Academic Medical Centers
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityHospitals Face New Attestation and NPI Requirements for Off-Campus Outpatient Locations by January 1, 2028Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities
Advisory Opinions
OIG Advisory Opinion No. 19-02 Allows Pharmaceutical Manufacturer to Temporarily Loan Smartphones to Financially Needy Patients to Receive Data from a Digestible Medication SensorOIG Disapproves of Drug Company’s Plan to Provide Hospitals Free Medications in Advisory OpinionOIG Issues Favorable Advisory Opinion for Trust Donations to Public-Private Research Institute Affiliated with a Health System Having Ongoing Business Relationships with Trustee-Owned Long-Term Care Facilities
Ambulance
Connecticut Budget Bill Reinforces EMTALA and Emergency Medical Services Obligations for State HospitalsConnecticut Governor Signs Bill Adding Requirements for Hospitals and Expanding DPH’s Enforcement ScopeConnecticut Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Health Care Providers from Reporting Medical Debt to Credit Reporting Agencies
Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC)
Connecticut Governor Signs Bill Adding Requirements for Hospitals and Expanding DPH’s Enforcement ScopeCMS Finalizes Standard for Identifying Overpayments and Grace Period for Investigations of Related OverpaymentsConnecticut Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Health Care Providers from Reporting Medical Debt to Credit Reporting Agencies
Americans With Disabilities
CMS Issues Emergency Regulation Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for Health Care Facility WorkersOCR Reaches Early Case Resolutions with the State of Connecticut and a Private Hospital Regarding Rights of Persons with Disabilities to Have Reasonable Access to Support Persons in Hospital Settings During COVID-19Connecticut Legislature Permits Facilities to Administer Emergency Medication to Defendants Without Consent in Limited Circumstances
Anti-Kickback Statute
OIG Reiterates a Core Message: Stark Compliance and Fair Market Value Alone Do Not Shield Against Anti-Kickback Statute RiskSouth Carolina Lab Settles False Claim Act Case – A Study on Commercial Reasonableness and Disguised KickbacksOIG Greenlights Sponsored Diagnostic Testing in Advisory Opinion 25-07
Commercial Health Insurance
Massachusetts Governor Healey Announces New Department of Insurance Regulations Intended to Streamline Prior Authorization PracticesCMS Issues Guidance and Requests Information to Promote Hospital Price Transparency Compliance and Enforcement EffortsTrump Administration Issues Executive Order Prioritizing Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement
COVID-19
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth FlexibilitiesSong Remains the Same – Medicare Telehealth Services At Risk of Expiring Again on January 30, 2026DEA Extends Tele-Prescribing Flexibilities Yet Again – Now Through December 31, 2026 – to Avoid Telemedicine Cliff
Department of Justice
DEA Extends Tele-Prescribing Flexibilities Yet Again – Now Through December 31, 2026 – to Avoid Telemedicine CliffSouth Carolina Lab Settles False Claim Act Case – A Study on Commercial Reasonableness and Disguised KickbacksClean Slate: San Antonio Lab Executives Exonerated in Health Care Fraud Case
EMTALA
Connecticut Budget Bill Reinforces EMTALA and Emergency Medical Services Obligations for State HospitalsConnecticut Authorizes Out-of-State Health Care Practitioners to Render Assistance for Remainder of COVID-19 PandemicHHS Issues Section 1135 Waiver, and CMS Issues Blanket Waivers of Health Care Laws, in Response to Coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency
False Claims Act
South Carolina Lab Settles False Claim Act Case – A Study on Commercial Reasonableness and Disguised KickbacksFalse Claims Act Enforcement of Pharmacy Pricing & Prescribing Practices: The Walgreens CasesFirst Circuit Makes Historic Decision: “But-For” Causation is the Majority Standard in AKS-Based FCA Claims
Government Enforcement
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityHospitals Face New Attestation and NPI Requirements for Off-Campus Outpatient Locations by January 1, 2028Two Weeks Notice for Covered Entities: February 16 Deadline Approaches to Update HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Health Information Exchanges and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)
Two Weeks Notice for Covered Entities: February 16 Deadline Approaches to Update HIPAA Notice of Privacy PracticesAppeals Dropped of Decision Vacating HIPAA Reproductive Health Privacy Rule, Confirming Apparent End of the Rule and Attestation RequirementConnecticut Enacts Wide-Ranging Health Care Law Modifying Various Existing Rules and Laws
Health Plans
Two Pathways for Medicaid Self-Disclosures Announced by OMIGNew COVID-19 At-Home Test Coverage Requirements Increase Need for Heightened Focus on Health Care Entity’s Billing PracticesDepartments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury Issue FAQ guidance on the FFCRA, the CARES Act, and other health coverage issues related to COVID-19
Healthcare Transactions
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityOIG Green Lights MSO Model Arrangement for Telehealth Platforms in New Advisory OpinionConnecticut Establishes Emergency Certificate of Need Process for Hospitals in Bankruptcy
HIPAA
Two Weeks Notice for Covered Entities: February 16 Deadline Approaches to Update HIPAA Notice of Privacy PracticesJoint Commission Releases Guidance for AI in Health CareAppeals Dropped of Decision Vacating HIPAA Reproductive Health Privacy Rule, Confirming Apparent End of the Rule and Attestation Requirement
Home Health Agencies
Connecticut Governor Signs Bill Prohibiting Health Care Providers from Reporting Medical Debt to Credit Reporting AgenciesConnecticut Supreme Court Addresses Contested Case Issue in Ruling on Certificate of Need AppealsEighteen States’ Attorneys General Send Letter to CMS in Support of Proposed Rule Requiring Disclosure of Certain Nursing Home and SNF Ownership Information
Legislation
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityHospitals Face New Attestation and NPI Requirements for Off-Campus Outpatient Locations by January 1, 2028Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities
Managed Care
Massachusetts Governor Healey Announces New Department of Insurance Regulations Intended to Streamline Prior Authorization PracticesCMS Issues Guidance and Requests Information to Promote Hospital Price Transparency Compliance and Enforcement EffortsHRSA Confirms End of COVID Waiver of Advance Registration Requirement for Provider-Based Clinics
Medical Devices
NOTICE TO PROVIDERS: CMS Phasing Out Certain COVID-19 Regulatory Waivers in Long-Term Care Facilities, Hospices, and ESRD FacilitiesAdvaMed Updates its Code of EthicsAdvisory Opinion 22-05: OIG Declines to Impose Sanctions Against Device Manufacturer’s Medicare Cost-Sharing Subsidy in Clinical Trial
Medical Staff and Peer Review
Connecticut Expands Nurse Protections Relating to Hospital Nurse Staffing Plans, Scope of Practice, and OvertimeCOVID-19 Vaccine Update: HHS Expands Pool of Eligible Vaccinators under PREP ActMassachusetts Federal Court Declines to Apply State Medical Peer Review Privilege in Federal Whistleblower Case
Physicians and Allied Health Professionals
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityContinuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth FlexibilitiesTwo Weeks Notice for Covered Entities: February 16 Deadline Approaches to Update HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Private Equity
Massachusetts HPC Proposes to Update Material Change Reporting Requirements to Align with Newly Expanded Oversight AuthorityOIG Green Lights MSO Model Arrangement for Telehealth Platforms in New Advisory OpinionMassachusetts Enhances Regulatory Oversight of Health Care Transactions on For-Profit and Private Equity Investments
Stark Law
OIG Reiterates a Core Message: Stark Compliance and Fair Market Value Alone Do Not Shield Against Anti-Kickback Statute RiskCMS Finalizes Standard for Identifying Overpayments and Grace Period for Investigations of Related OverpaymentsSouth Dakota Hospital Settles False Claims Act Allegations for Over $14 Million Following Self-Disclosure
Telehealth
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth FlexibilitiesSong Remains the Same – Medicare Telehealth Services At Risk of Expiring Again on January 30, 2026DEA Extends Tele-Prescribing Flexibilities Yet Again – Now Through December 31, 2026 – to Avoid Telemedicine Cliff
Telemedicine
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026: Another Lifeline for Medicare Telehealth FlexibilitiesSong Remains the Same – Medicare Telehealth Services At Risk of Expiring Again on January 30, 2026DEA Extends Tele-Prescribing Flexibilities Yet Again – Now Through December 31, 2026 – to Avoid Telemedicine Cliff