On Wednesday, October 27, 2021, in a vote of 64-52 the Illinois House passed an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act (Act) that would allow employers to enforce work rules and policies relating to...more
On February 25, 2021, the Wisconsin Legislature enacted 2021 Wisconsin Act 4 (the “Act”), which, in part, grants immunity to business entities from civil liability related to COVID-19 exposure, with certain exceptions...more
In the wake of a record number of Covid-19 cases and with flu season around the corner, Governor Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Health Secretary Designee Andrea Palm issued a new emergency order on October 1, 2020....more
In June of 2020, Husch Blackwell alerted non-profit healthcare organizations and higher education institutions of the availability of FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program disaster relief funds pursuant to then published FEMA...more
In July of 2016, through 2013 Wisconsin Act 236 (Act 236), many of the regulatory provisions of Wis. Admin. Code DHS 124, Wisconsin’s long-standing hospital regulations, were sunset and replaced with the Medicare Conditions...more
On March 13, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a National Emergency by President Trump. This declaration set in motion the availability of FEMA Public Assistance Program (PAP) disaster relief funds to support...more
Private nonprofit (“PNP”) organizations that own and/or operate medical facilities, such as hospitals and long term care facilities, are eligible for FEMA Public Assistance (PA) Program disaster relief funds. Under the...more
Although Wisconsin hospitals have remained busy providing COVID-related treatment and services for the last two months, many Wisconsin health care providers chose to postpone elective surgeries and procedures in compliance...more
Even as fans ask when, if ever, will the Milwaukee Brewers season begin and will the Packers and Badgers even kick off in the fall, with or without fans, on May 11 Andrea Palm, Secretary-Designee of the Department of Health...more
On March 13, 2020 the COVID-19 pandemic was declared a National Emergency by President Trump.This declaration set in motion the availability of FEMA Public Assistance (PA) disaster relief funds to support nonprofit healthcare...more
On April 15, 2020, Governor Evers signed into law the 2019 Wisconsin Act 185 with bipartisan support, a state response to the COVID-19 pandemic enacting certain provisions implemented in previously issued emergency orders....more
On April 15, 2020, Governor Evers signed the bipartisan bill (Act 185) relating to the state government response and enacting certain provisions implemented in previously issued emergency orders. The legislation, received...more
In a Policy Statement released on April 3, 2020, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it will exercise its enforcement discretion and not impose...more
On April 16, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its Section 1135 Medicaid Waiver to CMS. The waiver submission was made possible once Governor Evers signed the Wisconsin COVID-19 Bill into law...more
On April 3, 2020 the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) released DQA Memo 20-001, which establishes the process for hospitals and critical access hospitals (collectively, “hospitals”) to temporarily expand acute...more
In response to the March 27th, Executive Order #16 (EO16) by Wisconsin Governor Evers, on March 30st HB blog, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) issued guidance to medical malpractice insurance...more
On March 24, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) prepared correspondence to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) seeking waivers of certain Medicaid requirements pursuant to Section 1135 of...more
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued blanket waivers of sanctions under the federal Physician Self-Referral Law (also known as the Stark Law) with respect to specific...more
On March 20, 2020, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) released revised guidance to prevent and control COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities and Assisted Living Facilities. This revision is based on the...more