On April 10, 2024, CMS released the FY 2025 IPPS Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule updates Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) payment rates and makes changes to Disproportionate Share Hospital (“DSH”) payments, various Quality Reporting Programs and requests feedback from the public on several issues. Increase to Payment Rates Under the IPPS CMS proposes to increase operating payment rates for IPPS acute care hospitals by 3% with a productivity adjustment of 0.4 % for FY 2025 resulting in a proposed increase of 2.6%. CMS estimates that changes in operating and capi ..read more

Medical Properties Trust has sold its interests in ten hospitals for approximately $1.1 billion. Five of the hospitals are located in Utah and leased to an affiliate of CommonSpirit. They were sold to a joint venture. The remaining five hospitals are located in California and New Jersey. They were sold to Prime Healthcare. The hottest job markets in 2023, according to the Wall Street Journal and Moody’s Analytics, were 1) Salt Lake City; 2) Jacksonville; 3) Orlando; 4) Tampa; and 5) Oklahoma City. The rankings were based on employment rate, labor force participation, changes in employment lev ..read more

NATIONAL 96% of hospitals share website data: Study 5 numbers on the rise of Stark law violations Aetna lawsuit could reshape MA supplemental benefits AHA concerned over penalties for cybersecurity standards Corporate groups pass hospitals in ownership of physician practices Doctors suggest ways to improve Medicare for physician payments, patient care EEOC finalizes rule to implement pregnant worker protection law Fewer doctors are going into pediatrics. That’s leaving a huge gap in hospitals Health sector wary as Congress starts Change hearings Hospital group calls HHS’ web tracking rules un ..read more

On Thursday, April 18, 2024, the Health and Human Services Department (“HHS”) published a Final Rule implementing 340B Program Administrative Dispute Resolution Regulations (“ADR Rule”), which can be found here. The ADR Rule is set to be published on April 19, 2024, and will go into effect 60 days after the publication date which should be Tuesday, June 18, 2024. According to HHS, the final ADR Rule aims to accomplish five goals: Increase the accessibility of Administrative Dispute Resolution (“ADR”) for covered entities by moving away from a trial-like process to an administrative process th ..read more

On April 17, 2024, the United States Supreme Court issued an important decision under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) which clarifies the harm necessary to make a claim of discrimination actionable when the claim rests on a job transfer. Title VII provides, in part, that it is unlawful “to fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.” The Muldrow Decisi ..read more

Health care continues to drive private equity (“PE”) activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s PE team of attorneys and advisors leverage the strength and depth of our bench to navigate and efficiently execute PE transactions. The summary below includes highlights of recent PE deals and legislative updates. Julie Blasingim has been a ..read more

Hall Render is pleased to announce Brandon Helms has joined the firm in its Detroit office. Brandon Helms brings a wealth of knowledge to his position as a shareholder in Hall Render’s health regulatory section. With more than 15 years of experience between government and private practice, Brandon offers a unique perspective to his clients, particularly in the complex and highly regulated field of health care law. As a former federal prosecutor and first-chair trial lawyer, Brandon is adept at litigating in court and leading a team of investigators. He routinely assists clients in conducting i ..read more

On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a memorandum to state survey agency directors highlighting revisions and clarification to the Hospital Interpretive Guidelines for Informed Consent (the “Guidance”). The Guidance clarifies informed consent requirements for the performance of pelvic, breast, prostate and rectal examinations (referred to in the Guidance as “sensitive exams”), particularly on patients under anesthesia. In a letter addressed to the nation’s teaching hospitals and med ..read more

NATIONAL 2nd ransomware group reportedly tries to extort Change Healthcare 4 priorities for tackling the next public health emergency A new study reveals the states where private equity has the most influence on housing, health care, jobs and pensions About half of rural hospitals had negative margins in COVID-19 pandemic Amazon’s effect on physician consolidation Assessing the Impact of COVID-19 on Rural Hospitals Becerra may leave HHS for California gubernatorial bid: Politico Change asks to consolidate dozens of cyberattack class-action lawsuits CMS proposes 2.6% pay bump for inpatient hos ..read more

On April 10, 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released the 2025 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) Proposed Rule (“Proposed Rule”). The Proposed Rule brings a significant change in that it confirms CMS will adopt updated labor market area delineations based on the 2020 Census, taking effect on October 1, 2024. Hospitals and stakeholders should review whether they are in a county affected by the updated delineations and assess any potential impact on Medicare reimbursements. The Proposed Rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on May 2 ..read more