Ober|Kaler

A recent Medicare Learning Network Matters [PDF] release notified primary care physicians of their potential eligibility for the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) bonus payments. This 10% bonus is available to primary…more

CMS issued a proposed rule [PDF] last week that would change the way the hospital-specific limitation for the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) adjustment is calculated. The proposed rule would effectively increase…more

On March 10, 2010, the IRS determined that medical residents are exempt from FICA taxes based on the student exception, for tax periods ending before April 1, 2005. Although the refunds apply to tax periods ending before April…more

Two recent SEC enforcement cases continue to remind us that the SEC’s anti-fraud enforcement program is alive and well, and that the anti-fraud provisions of the federal securities laws apply to private companies as well as…more

Last month, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted final amendments to its rules defining an “accredited investor” under the Securities Act of 1933 (Securities Act), with respect to private offerings exempt from…more

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), as part of its cost containment efforts, empowered the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adopt electronic transfer standards in an interim final rule with comment…more

In 2012, new statutes in California and Texas will require that providers make state-specific changes to their existing privacy compliance procedures. The changes made in California are detailed below. Texas’s new law is…more

By now, most providers are well aware that national privacy and security obligations exist on at least two levels. Federal statutes and regulations get the most publicity and dominate most providers’ compliance programs, but…more

Cloud computing is a hot topic in business (including the health care business) due in large measure to the potential cost savings involved. Health care providers, however, have to consider more than just cost savings. At base,…more

Last summer, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sought comments on potential revisions to the Common Rule after over two decades of virtually no change. In the advanced notice of proposed rule making…more

2012 will not, unfortunately, bring certainty to the many providers who submitted hardship exemption requests for the electronic prescribing incentive program (commonly called “eRx”). Although the deadline for submissions for…more

This article was originally published by the Physicians Organizations Practice Group of the American Health Lawyers Association. On December 14, 2011, CMS released the much-anticipated proposed rule implementing the…more

CMS announced on January 5, 2012 that it extended the application deadline for Models 2-4 under the Bundled Payment for Care Improvement Initiative to April 30, 2012. Under the Bundled Payment Initiative, providers propose a set…more

Each year CMS includes its final wage index numbers as part of its final inpatient prospective payment system rule for acute care hospitals. CMS included the FY 2012 wage index numbers in the display copy of the rule posted on…more

On December 20, 2011, CMS announced that it is seeking applications for the Independence at Home Demonstration (IAH Demonstration). The IAH Demonstration will measure the cost effectiveness and quality of primary services by…more