Interim Final Rule Increases Civil Monetary Penalty Amounts – On September 2, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an interim final rule that “adjust[s] for inflation the maximum civil monetary penalty amounts for the various civil monetary penalty authorities for all agencies within HHS.”  The interim final rule was published in the Federal Register and goes into effect today.   The interim final rule can be found here.

OMB Completes Its Review of the Emergency Preparedness Rule for Providers – On August 29, 2016, the White House Office of Budget and Management (OMB) completed its review of a rule that updates the emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid providers and suppliers.  According to the abstract contained on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs’s website, the purpose of the rule is to ensure that participating providers and suppliers “are adequately prepared to meet the needs of patients, residents, clients, and participants during disasters and emergency situations.”  Final action is expected to be taken in December.  The original proposed rule, which was published on December 27, 2013, can be found here.  Further information about the status of the rule can be found on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs’s website, which is located here.