By the Kean Miller Health Law Team
On March 27, 2017, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) posted revisions to the Voluntary Self-Referral Disclosure Protocol (SRDP), which provides a process for the disclosure of potential or actual violations of the federal physician self-referral law (commonly known as the Stark Law). In an attempt
On December 4, 2015, the United States Supreme Court granted a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari in Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States and Commonwealth of Massachusetts ex rel. Julio Escobar and Carmen Correa. The Petition was filed by Universal Health Services, Inc. (“UHS”) challenging the United States Court of Appeals for the
The latest OIG Advisory Opinion, issued February 9, 2015, addresses the issue of sharing federal health care program payments with an excluded practitioner. While federal statutes prohibit payment by any federal health care program, including Medicare or Medicaid, for items or services furnished by an excluded person or furnished at the medical direction or on
On August 29, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued a final rule modifying the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. While CMS is responsible for managing the EHR incentive programs and meaningful use, ONC is responsible
The effect of a physician’s decision to deviate from the pharmaceutical company’s dosage instructions contained in a drug’s FDA approved package insert has been a recurring issue in medical malpractice litigation with many claimants contending that any deviation from the manufacturer’s instructions constitutes malpractice. In a recent case the Louisiana Fourth Circuit has now specifically
Yesterday (March 25, 2014), the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. (“Hobby Lobby”) and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. v. Sebelius (“Conestoga”), two consolidated cases which challenge requirements under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Specifically, each case involves private companies that challenge the federal health care law’s mandate that employee
In its second advisory opinion of the year, issued February 12, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined that it would not impose sanctions pursuant to the anti-kickback statute or civil monetary penalty law on a proposed arrangement involving a licensed offeror of Medicare supplemental health insurance
On February 10, 2014, the Treasury Department released final regulations on the employer mandate provisions under the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare). While the final rules retain much of what was outlined in the proposed regulations issued in December 2012, the most significant news is the additional one-year delay for certain covered employers with respect
The Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (the “Board”) published proposed rules and regulations governing the practice of polysomnography and the licensure of polysomnography technologists and technicians. The Board will accept comments on the proposed rules until 4 p.m. on October 21, 2013.
An individual who does not hold a current license as a polysomnograhic technologist or a permit as a polysomnographic technician is prohibited from engaging in the practice of polysomnographic technology in Louisiana. However, the prohibition does not apply to anyone who is: acting under a license issued by any licensing agency of the state of Louisiana whose scope of practice includes polysomnography; employed as a polysomnograhic technologist by the U.S. Government when acting exclusively within the course and scope of employment; licensed by the Board to practice respiratory therapy; or pursing a course of study in a CAAHEP accredited polysomnograhic technology education program while acting within the course of study.
Polysomnographic technology is the allied health specialty practiced under the direction and supervision of a physician involving the attended monitoring and testing of individuals suffering from any sleep disorder as classified in the International Classification of Sleep Disorders. Procedures are conducted only upon written prescription or verbal order of a physician, which is based on the physician’s clinical evaluation of the patient, and under his direction and supervision. A polysomnographic technologist is an allied health professional who possesses a current license issued by the Board to practice polysomnographic technology to perform both diagnostic and therapeutic polysomnograms under the direction and supervision of a physician. A polysomnographic technician is an allied health professional who possesses a current permit issued by the Board to practice polysomnographic technology under the direct supervision of a physician or qualified allied health professional currently licensed by the Board whose scope of practice includes polysomnography. A supervising physician is a qualified physician who provides direction and supervision to an individual who is licensed or direct supervision to an individual who holds a permit, to practice polysomnographic technology in Louisiana.Continue Reading Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners Releases Proposed Rules Governing the Practice of Polysomnography
The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) has issued a report criticizing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (“CMS”) and its Recovery Audit Contractor (“RAC”) Program. In a report issued on September 4, 2013, the OIG determined that CMS need to take corrective action on