Newsletters

05.19.11

HRSA Releases Proposed Rule Implementing 340B Program Orphan Drug Exclusion

On May 19, 2011, the Office of the Federal Register put on display a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) implementing a provision of the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) that prohibits certain newly-eligible Covered Entities from receiving discounts on orphan drugs under the ...


05.18.11

HHS OIG Audits Uncover Weaknesses in Health Information Security Oversight

On May 17, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (“HHS”) Office of the Inspector General (“OIG”) released two audit reports focused on the federal government’s health information security activities.


05.05.11

CMS Issues Draft Regulations Linking Medicaid Payment Policies and Access

On Friday, April 29, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued draft regulations establishing a framework for states to apply in analyzing whether their Medicaid payment policies comply with federal access requirements.


04.12.11

The Need To Coordinate Physician "Meaningful Use" Payments—Whose Money Is It?

Academic medical centers, integrated entities, hospitals that employ physicians and medical groups may not be taking the needed steps to secure payment of physician “meaningful use” incentives from Medicare and Medicaid.


04.06.11

CMS Releases Proposed Rule Governing Accountable Care Organizations

On March 31, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a long-awaited Proposed Rule governing accountable care organizations (“ACOs”).


04.05.11

Medicaid’s Role in the Health Benefits Exchange: A Road Map for States

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Affordable Care Act (ACA), sweeping federal legislation designed to bring about near universal coverage and transform how health care is paid for and delivered throughout the United States. 


03.30.11

Implementing National Health Reform in California: Opportunities for Improved Access to Care

Marking the one-year anniversary of the enactment of the federal health reform legislation this month, Manatt Health Solutions and the California HealthCare Foundation have partnered to complete a second report in a series designed to highlight the wide-ranging health care implications for the ...


03.29.11

Supreme Court Rules 340B Covered Entities Cannot Sue Drug Manufacturers Over Drug Pricing Disputes

On March 29, 2011, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous opinion by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, ruled that safety-net health care providers, such as eligible hospitals and community health centers, enrolled in the federal 340B Drug Discount Program (the “340B Program”) do not have a right ...


02.25.11

First Ever Civil Monetary Penalty Imposed for HIPAA Privacy Rule Violation

Leveraging the increased enforcement authority granted under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (“HITECH”), for the first time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) imposed a civil monetary ...


01.25.11

HRSA Guidance Provides Increased Flexibility for Community Health Center Financings

Guidance Expressly Endorses Use of Certain HRSA Grants in Connection with New Markets Tax Credits or Historic Tax Credits.