Compliance Now

JUNE 28, 2023

By: Megan Diehl, MZQ Consulting Late last week, the IRS published additional guidance modifying the COVID-19 coverage that high deductible health plans (HDHPs) can provide while maintaining their HSA-qualified status. Of note, this recent guidance has no impact on COVID-19 vaccinations, which still qualify as preventive care.

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HIT Consultant

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

Kate Behan, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Arcadia A so-called “tripledemic” — the convergence of flu, RSV and COVID-19 — led to significant morbidity and mortality, and it also forced the cancellation or delay of numerous medical procedures at overwhelmed health systems.

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Bill of Health

DECEMBER 5, 2023

The Colombian case reinforces that human rights and public health are not mutually exclusive. Importantly, this is reflected in the Principles and Guidelines on Human Rights & Public Health Emergencies (2023). Can age and disability be considered in triage decisions in the face of public health emergencies?

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Health Law RX

APRIL 27, 2023

On April 11, 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) confirmed that four notifications of enforcement discretion regarding enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (the HIPAA rules) during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) will expire at the end of the PHE.

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YouCompli

AUGUST 2, 2022

This month’s article looks at COVID enforcements.?? ?. Healthcare compliance history has shown that when the government disperses significant funds, audits and enforcement associated with the disbursement of those funds will shortly follow. Remember when immunizations for COVID first became available? Let’s look at a few.

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Medisys Compliance

APRIL 20, 2022

As Public Health Emergency (PHE) has extended beyond 16 th April 2022 by 90 days, various waivers are continued, making no change in billing guidelines in pandemic. In fact, concerned authority extended the current COVID-19 pandemic telehealth waivers for five months beyond the end of the public health emergency.

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Compliancy Group

JANUARY 13, 2022

Supreme Court today (January 13, 2022) issued a stay of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s (OSHA) Emergency Temporary Standard that would have forced all private employers in the country with more than 100 workers to require COVID-19 vaccinations or masks and weekly testing for unvaccinated staff.

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Total HIPAA

MAY 10, 2021

Can an employer require that employees receive a COVID-19 vaccination? The EEOC has stated that employers may encourage or require COVID-19 vaccinations if their policies comply with the ADA, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII) and other relevant state and federal workplace laws.¹.

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HIPAA Journal

JUNE 26, 2023

In the context of HIPAA enforcement discretion, the Secretary can waive sanctions and penalties that result from non-compliance with the following standards of the Privacy Rule: 164.510 – Uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information requiring an opportunity for the individual to agree or object.

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Hall Render

OCTOBER 31, 2022

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has retooled guidance it armed surveyors with regarding how to survey skilled nursing facilities for compliance with the CMS staff vaccine requirements. Vaccination Enforcement – Flexibility. Key Surveyor Guidance Revisions. Enforcement. 42 CFR Section 483.80(i)

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Verisys

JUNE 13, 2023

A big thanks to our compliance team, who monitors state, federal, and international updates. It finalizes requirements to provide education about COVID-19 vaccines, and to offer vaccines to residents, clients, and staff. See below for changes from several states introducing legislation.

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Hall Render

MAY 2, 2023

COVID SNF Notification Requirements. CMS expects all providers to be in compliance with the requirements for PASARR with all admissions taking place after May 11, 2023. For this alert, “nursing homes” refers to skilled nursing facilities (often known as “SNFs”). The CMS Memo confirmed that this waiver will end at the end of the PHE.

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Bill of Health

OCTOBER 27, 2022

Newsom a legal principle that threatens to upend over a century of legal precedent recognizing the authority of state governments to ensure public health by mandating vaccines. The former actually further a state’s interest in promoting public health, unlike religious exemptions, which subvert this goal.

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YouCompli

APRIL 5, 2023

How Compliance Can Leverage the OIG’s 7 Elements and HHS Roadmap With the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) coming in May, many healthcare compliance leaders are in the process of slowly returning their organizations to normal. Be sure to implement ongoing staff education programs.

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American Medical Compliance

JULY 22, 2022

According to Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, the BA.4 5 COVID-19 variants are not presenting drastically different symptoms. 5 variant has accounted for over 50% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, with BA.4 How Are COVID Symptoms Shifting With New Variants?

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American Medical Compliance

JULY 22, 2022

According to Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Allison Arwady, the BA.4 5 COVID-19 variants are not presenting drastically different symptoms. 5 variant has accounted for over 50% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, with BA.4 How Are COVID Symptoms Shifting With New Variants?

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Hall Render

JANUARY 31, 2022

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) has armed surveyors with detailed instructions on how to survey skilled nursing facilities for compliance with the CMS staff vaccine requirements. The surveyor’s Entrance Conference Worksheet update includes COVID-19 Vaccine review and COVID-19 Staff Vaccination Matrix.

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Hall Render

JANUARY 14, 2022

In a January 13 statement , CMS clarified that the decision would not change the compliance deadlines for health care employers in the 25 states, territories and the District of Columbia, where the CMS IFR was already in effect. Thus, OSHA’s vaccine-or-test ETS may well be beyond the scope of authority that Congress granted the agency.

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Health Law Gurus

DECEMBER 31, 2020

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (the “CMS”) relaxed some rules to expand access to telehealth, including through audio-only communication platforms. With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, the public health emergency is expected to be brought to an end.

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Bill of Health

SEPTEMBER 9, 2022

CMS also provides independent oversight of labs’, providers’, and facilities’ compliance with “Medicare health and safety standards.”. Both nursing homes and prisons are congregate living spaces housing people at higher risk for serious complications from COVID-19.

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Provider Trust

AUGUST 9, 2023

OIG also remains engaged with federal partners like the Department of Justice (DOJ) to identify and prosecute individuals who exploit the COVID-19 response for their own gain. During this reporting period, an individual was sentenced to three years of probation for fabricating false COVID-19 vaccine records.

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New Jersey Healthcare Blog

OCTOBER 12, 2021

Below are the most recent health care related regulatory developments as published in the New Jersey Register in September 2021: On September 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. 252 directing vaccination or testing requirements for workers in health care facilities and high-risk settings. On September 7, 2021, at 53 N.J.R. See N.J.A.C.

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Hall Render

JANUARY 6, 2022

Nursing homes face possible citations, civil monetary penalties, denial of payments and—as a final measure—termination of participation from the Medicare and Medicaid programs by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) as they embark on complying with the new CMS COVID-19 vaccine requirements for their staff.

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AIHC

OCTOBER 11, 2021

Written By: Compliance Blogger This article addresses COVID testing and consent considerations for: healthcare organizations, nursing homes and business associates or non-healthcare workplaces. settings where healthcare is delivered, including home health. This article is not intended as legal or consulting advice.

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SQA

MARCH 25, 2021

The approaches are intended to add value, support good business practices, and meet current compliance and regulatory expectations. Revision of PIC/S Aide Memoires (PI 009-4, 024-3, 028-2, and 038-2), PIC/S Website, 19 January 2021. Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-Operation Scheme (PIC/S).

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Health Law Advisor

APRIL 12, 2023

Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced its plan for termination of the existing notifications of enforcement discretion related to the expiration of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023.

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SQA

APRIL 30, 2021

Commission Extends Transparency and Authorization Mechanism for Exports of COVID-19 Vaccines, 11 March 2021. The EC has extended until the end of June 2021 the transparency and authorization mechanism for COVID-19 vaccine exports. The EU continues to be the leading provider of vaccines around the world.

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Hall Render

MAY 2, 2023

As the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll, the year 2020 ushered in declarations of a National Emergency (“NE”) and a Public Health Emergency (“PHE”). The post What Will Expiration of the Public Health Emergency and National Emergency Mean for Employers? The PHE is set to expire on May 11, 2023.

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Compliance Now

JANUARY 14, 2022

On January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) voted to block the continued enforcement of the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requiring large employers to either require all employees to obtain their COVID–19 vaccinations or submit to weekly virus testing.

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Healthcare IT News - Telehealth

JULY 6, 2021

" "We encourage team members to go to their managers or other leaders with concerns but also have a compliance hotline available for anyone who would like to raise concerns anonymously," the statement continued. In addition, organizers pointed to what they described as problems with One Medical's vaccine rollout.

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AIHC

FEBRUARY 2, 2022

A separate program, the HRSA COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund, is available to reimburse providers for COVID-19 vaccine administration to underinsured individuals whose health plan either does not include COVID-19 vaccination as a covered benefit or covers COVID-19 vaccine administration but with cost-sharing.

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Health Law Advisor

MAY 3, 2022

DOJ’s enforcement action covers a broad range of alleged schemes, including misappropriation of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) payments for personal use, manufacture and distribution of fake COVID-19 vaccination record cards, and billing for health care services that were either unnecessary or never provided. 2] See id. [3]

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Hall Render

FEBRUARY 18, 2022

CMS may now enforce its COVID-19 vaccination policy for healthcare workers in all 50 states. CMS responds to states seeking vaccination mandate waivers. Federal vaccination mandate begins for healthcare workers in 24 states. Lawmakers call on Biden to end public health emergency. The future St.

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New Jersey Healthcare Blog

JULY 22, 2022

509(a), Governor Murphy issued an Executive Order updating and clarifying timeframes for requiring covered workers at health care facilities and high-risk congregate settings to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, including having received a booster shot. On April 4, 2022, at 54 N.J.R. See Executive Order No.

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Hall Render

MAY 19, 2023

Supplemental Grant for Rural Health Programs UAMS to Study Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Breast Cancer Treatment Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Donates $1.4 Supplemental Grant for Rural Health Programs UAMS to Study Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Breast Cancer Treatment Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Donates $1.4

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Hall Render

MARCH 31, 2023

in 2022, survey finds Senate votes to end COVID-19 national emergency Why are 600+ rural hospitals at risk of closing? County-owned buildings facing potential earthquake risk Gilead drops option to buy cancer therapeutics company Health and Life Organization Inc. buys industrial property in Rancho Cordova for $5.12

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Total Medical Compliance Resources

APRIL 14, 2023

Connecting people with the resources they need: The Administration for Community Living launched The DIAL in 2021 to provide multilingual support to connect people with disabilities to information and services to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines and related resources.

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