The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) recently released a favorable advisory opinion, OIG Advisory Opinion No. 24-01 (the “Opinion”), to a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance...more
Is Medicare Advantage really a Disadvantage for seniors and taxpayers? Our nation is graying rapidly. Every day, 10,000 baby boomers, members of one of the largest generations in U.S. history, hit the traditional...more
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued two identical favorable OIG Advisory Opinions, concluding that, although the proposed arrangement (“Proposed Arrangement”) between a Medicare Supplement insurer (“MediGap...more
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) recently released key Medicare figures for 2021 that will affect all elderly and disabled individuals who receive program benefits. This notice summarizes the changes...more
Hospital patients who need additional care after being discharged from the hospital are usually sent to either an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) or a skilled nursing facility (SNF). Although these facilities may look...more
With Advisory Opinion 18-06, issued July 11, 2018, the OIG added to the ever-growing number of favorable advisory opinions addressing an agreement between a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) insurer and a...more
On June 7, 2018, the OIG issued favorable Advisory Opinion 18-04, thereby approving another arrangement between a group of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) insurers and a preferred hospital organization (PHO)....more
Advisory Opinion 17-06 joins a long list of opinions approving arrangements between a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) insurer and a preferred hospital organization (PHO). While this advisory opinion does not...more
With Advisory Opinion 17-04, issued August 24, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) adds to the ever-growing number of favorable advisory opinions regarding an agreement...more
On November 3, 2016, the OIG issued another favorable Advisory Opinion, No. 16–11, regarding an agreement between a Medigap insurer and preferred hospital network. The OIG has issued several opinions regarding similar...more
On March 11, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Service, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued an advisory opinion approving the use of a preferred hospital network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health...more
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 15-09 [PDF] on July 16, 2015, once again approving Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) insurers indirect...more
On June 12, 2015, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 15-08. This opinion continues the well-established pattern of favorable advisory opinions which...more
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently issued Advisory Opinion 15-03 and concluded that a licensed provider (the Requestor) of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance (Medigap) would not be sanctioned under the civil...more
OIG Advisory Opinion 15-03 approves a Medigap insurer’s program that, among other things, calls for (a) network hospitals to waive the deductible for Medicare enrollees, (b) the insurer to pay the hospital network a fee each...more
On October 21, 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 14-10, approving a Medigap insurer’s proposed contract with a preferred hospital network. Similar to...more
On September 17, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued Advisory Opinion 14-08 [PDF]. This opinion is yet another favorable advisory opinion approving a Medicare...more
On August 18, 2014, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued another advisory opinion approving a licensed insurance broker’s proposal to establish a preferred hospital network...more
On August 25, 2014, the OIG released an advisory opinion declining to impose civil monetary penalties on a Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance – or Medigap – insurer that planned to discount inpatient hospital deductibles...more
Last Monday the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of Health & Human Services posted an advisory opinion (No. 14-07) allowing a Medigap insurance company to strike a deal with hospitals for discounts—even waivers—of the...more
The OIG has approved a licensed insurance broker’s proposal to establish a preferred hospital network as part of Medicare Supplemental Health Insurance policies (Medigap) and related premium credit offered to policy holders....more
On February 20, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released Advisory Opinion 14-02, concerning the use of preferred hospital networks as part of certain Medicare Supplemental...more
In spite of a slow start, the OIG has issued a number of interesting advisory opinions to date in 2013. Here are a few of the highlights. The OIG reiterated its long-standing concern about arrangements which “carve out”...more