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.)
Licensure
Connecticut Adds Requirements for Opioid Prescribing and Expands Provider Licensure and Credentialing Avenues
By Nathaniel Arden, Erin Turkis & Guest Contributor on
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.…
Connecticut Governor Signs Bill Introducing Programs to Improve Maternal Health
By Conor Duffy, Erin Turkis & Guest Contributor on
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.…
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CMS Issues Guidance for Providers on Waivers, Flexibilities and End of COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
By Conor Duffy, Erin Turkis & Guest Contributor on
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:…
California Governor Signs Bill Further Increasing Oversight of Hospice Agencies
By Leslie Levinson, Danielle Tangorre & Erin Turkis on
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.…
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New York State Department of Health Releases Administrative Guidance for LCHSAs’ Licensure Amendments
By Leslie Levinson & Danielle Tangorre on
The New York State Department of Health (DOH) recently released a “Dear Administrator Letter” (DAL) DHCSB 22-02 for Licensed Home Care Services Agencies (LCHSAs). The DAL addresses guidance and procedures for LCHAs as they relate to certain administrative licensure amendments. Such amendments include changing the service, county of operation, sites, address of agency or operator, the corporate name or assumed name (d/b/a), or closing a site. …
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