2017 Articles

2017 offers hope and change for Health Savings Accounts By Jessica Bejerea March 2017 A look at the renewed interest in Health Savings Accounts as Congress begins to debate the future of the Affordable Care Act.

All the latest developments in health care law By W. Eugene Basanta, Elizabeth LaRocca, & Ashley Lindsley December 2017 Recent cases, legislation and regulations of interest to health care law practitioners.

All the latest developments in health care law By W. Eugene Basanta, Elizabeth LaRocca, & Ashley Lindsley September 2017 Recent cases, legislation and regulations of interest to health care law practitioners.

All the latest developments in health care law By W. Eugene Basanta, Ashley Lindsley, & Chelbie A. Mitchell June 2017 Recent cases, legislation and regulations of interest to health care law practitioners.

All the latest developments in health care law By W. Eugene Basanta, Elizabeth LaRocca, & Chelbie A. Mitchell March 2017 Recent cases, legislation and regulations of interest to health care law practitioners.

Attorney General Sessions Announces Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit September 2017 A summary of a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice regarding the formation of an Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit

The final rule and other mechanisms to reduce the backlog of Medicare appeals. Will they work? By Michelle E. Lin June 2017 In recent years, the Medicare appeals process has experienced an unprecedented and sustained increase in the number of appeals. A variety of factors have contributed to this and to the resulting backlog of cases. In this issue of the Health Care Lawyer, attorney Michelle E. Lin examines and explains new regulations designed to improve the appeals process making it more efficient and consistent.

Hospital value-based purchasing—CMS should take steps to ensure lower quality hospitals do not qualify for bonuses September 2017 As the health care system moves away from the traditional fee-for-service payment model, new payment schemes have emerged. One such Medicare payment method involves Hospital Value-based Purchasing (HVBP). This issue of the Health Care Lawyer includes a summary of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) study of HVBP.

Prescription opioids—Medicare needs to expand oversight efforts to reduce the risk of harm December 2017 The over-prescription and misuse of highly addictive opioid pain medications has become a matter of intense national concern. In 2016, Medicare spending for opioids was almost $4.1 billion. In November, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report examining Medicare’s oversight with respect to opioid use and prescription. A summary of this report is presented in this issue.