Government urges Highest Court to pass on nonprofit contraceptive mandate argument
By
John Hall
Mar 26, 2015
Government attorneys are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to not take up the issue of contraception mandates of the Affordable Care Act. A U.S. Court of Appeals has denied a Catholic coalition’s effort...
No ‘midnight’ regulations?
By
John Hall
Mar 04, 2016
Stakeholders have until roughly mid-June to squeeze in any pressing new regulations during the current administration’s final year. But the Office of Management and Budget said it doesn’t expect...
Bill would speed DEA approval, curb drug misappropriations
By
John Hall
Feb 17, 2015
A Congressional panel late last week sent two bills to the House designed to curb prescription drug abuse and streamline Drug Enforcement Agency scheduling of approved controlled substances.
Law would enforce nursing home malpractice caps
By
John Hall
Feb 13, 2015
In a case that could have broad implications for providers nationwide, West Virginia lawmakers on Wednesday inched closer to passing a law that could place caps on jury awards in nursing home malpractice...
Nursing homes’ progress noted in QIO report
By
John Hall
Apr 08, 2015
Significant reductions in adverse drug events, infections, wounds and use of restraints in nursing homes are among the key achievements touted this week by federal regulators.
Right-to-try gains support
By
John Hall
Apr 04, 2016
Congress is considering easing federal laws prohibiting terminally ill patients from trying unapproved experimental drugs as a last-ditch effort to extend or save their lives.
Obamacare repeal efforts, Medicare privatization support waning
By
John Hall
Apr 28, 2015
While a series of successive defeats may have tempered the resolve of many Republicans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a small group of conservatives is pushing a new approach to fast track such efforts....
House unanimously passes ‘observation status’ bill
By
John Hall
Mar 18, 2015
Long-term care leaders firmly applauded members of the U.S. House on Tuesday for unanimously passing a bill that would put tighter control over the designation of “observation status” for hospital...
SNF cuts could be averted under latest ‘doc fix’ proposal
By
John Hall
Mar 12, 2015
Nursing home leaders and operators are crossing their fingers that a new proposal will give them a four- to six-month reprieve from having to possibly finance a plan via reimbursement reductions to avert...
Inspector General blasts agency for ignoring ZPIC scrutiny
By
John Hall
Mar 19, 2015
Ignoring a four-year-old warning to more thoroughly evaluate Medicare auditing contractors is among the pile of unheeded advice that could have saved the Medicare program billions of dollars in recent...