Health Law

Hospitals lose legal challenge to 340B drug payment cut

The 2-1 ruling overturns a district court decision that HHS overstepped its bounds when it cut the reimbursement rate for a certain category of outpatient drugs by 28.5% for hospitals enrolled in the drug discount program.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 31, 2020

HHS prods Congress to act on surprise billing, but doesn't take a side on how

Congress has taken some action on surprise billing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, barring the practice for COVID-19 testing and treatment during the public health emergency. Still, a larger overhaul is unlikely soon.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 29, 2020

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Labor

While labor strife among healthcare workers is hardly new, the COVID-19 pandemic brought new issues to the table, including re-use of personal protective equipment and other safety measures.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Lifespan pays $1M to settle potential HIPAA violations over stolen laptop breach

HHS found "systemic noncompliance" with the privacy law and a lack of control over devices on this type of issue. The nonprofit health system contends there is no indication the information was accessed.

By Samantha Liss • July 28, 2020

6 months in: The COVID-19 crisis

This series of stories examines how healthcare has changed during the course of the novel coronavirus in the United States, half a year after HHS declared a national public health emergency.

HHS reminds providers of civil rights obligations amid COVID-19 race disparities

The agency on Monday said it's seen an uptick in complaints since the pandemic began and issued guidance to ensure providers comply with federal civil rights laws.

By Hailey Mensik • July 21, 2020

California, 22 other AGs sue Trump admin over rolling back transgender protections

The coalition argues the pullback of Affordable Care Act protections related to how sex discrimination is determined during a global pandemic is particularly egregious. 

By Samantha Liss • July 20, 2020

As Congress weighs next COVID-19 relief bill, 4 healthcare sticking points

For one, hospitals want $100 billion more in federal aid, a figure endorsed by House Democrats but likely to be whittled down by Senate Republicans.

By Rebecca Pifer , Samantha Liss • July 20, 2020

Appeals court upholds Trump admin's expansion of short-term health plans

The Association of Community Affiliated Plans said it would appeal Friday's decision, slamming the bare-bones plans — which sparked a yearlong Democrat committee investigation — as "junk insurance."

By Rebecca Pifer • July 17, 2020

Hospitals to challenge loss on site neutral payments

An appeal court ruled earlier this month HHS was acting within its authority when it reduced some payments to off-campus hospital outpatient departments to make them consistent with other outpatient payments.

By Shannon Muchmore • UPDATED: July 27, 2020 at 10:33 a.m.

Express Scripts faces lawsuit alleging it overcharged Ohio public pension fund

"We want our money back," AG Dave Yost said in a statement, contending the PBM "egregiously charged for services it didn't deliver." It's the latest action by the state cracking down on pharmacy benefit managers.

By Samantha Liss • July 15, 2020

Supreme Court unlikely to hear GOP case to kill ACA before 2020 election

The timing puts the fate of President Barack Obama's healthcare law more squarely in the crosshairs of the presidential contest.

By Samantha Liss • July 14, 2020

Trump admin seeks relaxed grandfathered ACA health plan rules that up out-of-pocket costs

The proposed rule acknowledged that changes could lead to higher deductibles and other costs for an estimated 23.1 million enrollees in such plans and lead to more people foregoing healthcare.

By Ron Shinkman • July 13, 2020

UHS finalizes DOJ fraudulent billing case for $122M

The hospital operator continues to deny the allegations and does not admit guilt. Criminal charges were dropped when the settlement was first announced roughly a year ago.

By Rebecca Pifer • July 13, 2020

Sutter loses bid to delay $575M antitrust settlement approval

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a plaintiff, applauded the ruling. "Sutter's practices harmed California's healthcare market ... long before the COVID-19 pandemic," he said.

By Shannon Muchmore • July 10, 2020

Novartis to pay $678M to settle claims over 'sham' doctor events

The Swiss drugmaker admitted to hosting lavish dinners and events that were intended to convince doctors to prescribe Novartis heart and diabetes drugs.

By Ned Pagliarulo • July 02, 2020

Quorum completes bankruptcy process, taps new CEO

The health system also announced a new board of managers, including Joey Jacobs, former head of Acadia Healthcare, as the new CEO. He will succeed Bob Fish.

By Hailey Mensik • UPDATED: July 8, 2020 at 8:26 a.m.

HHS 'expects to renew' COVID-19 emergency, spokesman says

The department did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday morning. The public health emergency is currently set to expire at the end of July.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 30, 2020

Trump admin asks Supreme Court to kill ACA as COVID-19 surges in West, South

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the move as a bid to "rip away the protections and benefits of the Affordable Care Act in the middle of the coronavirus crisis" and called it "an act of unfathomable cruelty."

By Samantha Liss • June 26, 2020

As Americans lose job-based coverage, ACA marketplace sets record with near 500K signups

The pandemic has ravaged the economy, severing millions of Americans from health insurance. Many have turned to the Affordable Care Act exchanges to maintain coverage.

By Samantha Liss • June 26, 2020

AHA appeals price transparency case after judge sides with HHS

In its appeal, the hospital lobby characterized HHS' latest interpretation of the section on price disclosures as "obscure" and "far fetched."

By Samantha Liss , Hailey Mensik • UPDATED: July 20, 2020 at 3:30 p.m.

Hospital group CEOs pitch more federal aid, looser Medicare loan terms

The provider executives said a looming deadline to repay accelerated Medicare loans, Aug. 1, is too soon given the ongoing economic stress on hospitals.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 23, 2020

AHA asks for COVID-19 public health emergency to be extended

The group is requesting the emergency status be continued until multiple criteria are met regarding the availability of supplies for testing and treatment, number of patients requiring intensive care and deaths over a two-week period.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 22, 2020

Trump admin sitting on $14B for testing, tracing, Democratic senators say

A letter urging the administration to ramp up its COVID-19 spending comes a day after President Donald Trump said at a rally he had directed officials to slow down testing to keep case numbers low.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 22, 2020

Senators back sustaining telehealth momentum post pandemic

Top priorities are axing geographic restrictions and expanding Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for virtual care services, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., said.

By Rebecca Pifer • June 18, 2020

Sutter, citing COVID-19 losses, seeks to delay antitrust settlement approval

The system, which reported a net loss of more than $1 billion in the first quarter of this year, warned it could be forced to shut down or divest some of its hospitals because of the pandemic.

By Shannon Muchmore • June 17, 2020