Physicians must be aware that a full reporting of all adverse events, whether malpractice awards/settlements, license restrictions, hospital privilege issues, or insurance payor terminations, are set forth in a semi-public and centralized database known as the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB).» Read More

For those who have practiced only in a large, bureaucratic health care system, starting up a private practice, either alone or with partners, might sound like a dream come true. But the effort required to run an efficient practice can seem both daunting and prohibitive.» Read More

On June 10, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued an emergency temporary standard (ETS) workplace safety rule that requires health care employers to protect workers from on-the-job risk of COVID-19 infection. This rule follows President Biden’s executive order directing OSHA to pursue an ETS for COVID-19 in high-risk workplaces.» Read More

As we look toward the end of a tumultuous year, it is incumbent on all those who are involved in the fight against COVID-19 to consider what was learned, acknowledge where efforts went wrong, celebrate collective achievements, and transition the provision of medicine to comport with the ever-changing needs of patients.» Read More

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have issued two highly-anticipated and significant final rules (scheduled to be published today, December 2, 2020) that seek to modernize and clarify the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and Physician Self-Referral Statute (Stark).» Read More

On August 25, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule with comment period, which establishes new COVID-19 testing and reporting requirements for a variety of health care providers, including nursing facilities, clinical laboratories, and hospitals.» Read More

In the immediate onset of the COVID-19 crisis, federal, state, and local governments implemented a wide swath of regulations intended to protect the health and financial wellbeing of employees and their loved ones. One such set of regulations, enacted by Congress in March 2020 and known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA”), generally provides expanded paid sick leave, free COVID-19 testing, and expanded unemployment benefits for workers.» Read More

The Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) Work Plan sets forth various projects including OIG audits and evaluations that are underway or planned to be addressed by the OIG during the fiscal year. The OIG updates its Work Plan monthly. The July 2020 Work Plan updates include six items directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic and includes the following:

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On Friday, May 15, 2020, Gov. Murphy issued Executive Order 145, allowing physicians and dentists to resume elective surgeries and invasive procedures as of Tuesday, May 26. This is long-awaited news by both patients and doctors. However, before practices start scheduling and performing elective procedures and surgeries, they should ensure that the practice complies with the directives of the New Jersey Department of Health or the Division of Consumer Affairs, depending on where the procedure will be performed.» Read More

Beginning April 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”), assisted by UnitedHealth Group, began distributing the $30 billion to health care providers and health care systems. These payments are not loans and will not need to be repaid.» Read More