Additional FAQ Released Regarding Recent Practice Acquisitions As you are likely aware, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“DHHS”) has allocated a total of $50 billion in Provider Relief Funds for general distribution to Medicare Part A and Part B-billing healthcare providers. These Provider Relief Funds were authorized under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”) and are intended to assist healthcare providers in covering...
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the overwhelming need for medical care and front-line responders, federal and state governments have responded by implementing regulations affording immunity to licensed healthcare providers. While the immunity may not prevent a healthcare provider from actually being sued for negligence, since public access to courts cannot be limited, it does provide protection for providers to defend against lawsuits. Likewise, the regulations provide immunity from...
On May 15, 2020, Governor Murphy issued Executive Order No. 145 (“EO-145”), which lifts, subject to certain restrictions, the suspension of elective surgeries and invasive procedures effective May 26, 2020, ending a 60-day suspension imposed by the Governor’s Office through the earlier-issued Executive Order No. 109. “Elective surgery or invasive procedure” is defined to mean “any surgery or invasive procedure that can be delayed without undue risk to the current...
In an effort made in response to the COVID-19 emergency thus far, as previously discussed in our posts, “What Are the PBMs Doing Amid COVID-19 Crisis: Waivers from Strict Requirements May Exist for Independent Pharmacies,” and “UPDATE: Humana and Prime Therapeutics’ Response to Waivers from Strict Requirements for Independent Pharmacies Amid COVID-19 Crisis,” many Pharmacy Benefit Managers (“PBMs”) have taken further steps to extend their relaxed requirements or provide additional flexibilities...
As a first in the nation, criminal complaints were filed recently in Federal Court in Rhode Island for fraud related to the seeking of more than a half million dollars in loans pursuant to the Coronavirus, Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). The charges against David A. Staevely and David Butziger included conspiracy to make false statements to influence the Small Business Administration...
