From March 18–20, 2026, the American Health Law Association (AHLA) hosted its annual Institute on Medicare and Medicaid Payment Issues conference in Baltimore, Maryland, focused on the full range of risks and opportunities relating to participation in federal health care payment programs. The schedule provided a formal blueprint for addressing updates in Medicare Parts A & B, Medicaid program changes, supplemental payments, cost reporting, appeals, fraud and abuse, compliance obligations, and health equity requirements. Partners Scott McBride and Greg Etzel made presentations on the underpinnings of overpayments and on Medicare cost reporting and appeals, respectively.
Health Law Scan
Legal Insights and Perspectives for the Healthcare Industry
2025 was an important year for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that pay state-licensed agents and brokers to market their plans and engage in lead generation, subject to complex federal regulations. As we previously discussed on Health Law Scan, improper broker arrangements were identified as a 2025 focus area by the whistleblower bar and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), particularly the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
On May 8, 2025, the Boston Bar Association hosted its annual White Collar Crime Conference, a reoccurring theme of which was the recognition of changing times, while also maintaining that the core principles of criminal and civil fraud enforcement remain the same. An anticipated highlight from the conference came from the panel addressing federal and state False Claims Act (FCA) and Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) enforcement priorities.