On May 14, 2026, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act No. 26-13, “An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes” (the “Act”) into law. The Act contains numerous revisions to State public health and health care laws, and several provisions deserve close attention from health care organizations, including hospitals and health
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Hospitals Face New Attestation and NPI Requirements for Off-Campus Outpatient Locations by January 1, 2028
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, HR 7148 (the Act), just signed into law on February 3, 2026, ended a brief government shutdown and includes multiple provisions with a critical impact on health care organizations. We have previously covered the Act’s renewal and extension through 2027 of COVID-era Medicare telehealth flexibilities and its revisions to…
Joint Commission Releases Guidance for AI in Health Care
This post is co-authored with Lauren Ludwig, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Lauren is not admitted to practice law.
The Joint Commission (TJC) and Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) recently published the Guidance on the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare (Guidance), which outlines strategies for health care organizations to optimize their integration of health…
Connecticut Enacts Wide-Ranging Health Care Law Modifying Various Existing Rules and Laws
On June 25, 2025, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 25-97, “An Act Concerning Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes” (the Act). The Act includes a wide range of provisions affecting patient confidentiality, hospital and provider licensure, scope of practice, civil penalties, and Connecticut’s statewide health information exchange. Significant…
New York Implements Health Equity Impact Assessment as New Requirement for Certificate of Need Process
On June 22, 2023, New York State Public Health Law § 2802-b, added a Health Equity Impact Assessment (HEIA) to the Certificate of Need (CON) process for certain health care facilities. The new requirement comes as part of larger legislative changes to the Public Health Laws passed in 2021. The new HEIA requirement applies to any CON applications submitted on or after June 22, 2023, except there is a partial carve out for Diagnostic and Treatment Centers whose patient population is 50 percent or more Medicaid eligible or uninsured. The Department of Health also issued regulations on June 29, 2023 (10 NYCRR 400.26). The purpose of the HEIA is to understand the health equity impact on a specific project, the impact it may have on medically underserved groups and to ensure community input and assessment are considered. The Department of Health has expressed that their vision is “to have health equity considerations meaningfully impact the planning and execution of health care facility projects.” (NYSDOH, Health Equity Impact Assessment, Webinar Series: Program Documents, September 14, 2023.)
Continue Reading New York Implements Health Equity Impact Assessment as New Requirement for Certificate of Need ProcessConnecticut Adds Requirements for Opioid Prescribing and Expands Provider Licensure and Credentialing Avenues
On June 28, 2023, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act No. 23-97, “An Act Concerning Health and Wellness for Connecticut Residents.” The Act includes a wide range of provisions aimed at supporting health care workforce development and improving access to health care. Some of the provisions of the Act are summarized below.
Continue Reading Connecticut Adds Requirements for Opioid Prescribing and Expands Provider Licensure and Credentialing AvenuesConnecticut Governor Signs Bill Introducing Programs to Improve Maternal Health
On June 26, 2023, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed Public Act No. 23-147, “An Act Protecting Maternal Health.” The Act makes various changes aimed at bolstering health care access and services for maternal and infant health. Key elements of the Act are summarized below.
Continue Reading Connecticut Governor Signs Bill Introducing Programs to Improve Maternal HealthCMS Issues Guidance for Providers on Waivers, Flexibilities and End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a Fact Sheet (Fact Sheet) providing guidance on the impact of the end of the federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) on certain regulatory waivers, legislative changes, and flexibilities that have been established during the PHE. The government previously announced that the PHE will expire at the end of the day on May 11, 2023. CMS is providing this guidance as part of efforts to ease the transition for health care providers, patients, and other industry stakeholders away from pandemic-era policies and practices tied to PHE authorities. CMS emphasizes that many of the waivers and flexibilities are or will become permanent or extended, and others are intended to end on or soon following May 11, 2023.
Below please find a summary of key guidance provided by CMS in the Fact Sheet and in related CMS PHE guidance documents issued recently:
Continue Reading CMS Issues Guidance for Providers on Waivers, Flexibilities and End of COVID-19 Public Health EmergencyCalifornia Governor Signs Bill Further Increasing Oversight of Hospice Agencies
This fall, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill No. 2673 (the Bill), which amends various sections of the California Health and Safety Code relating to hospice agencies. Among other things, the Bill prohibits hospice agency license transfers; adds requirements for hospice agency license applicants; increases oversight authority by the California State Department of Public Health (the Department); and updates the moratorium on new hospice agency licenses.
Continue Reading California Governor Signs Bill Further Increasing Oversight of Hospice AgenciesDepartment of Justice Announces Significant False Claims Act Settlements Tied to Electronic Health Records Arrangements
The Department of Justice (DOJ) recently announced two high-dollar False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement actions involving allegedly fraudulent arrangements tied to the implementation and use of electronic health record systems (EHRs). The respective settlements enable recovery by DOJ of over $100 million, and immediately precede the government’s recent proposal of new rules to promote the interoperability of EHRs. The settlements thus serve as an important reminder of the importance of adhering to federal fraud and abuse laws and regulations as hospitals and other health care providers continue to implement EHR technology.
Continue Reading Department of Justice Announces Significant False Claims Act Settlements Tied to Electronic Health Records Arrangements