Jonian Rafti, Esq., Author at Frier Levitt

HHS Announces $5.1 Million Settlement for HIPAA Breach Affecting Over 9.3 Million

Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. and Jonian Rafti, Esq. January 15, 2021

On January 15, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) announced that Excellus Health Plan, Inc. has agreed to pay $5.1 million and to implement a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of... Read More

HIPAA Compliance

How Will the Recently Promulgated CMS and OIG Final Rules Affect My Practice? – Part I

Jonian Rafti, Esq., Daniel B. Frier, Esq. and Theresa M. DiGuglielmo, Esq. December 21, 2020

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published the long-awaited new rules related to the Anti-Kickback Statute, Civil Monetary Penalties Law, and the Stark Law (collectively, the “Final Rules”). The Final Rules are part of... Read More

All types of single and multi-specialty medical practice groups | Blogs & Articles | Healthcare | Healthcare Law | Value Based Care

Recent Purdue Pharma Criminal Plea Underscores Government’s Prosecution Efforts in Combatting Opioid Crisis

Jonian Rafti, Esq., Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. and Kendra E. Pannitti, Esq. December 18, 2020

At a court hearing on November 24, 2020, a bankruptcy judge approved a settlement entered in late October between Purdue Pharma L.P. (“Purdue”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”), under which Purdue Pharma L.P. plead guilty in New Jersey... Read More

Pain Management Compliance | White Collar Criminal Defense & Government Investigations

Recent HHS Announcement Further Expands Access to Telehealth, But Does CMS’ Final Rule Do the Same?

Jonian Rafti, Esq. and Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. December 4, 2020

HHS Permits Out-of-State Telehealth Providers to Render Certain Services Nationwide On December 3, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) announced a fourth amendment to its declaration under the Public Readiness and... Read More

Blogs & Articles | COVID-19 Resources | Healthcare | Telehealth and Telemedicine

Information Blocking Regulations Set to Take Effect in Spring 2021

Jonian Rafti, Esq. and Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. November 30, 2020

On October 29, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services announced its decision to extend compliance with most “information blocking” requirements of the 21st Century Cures Act from November 2, 2020 to April 5, 2021, as reflected in an... Read More

Blogs & Articles | Data Transactions | Healthcare | Healthcare Law

Healthcare Fraud Prosecutions Continue to be a Government Priority

Theresa M. DiGuglielmo, Esq. and Jonian Rafti, Esq. October 30, 2020

Frier Levitt Co-Founding Partner Daniel B. Frier recently summarized a variety of ways in which providers can become ensnarled in fraudulent schemes disguised as legitimate business models. Since the publication of that article, a significant... Read More

FBI Announces Ransomware Attacks Targeting U.S. Hospitals and Healthcare Providers

Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq., John E. Morrone, Esq. and Jonian Rafti, Esq. October 30, 2020

On Wednesday, October 28, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (“CISA”) and the FBI announced an “increased and imminent cybercrime threat to U.S. hospitals and healthcare providers.” Preliminary news reports have identified... Read More

Healthcare | HIPAA Compliance | Hospitals and Healthcare Systems | Regulatory Compliance, including FDA, DEA and HIPAA

Aetna Pays $1,000,000 to Settle Three HIPAA Breaches

Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. and Jonian Rafti, Esq. October 28, 2020

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Aetna Life Insurance Company and its affiliated covered entity (Aetna) has agreed to pay $1,000,000.00 to the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to settle potential... Read More

Healthcare | HIPAA Compliance

Federal Enforcement Targeting Illegal Telehealth Schemes Continues Unabated Since the Announcement of Operation Brace Yourself in 2019

Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq., John E. Morrone, Esq. and Jonian Rafti, Esq. October 19, 2020

On April 9th, 2019, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and Department of Justice (DOJ) announced one of the largest health care fraud schemes involving several telemedicine companies, dozens of... Read More

Healthcare | Healthcare Law | Telehealth and Telemedicine

Insurers Begin to Roll Back Telehealth Fee Waivers

Jonian Rafti, Esq. and Arielle T. Miliambro, Esq. October 7, 2020

As Frier Levitt has mentioned in previous articles, insurers have nearly unanimously waived cost-sharing requirements for virtual telehealth visits since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic. Recently, however, certain payors have begun to roll... Read More