On August 8, 2023, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued opinions in Mills v. Hartford HealthCare Corp. and Manginelli v. Regency House of Wallingford, Inc. that addressed the scope of immunity for health care workers and facilities under Governor Ned Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7V. Executive Order No. 7V provided immunity for health care professionals and facilities from civil suits when providing health care services in support of the state’s COVID-19 response. Interestingly, the Mills ruling notes that this was the first time the Connecticut Supreme Court addressed the principles that govern interpretation of executive orders. Summaries of these two decisions appear below.Continue Reading Connecticut Supreme Court Issues Opinions Addressing Scope of Immunity for Health Care Workers Under Governor Lamont’s Executive Order No. 7V
Hospitals and Health Systems
Connecticut Governor Signs Health Care Bill Revising Connecticut’s Facility Fee Law
On June 27, 2023, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act 23-171 entitled “An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary Health Care Costs” (“the Act”), which includes changes to Connecticut’s facility fees law. The Act implements previously-announced legislative initiatives that are the product of collaboration between Governor Lamont and the Connecticut Hospital Association, as well as other health care stakeholders.Continue Reading Connecticut Governor Signs Health Care Bill Revising Connecticut’s Facility Fee Law
Connecticut Legislature Passes Law Limiting Physician, PA and APRN Non-Compete Agreements
By Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group, Stephen Aronson & Conor Duffy on
On June 5, 2023, the Connecticut Legislature passed Public Act No. 23-97, “An Act Concerning Health and Wellness for Connecticut Residents” (“the Act”). Sections 13 through 15 of the Act make important changes to Connecticut law governing physician, physician assistant (PA), and advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) non-compete agreements. These changes are summarized below and scheduled to take effect July 1, 2023. Governor Lamont is expected to sign the Act but has not done so as of the date of this publication.Continue Reading Connecticut Legislature Passes Law Limiting Physician, PA and APRN Non-Compete Agreements
New York Enacts Long Negotiated Budget Bill with Sweeping Implications for Health Care
By Danielle Tangorre, Leslie Levinson & Guest Contributor on
On May 2, 2023, legislators approved the $229 billion New York State FY 2023-2024 Budget Bill (“the Budget”), which was signed by Governor Hochul on May 3, 2023. Article VII of the Budget touches almost every aspect of the New York healthcare system, including home health, hospitals, laboratories, and reproductive health. It contains wide-ranging provisions that expand access to care, allow clinicians to provide more services, and allocate needed resources to providers. It targets Medicaid in multiple ways, including an extension of the Medicaid Global Cap on system-wide spending growth through FY 2025.[i] Here, we outline some of the key provisions that this Budget contains.Continue Reading New York Enacts Long Negotiated Budget Bill with Sweeping Implications for Health Care
DOJ Announces $13 Million Settlement Related to Improper Billing for Lab Tests
By Danielle Tangorre & Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group on
On October 17, 2022, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $13 million settlement with health care services provider Sutter Health, which arose from alleged violations of the federal False Claims Act (FCA). These alleged FCA violations relate to Sutter Health billing the United States for toxicology screening tests performed by other labs.Continue Reading DOJ Announces $13 Million Settlement Related to Improper Billing for Lab Tests
Advisory Opinion 22-17: OIG Declines to Impose Sanctions on a Health System for Forgiveness of Credit Line Note Owed by Clinic
By Robinson+Cole's Health Law Group & Danielle Tangorre on
On September 6, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) published Advisory Opinion 22-17 (Advisory Opinion), in which it declined to impose sanctions against a regional 501(c)(3) not-for-profit health care system that operates four hospitals (Health System) and a clinic that provide services to geographic areas that have been designated as medically-underserved areas and health professional shortage areas (together, the Requestors). The Health System had supported the establishment of the clinic, which is registered as a Free Clinic and been designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike (Clinic), (but is neither a FQHC nor does it receive funds under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act). The arrangement involves the forgiveness of a credit line note entered into by the Health System with the Clinic. The OIG concluded that although the arrangement would constitute prohibited remuneration under the federal anti-kickback statute (AKS) if the requisite intent were present, the arrangement and the safeguards in place did not warrant the imposition of sanctions.Continue Reading Advisory Opinion 22-17: OIG Declines to Impose Sanctions on a Health System for Forgiveness of Credit Line Note Owed by Clinic
Advisory Opinion 22-19: OIG Warns That Proposed Drug Cost Subsidization Arrangement May Warrant Sanctions
On October 5, 2022, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) published Advisory Opinion 22-19 (Advisory Opinion), in which it determined that a proposed oncology drug discount arrangement could constitute grounds for the imposition of sanctions under the federal anti-kickback statute (AKS). The OIG concluded that while beneficiary access to potentially life-saving medications is essential, the provisions of the proposed arrangement “would present more than a minimal risk of fraud and abuse” under the AKS.Continue Reading Advisory Opinion 22-19: OIG Warns That Proposed Drug Cost Subsidization Arrangement May Warrant Sanctions
New Jersey Governor Signs Act Concerning Changes in Control of Health Care Entities
By Leslie Levinson, Danielle Tangorre & Guest Contributor on
On August 18, 2022, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed S-315, “An Act concerning changes in control of health care entities” (the Act). The Act implements employment protection for healthcare workers when certain licensed health care facilities, staffing registries, and home care services in New Jersey undergo a change in ownership. The Act first requires that former health care entity employers provide the successor health care entity with information pertaining to employees (i.e., employee names, addresses, dates of hire, phone numbers, wage rates, employment classifications) not less than thirty days before a change in control. The Act also requires former health care entity owners to inform eligible employees of the rights provided by the Act and to post a notice of their rights under the Act in a conspicuous location.Continue Reading New Jersey Governor Signs Act Concerning Changes in Control of Health Care Entities
DOJ Announces $3.8 Million Settlement to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute Violations
By Nathaniel Arden & Guest Contributor on
On February 9, 2022, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $3.8 million settlement with Catholic Medical Center (CMC) of Manchester, New Hampshire. This settlement resolves allegations that CMC violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The allegations were originally brought in a qui tam lawsuit filed by a physician who is a former employee of CMC.
Continue Reading DOJ Announces $3.8 Million Settlement to Resolve Allegations of False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute Violations