Apr 17, 2017 | Health Care
On March 3, 2017, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“OIG”) issued Advisory Opinion 17-01, which concluded that a hospital could offer free or reduced-cost lodging and meals to certain underserved patients, even...
Mar 13, 2017 | Employment Law
On March 10, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion in Evans v. Georgia Regional Hospital, et al., holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”) does not provide a cause of action for workplace...
Mar 13, 2017 | Medicare and Medicaid
On March 6, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) published data regarding the enforcement activities of Medicaid Fraud Control Units (“MFCUs”) across the country during fiscal year 2016. Forty-nine states (all but...
Feb 13, 2017 | Employment Law
On January 10, 2017, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released proposed guidance on unlawful harassment under federal employment discrimination laws. Though not yet final, the proposed guidance provides insight into the EEOC’s...
Feb 13, 2017 | Health Care
On January 12, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a final rule updating the OIG’s exclusionary authorities. The final rule can be read in its entirety here:...
Jan 11, 2017 | Health Care
On November 1, 2016, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion holding that registered nurses (“RNs”) and licensed practical nurses (“LPNs”) at Prince George Healthcare Center in Georgetown, SC (the “Center”) do not qualify as “supervisors” under the...
Jan 4, 2017 | Health Care
Every year the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) publishes a Work Plan detailing the various areas of focus for the upcoming fiscal year. OIG’s 2017 Work Plan describes many new and ongoing priorities that...
Dec 12, 2016 | Employment Law
On December 7, 2016, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. St. Joseph’s Hospital, Inc., holding in part that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not mandate reassignment without...
Dec 12, 2016 | Medicare and Medicaid
On December 5, 2016, Judge James Roasberg of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a decision ordering the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to eliminate its massive backlog of Medicare billing appeals within the next...
Nov 4, 2016 | Health Care
On November 1, 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that it had awarded three companies new contracts to serve as recovery audit contractors (“RACs”). These three companies – Performant Recovery, Inc., Cotiviti, LLC, and HMS Federal...
