The Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice has intensified its scrutiny of health care markets by establishing a dedicated task force: the Task Force on Health Care Monopolies and Collusion.
The risks go beyond a suit for an
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IRS Announces HSA and HDHP Limits for 2025
The Internal Revenue Service has released Rev. Proc. 2024-25 announcing the inflation-adjusted limits for high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) in 2025. The updated 2025 limits are as follows:
- HSA Contribution Limits: The 2025 HSA contribution
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Solving Healthcare Staffing by Fiat: Oregon and Washington Take Different Approaches
More than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, many healthcare institutions continue to have difficulty fully staffing all their facilities. In response, both the Oregon and Washington legislatures enacted new laws that will change how hospitals plan for and…
Oregon Health Authority Suspends COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Health Care Workers
On May 10, 2023, the Oregon Health Authority (“OHA”) announced that, effective May 11, it is suspending the statewide rule requiring that health care workers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 unless they have an approved medical or religious exception. The…
New Proposed Part 2 Rules Aim for Greater HIPAA Alignment
Long before enactment of HIPAA, substance use disorder (“SUD”) treatment records have enjoyed confidentiality protections under 42 C.F.R. Part 2 (“Part 2”). Since HIPAA/HITECH and related regulations went into effect, SUD treatment providers that are subject to Part 2 (“Part…
Telehealth Safe Harbor Extended
High deductible health plan (“HDHP”) sponsors take note: the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2023 (“CAA23”) temporarily extends the flexibility for HDHPs to provide pre-deductible coverage of telehealth services without affecting the ability to contribute to a HDHP participant’s Health Savings Account…
CMS Issues Final Rule Authorizing Extrapolation as Part of RADV Audits
As a result of a new rule published on February 1, 2023, at 88 Fed. Reg. 6643, Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations soon will be facing enhanced exposure from Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) audits. Under the new rule, effective for…
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Beware!
Any provider who participates in the Medicaid program knows that it risks committing fraud if it bills twice for the same service. Unfortunately, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) that are also Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) have been incorrectly…
Is Any Pandemic Relief Still Available for Employee Benefit Plans?
Though much of U.S. government-sponsored pandemic relief has expired as the country approaches it third new year since its first reported cases of COVID-19, pandemic-related law changes exist that continue to impact employee benefit plans, and it is important that…
Department of Health (“DOH”) Has Issued Material Updates to Rules Governing Coordinated Quality Improvement Program (“CQIP”) Approval
Many health care entities took a “set it and forget it” approach to their CQIPs once the CQIPs were approved by DOH under regulations adopted in 2006. Beginning tomorrow, such entities will need to reconsider their approach. DOH has published…