The Texas Legislature has enacted new laws specifying requirements for lien waivers and releases. These new laws protect laborers and materialmen by preserving their lien rights until they get paid. The old, common practice of forcing subcontractors to sign otherwise enforceable “blanket lien waivers,” in exchange for the privilege of working on a project, is…

The Texas Medicare Administrator Contractor changes from TrailBlazer to Novitas (formerly Highmark Medicare Services)

For many years, TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC  (TrailBlazer) was both the fiscal intermediary (Part A) and carrier (Part B) for providers located in Texas.  TrailBlazer was responsible for the fee-for-service Medicare payments, local coverage decisions and physician enrollment into the Medicare…

Pete Enko and Steve James presented a webinar on HIPAA HITECH enforcement including breach notification requirements, response strategies and what to expect with upcoming HIPAA audits.

To watch a recording of this webinar, click here.

If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact  Pete Enko (816-983-8312 or pete.enko@huschblackwell.com) or Steve

Husch Blackwell Healthcare Department Chair Curt Chase presented at the American College of Healthcare Executives’ 2012 Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago, IL.  Curt and his co-presenters discuss the various issues impacting successful hospital/physician integration efforts in light of healthcare reform and changes to reimbursement methodologies. They explore a full range of integration alternatives including…

Here are some of the likely effects on landowners of the new Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day decision by the Texas Supreme Court:

(1)    Landowners within the jurisdiction of the Edwards Aquifer Authority, who prior to this thought that they had no hope of pumping more groundwater than allowed by permits based on their historic…

Needlesticks and Sharps Injuries

Congress passed the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act (the NSPA) in 2001.  The NSPA directed OSHA to revise its Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to require employers to provide safety-engineered devices to workers who are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens, to review the control plans describing employee protection measures at least…

On February 17, 2012, the Texas Supreme Court held in Edwards Aquifer Authority v. Day that land ownership in Texas includes ownership of groundwater in place that cannot be taken without adequate compensation.  In the specific context of the Day case, this meant that the EAA could not deny Mr. Day the right to pump…

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a press release alerting doctors and other providers to expect increased scrutiny from the OIG when reassigning their Medicare benefits to other entities.1  On February 8, 2012, OIG cautioned all providers to be more mindful of services billed under the provider’s Medicare number.  As a general…

CMS has, in the past, expressed concern regarding the use of concierge medicine by physicians treating Medicare patients.  CMS has prosecuted some concierge care practices for charging concierge fees for “non-covered services” under Medicare.  Despite this opposition, patients and physicians have increasingly implemented concierge-like relationships, including amenities that provide unlimited access to physicians via email,…

On February 24, 2012 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking setting forth the “Stage 2” Meaningful Use requirements.  The proposed rule specifies the Stage 2 criteria that eligible providers must meet in order to qualify for Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR incentive payments.

WHAT IS “MEANINGFUL USE”?

The…