Continue Reading
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking White House review of its proposed rule to implement new Affordable Care Act 340B drug discount program enforcement authorities and pricing policies. More than four years after soliciting comments on the planned rulemaking, the HRSA proposal will address its authority to impose civil monetary penalties (CMPs) on … Continue Reading
On March 30, 2015, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its proposed rule on Stage 3 meaningful use criteria, which focus on the advanced use of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology to promote improved outcomes for patients. The proposed rule would establish the requirements that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access … Continue Reading
The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury published a final rule on March 18, 2015 that amends the definition of excepted benefits to allow group health plan sponsors, in limited circumstances, to offer wraparound coverage to individuals who are purchasing individual health insurance in the private market, including through the Affordable Care … Continue Reading
HHS has sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for final regulatory clearance a proposed rule on Stage 3 meaningful use criteria for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The Stage 3 rule will focus on advanced use of EHR technology to promote improved outcomes for patients, … Continue Reading
The Administration has posted its fall regulatory agenda listing major pending or planned regulatory actions and anticipated timing of rulemaking. The agenda lists numerous pending HHS proposed and final rules in a range of policy areas, including Medicare payment updates, revisions to provider conditions of participation, and changes to fraud and abuse authorities, among many others. … Continue Reading
HHS has published the FY 2016 Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP), Enhanced FMAP, and disaster-recovery FMAP adjustments. These percentages, which will apply from October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016, apply in determining the federal matching for state expenditures for Medicaid and certain other medical and other social services.… Continue Reading
On December 8, 2014, HHS is publishing a notice announcing that the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues is requesting public comment on ethical considerations related to public health emergency response, focusing on the current Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic. In particular, the Commission is examining: U.S. public policies that restrict association or … Continue Reading
