BREAKING NEWS: House Passes Bill
Breaking News by Kristin Rowan, Editor House Passes Bill House passes bill in early-morning vote. The House of Representatives, predictably split along party lines, passed the “Big, Beautiful Bill” in a 215-214 narrow win. All but three Republican representatives...Pushback on Trump Initiatives
Regulatory by Kristin Rowan, Editor Pushback on Trump Initiatives From All Sides Pushback on Trump initiatives, including the steep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and VA benefits erupted this week. Coalitions, associations, and members of Congress seek to stop the...Shoot the Messenger
Admin by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. Shoot the Messenger at Your Own Risk Shoot the messenger of fraud and abuse at your peril. Providers must take seriously the concerns of employees about possible fraudulent and abusive practices. Most whistleblowers take their concerns to...Interoperability
Clinical by Ben Rosen, Sr. Client Success Manager, Netsmart Interoperability What you need to know and how it affects you For over two decades, tech companies and government agencies have been moving toward the goal of interoperability in healthcare technology. At long last,...DOJ Rejects Plan
M&A by Kristin Rowan, Editor DOJ Rejects Plan to Divest Assets DOJ rejects plans to divest assets from UnitedHealth and Amedisys to BrightSpring Health Services and the Pennant Group. Last week, we reported that Amedisys and UnitedHealth had entered an agreement to divest...Update is Not an Increase
Hospice by Kristin Rowan, Editor Updates to Hospice Rule On April 11, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued their proposed rule for hospice rates, Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and face-t0-face encounter requirements for FY 2026. The proposed...Medicaid Cuts Remain Unknown So Far
CMS by Tim Rowan, Editor Emeritus "Life and Death" Medicaid Cuts are Looming We don’t need to cut benefits, and it really infuriates me to hear people here talking about that because it stresses people out. This is life and death for them. –Senator Bernie Moreno...Vision for CMS
CMS by Kristin Rowan, Editor Vision for CMS from Dr. Oz Last week, Dr. Mehmet Oz issued a statement on his vision for the future of CMS. Dr. Mehmet Oz is a cardiothoracic surgeon and former host of his own TV show. Under the Department of Health and Human Services, CMS...Industry Update
Admin by Kristin Rowan, Editor Industry Update with Dr. Steve Landers At last week’s New England Home Care & Hospice Conference, Dr. Steve Landers, President of The National Alliance for Care at Home (The Alliance) gave the keynote address and offered some...That’s a No-No
Admin by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. No-no # 1 “No-No” may seem like something you would say to a toddler, but there is a list of things agency owners do that they should not do. Many of these are things providers may not often consider. This article focuses on the...Mass Layoffs in HHS “Overhaul”
CMS by Kristin Rowan, Editor Mass Layoffs at HHS HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced more than 10,000 position cuts within the department this week. The layoffs impact employees at the FDA, the CDC, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and...CDPAP Overhaul Under Scrutiny
Medicaid by Kristin Rowan, Editor CDPAP Overhaul in NY Medicaid Program New York State Department of Health issued a comprehensive plan to overhaul the state’s Medicaid program. The state’s program, Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP), allows...Relief for Providers
Admin by Elizabeth E. Hogue, Esq. Relief for Providers from Devastating Penalties? A judge in the Northern District of Texas recently decided that even the minimum penalties mandated under the False Claims Act (FCA) violate the Eighth Amendment’s Excessive Fines Clause...Dr. Oz Nomination Advances to Full Senate
Admin by Tim Rowan, Editor Emeritus Dr. Oz Nomination Advance to Senate “Given your close ties to the industry that you would regulate, if you are confirmed, the public would have reason to question your impartiality and commitment to serving the public’s...
