Despite Congress’ efforts to use riders to neutralize a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA or Act), the Federal government (Government) owes certain insurers $12 billion. On April 27, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled 8-1 that congressional riders added to appropriations bills that funded the Centers for Medicare & … Continue Reading
The 2020 Legislative Session will begin its 60-day trek to completion on Tuesday, January 14, 2020. The following is a sample of bills that have been filed. We encourage you to review these bills, and contact us with specific questions about them. The listing of these bills should not be interpreted as any indication that … Continue Reading
The Akerman Healthcare Practice Group, as part of its ongoing informational blogs and Practice Updates, will be publishing a series of articles, each outlining a significant healthcare industry issue from 2018, with an eye towards what to expect in 2019. The following is the third in our series – The Year in Review/The Year Ahead: … Continue Reading
Just over four weeks after the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its score of the American Healthcare Act (AHCA), the bill passed by a narrow margin in the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate released ‘The Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017’. Upon initial review, we are providing a quick overview of this proposed … Continue Reading
While the Senate Budget Committee works to draft legislation to reconcile the American Health Care Act, the repeal and replace bill passed by the House, there is no expectation of a repeal of the charitable care obligations imposed on tax exempt hospitals under Section 501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code as part of the Affordable … Continue Reading
Perhaps the high fives in the Rose Garden of the White House a few weeks ago may have been a bit premature. On Wednesday, May 24, 2017, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its analysis of the revised American Health Care Act (AHCA), and the review contained positive budgetary news, but the overall impact of … Continue Reading
To great fanfare by both the leadership of the Republican caucus in the House of Representatives (the House) and President Trump, on May 4, 2017, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the proposed successor/replacement to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed the House by a narrow vote of 217-213. Unsurprisingly, no member of the Democratic … Continue Reading
An Affordable Care Act (ACA) provision that is often-overlooked by the media, but has impacted the ability of insurers and their non-insurance related entities, in their role as employers, to take tax deductions for certain compensation paid to their highly paid employees may be ending at the end of the year. If passed, the House … Continue Reading
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), as a whole, did not have a significant impact on pharmacy services per se. However, a complete repeal would likely impact certain areas of pharmacy services including the drug benefit for the exchange plans, the donut hole for Medicare Part D, states’ necessary Medicaid rebates, and certain recipients of 340B … Continue Reading
President Trump has been clear in his intention to repeal the ACA. In fact, among President Trump’s first executive orders was one seeking to “minimize the economic burden” associated with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). In addition to calling for its prompt repeal, he calls upon the executive branch to minimize the … Continue Reading
In contemplating the ways in which physicians may be affected by the possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—and certain features of any legislation that may replace it—a good place to start is with the person selected by President Trump to be the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – … Continue Reading
In the uncertain atmosphere surrounding the process of ‘repealing’ and replacing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), there are some clues as to what we can expect to come next, at least with regard with the health insurance industry. Obviously, one place to look is to President-Elect Trump himself. During his campaign, then-candidate Trump published a … Continue Reading
Over the course of the last six years in Washington, D.C., one of the primary goals of the Republican Party has been to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Since the Republican Party gained control of the House of Representatives in 2010, there have been literally dozens of votes to repeal the ACA. The Senate … Continue Reading
Recently the White House Behavioral Health Parity Task Force issued guidance on the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (Parity Law). The Task Force could not have known, though, that on November 8th, the election may have changed the direction of the Task Force report and subsequent implementation. … Continue Reading
Healthcare providers and others who receive federal financial assistance are now subject to new non-discrimination rules and notice requirements under the Affordable Care Act. The new regulation prohibits discrimination in healthcare programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability and sex – including pregnancy, gender identity, and sex stereotyping. The … Continue Reading
Health insurers and HMOs have a limited time to review the new federal meaningful access rules and amend plan documents accordingly. However, many payors still have not revised their plans to include the required language, and others might not be aware the rules apply to them.… Continue Reading
A win for efficiency: The AHA suit may force shorter adjudication times for Medicare administrative appeals. In 2014, the American Hospital Association (AHA), along with three hospital systems, filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human services, alleging that the lengthy adjudication time for administrative appeals of Medicare claim denials caused severe economic … Continue Reading
Four years after publication of its proposed rule related to reporting and returning overpayments within 60 days, CMS has issued a final rule that responds to comments and provides greater clarity. The published rule is under the Affordable Care Act requirement that providers report Medicare and Medicaid overpayments and return the overpayment within 60 days … Continue Reading
On December 28, 2015, the IRS announced in Notice 2016-4 that the deadlines for complying with the new reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) will be temporarily extended for purposes of 2015 coverage. The original and updated deadlines are provided below: Deadline for Providing the Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to Individuals Original Deadline: … Continue Reading
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), healthcare providers that receive an overpayment from Medicare or Medicaid are required to report and return the overpayment to the government within 60 days after the date on which the overpayment was identified (commonly referred to as the “60-day rule”). An overpayment retained after 60 days constitutes an “obligation” … Continue Reading
Florida’s First District Court of Appeal issued its opinion in the highly watched case of Southern Baptist Hospital of Florida, Inc. v. Charles et al. The First District Court ruled that the federal Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005 (PSQIA): Expressly preempts any broad discovery rights afforded under Florida’s Amendment 7 for documents … Continue Reading
With ACA reporting deadlines quickly approaching, many employers should be preparing to address the various reporting requirements in order to avoid the significant fines and penalties associated with non-compliance. As of January 2016, employers with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees (Applicable Large Employers or ALEs) will be subject to several complex … Continue Reading
An Illinois circuit court judge has dismissed five of six claims in a consolidated class action against Advocate Health and Hospital Corporation arising from a data breach in July 2013. The judge’s dismissal with prejudice leaves only a negligence claim, based on a duty to reasonably safeguard information, pending against Advocate.… Continue Reading
Florida law makers have decided it is high time to stop allowing addiction recovery residences to operate without regulatory oversight. In its last session, the Florida Legislature passed a new law (CS/CS/HB 21) requiring that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) create a voluntary certification program for substance abuse recovery residences, as well as … Continue Reading
