A notable headline from the August 12 MLN Connects Newsletter for healthcare providers states “CMS Resumes Targeted Probe & Educate Program.” Designed to help providers reduce claim denials and appeals, CMS suspended prepayment reviews under the Targeted Probe and Educate (TPE) program in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) in March 2020. But unlike post-payment audits which have been active since CMS authorized its contractors to begin new audits in August 2020, TPE prepay reviews remained on hold.
Health Law Scan
Legal Insights and Perspectives for the Healthcare Industry
Members of our financial services and banking teams recently published a LawFlash discussing the Biden administration’s recent changes to the Paycheck Protection Program aimed at providing greater access to funds for small businesses in need and in underserved communities. The LawFlash highlights key provisions and guidance for businesses seeking to participate in the program before it officially expires on March 31, 2021 (pending any additional legislation from Congress).
Members of our healthcare industry team have published two LawFlashes that may be of particular interest to hospice clients and friends of Health Law Scan, referring to recent Anti-Kickback Safe Harbor Revisions and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.
Imagine you are the primary caretaker for your 94-year-old terminally ill mother who lives in your home while under hospice care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
CMS posted an expanded set, dated April 29, of Medicare regulatory flexibility measures for hospice organizations related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, supplementing the previous COVID hospice flexibilities guidance from March 29.
Hospice officials identified both best practices and challenges that hospice employees face when disposing of controlled substances in a patient’s home.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a statement on March 9 related to actions the agency is taking to protect the health and safety of patients and providers. CMS urges providers to stay abreast of CDC guidance on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
In the Care Alternatives False Claims Act (FCA) appeal, a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on March 4 reversed the summary judgment granted to hospice provider Care Alternatives at the district court, disagreeing with AseraCare precedent out of the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, and holding that clinical disagreement alone may comprise legal falsity and is sufficient to create a triable issue of fact for the jury.
In an action especially significant to hospice providers but also other healthcare providers regarding the determinations of medical necessity for Medicare billing purposes, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and AseraCare have just agreed, following a mediation, to settle for $1 million the long-running False Claims Act qui tam litigation matter in which the United States had previously sought $200 million in liability.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), which advises Congress on Medicare issues, recently finalized and approved a series of recommended updates on January 16 that include payment reductions for hospice and home health.