Category: Uncategorized
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“No Surprises Act” Internal Dispute Resolution System is Now Live
Article by: Brandy Boone, General Counsel, Medical Association of the State of Alabama The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 15, 2022, that their Internal Dispute Resolution (IDR) portal for determining reimbursement for services covered under the No Surprises Act is now available. The opening of the portal was delayed because…
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New Rules Replace Old Guidelines on Medical Record Management
The Board of Medical Examiners and Medical Licensure Commission recently made substantial changes to their joint guidelines for medical record management, beginning with changing them from guidelines to rules. The new rules provide for more specific regulation of the management of medical records by Alabama physicians, including establishing a new minimum time frame for retention…
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Federal District Court Issues First Court Opinion Regarding EKRA’s Commission Based Payments
By James A. Hoover, Esq., Burr & Forman, LLP A Federal District Judge in the United States District Court, District of Hawaii issued the first court opinion interpreting the prohibition of the payment of commissions by clinical laboratories to employees or independent contractors that was implemented by the Eliminating Kickback in Recovery Act of 2018…
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OIG Revises Self-Disclosure Protocol for First Time Since 2013
By: Catherine (Cat) Kirkland, Partner at Burr Forman, LLP The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) provides a way for physicians and other healthcare providers to voluntarily disclose evidence of potential fraud directly to the government through its Health Care Fraud Self-Disclosure Protocol (“SDP”). Self-disclosure through the SDP gives physicians and other providers with an opportunity…
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Summary of SB 15 (new state law regarding parental consent for COVID vaccine)
NOTE: As introduced, SB15 would have added new lawsuit opportunities against pediatricians and pediatric practices into the vaccine passport law. The Medical Association worked successfully with the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and others to stop that. However, attempts to resolve the vaccine passport law’s broad language currently applying to all vaccinations…
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ALAPAC Announces Second Round of Contributions of 2022 Election Cycle
The Alabama Medical PAC (ALAPAC), the official political committee of Alabama physicians and the Medical Association, has announced its second round of contributions for the 2022 election cycle. In 2021, ALAPAC launched a new governance model comprised of Regional Boards which work in conjunction with the Board of Directors to vet candidates for local legislative…
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Discussion with Decisionmakers: Rep. Ed Oliver
Representative Oliver represents Alabama’s 81st District covering Chilton, Coosa, and Tallapoosa Counties. He is the Vice-Chair on the House Health Committee. After graduating from the University of Alabama, Representative Oliver attended the Command and General Staff College and served in the Army as a helicopter pilot and then an ambulance helicopter pilot. He is also…
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2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule – Conversion Factor and More
By: Anthony Romano, Burr & Forman, LLP On November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a final rule (the “PFS Rule”) which includes updates for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule, and other Medicare Part B issues, on or after January 1, 2022. The PFS Rule is described as…
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Discussions with Decisionmakers: Sen. Donnie Chesteen
What first prompted you to consider running office? In 2010, I felt a call to step into the political arena. How does your background help serve you on the Healthcare Committee and also the Legislature? I had a career in medical sales, I feel as if that set me up. It is important to serve…
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President Biden’s Executive Order to Expand Vaccination Requirements for Healthcare Facilities and Federal Contractors
by: Jim Hoover As most people know by now, on September 9, 2021 President Biden announced his Path Out of the Pandemic: COVID-19 Action Plan. As part of the plan, the President signed Executive Order 14042, Ensuring Adequate COVID Safer Protocols for Federal Contractors. The Executive Order is a six-prong, comprehensive plan outlining the President’s…