On May 3, 2012, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Blog posted a delay to the implementation of the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.  CMS stated that, in order to provide time for organizations to prepare for data submission and to sufficiently address the important input CMS received during the rulemaking process, CMS will…

Arbitration clauses in lease agreements have become commonplace and are often included as a matter of course. In theory, arbitration is supposed to be less expensive, provide faster results, and generally be more efficient than traditional litigation. In reality, many have found arbitration to be just as expensive as litigation, if not more so, and…

Husch Blackwell Healthcare Department Chair Curt Chase and his co-presenters explore common hospital/physician relationships that generate serious and complex compliance issues at HCCA’s 16th Annual Compliance Institute in Las Vegas, NV.  They provide methods for effectively auditing, managing and conducting internal investigations and evaluate disclosure options and appropriate fixes.

To read the presentation, click below.

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…