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All posts tagged with “Regulatory News | Governance / Transparency / Non-Profit Status / Exec Comp News.”



HHS restructures duals, PACE offices amid department overhaul

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

HHS restructures duals, PACE offices amid department overhaul Modern Healthcare; by Bridget Early; 4/3/25 The Health and Human Services Department is reorganizing a handful of key programs for dually eligible enrollees and older adults, including laying off numerous staffers. HHS is shuffling how it manages care coordination for people dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid under the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office and the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. PACE, which had been poised for growth, offers home and center-based care mostly to dual-eligible Medicare and Medicaid enrollees who qualify for skilled nursing but can still live in their communities. A spokesperson for HHS said the department has “planned productivity enhancements for the PACE management department.” HHS did not elaborate on what management changes for the PACE program might look like.

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Senate confirms Oz as head of agency that runs Medicare, Medicaid

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

Dr. Oz nomination to lead CMS advances in Senate vote    Modern Healthcare; by Michael McAuliff; 4/3/25 The Senate on Thursday advanced the confirmation of former television host Dr. Mehmet Oz to lead the nation's largest healthcare agencies by serving as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Lawmakers voted 50 to 45 to advance the nomination to a final vote, which is expected Thursday afternoon.  ... He will assume control of an agency in flux that impacts some 160 million Americans and with a budget of around $1.7 trillion. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is attempting to cut some 20,000 employees across the the Health and Human Services Department while Congress is weighing budget proposals that are likely to require deep cuts in Medicaid. [Continue reading ...]

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Kennedy slashing 10,000 jobs in health department overhaul

03/28/25 at 03:00 AM

Kennedy slashing 10,000 jobs in health department overhaul USA Today, Washington, DC; by Joey Garrison; 3/27/25 Health and Human Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Thursday he will cut about 10,000 full-time jobs from the Cabinet department in a dramatic reduction that includes closing half its regional offices as part of a wider Trump administration overhaul of the federal government. Combined with HHS employees who previously accepted buyouts and others who were already fired, the agency's workforce will be sliced by one-quarter from 82,000 full-time employees to 62,000 since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. The Department of Health and Human Services ‒ which oversees the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ‒ will consolidate the agency's 28 divisions into 15 new divisions in Kennedy's shakeup. ... Among the cuts in key divisions:

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National Alliance’s Scott Levy: Hospices need ‘regulatory relief’ to protect ‘sacred benefit’

03/25/25 at 02:00 AM

National Alliance’s Scott Levy: Hospices need ‘regulatory relief’ to protect ‘sacred benefit’ Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 3/21/25 The hospice industry is undergoing a transformative period of rising demand and regulatory changes. Providers of all sizes and types are facing mounting operational challenges and financial strains with limited recourse to voice their collective concerns to legislators. This is according to Scott Levy, chief government affairs officer at National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance). Levy stepped into the role earlier this year after holding a similar position at Amedisys. He has been involved in government relations, public policy, advocacy and law for more than 20 years. Levy recently sat down with Hospice News to discuss the array of regulatory and legislative evolutions on the horizon in hospice care delivery.  .[Continue reading ...]

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Oz does not rule out Medicaid cuts during Senate confirmation hearing

03/19/25 at 03:00 AM

Oz does not rule out Medicaid cuts during Senate confirmation hearing McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 3/14/25 Mehmet Oz, MD, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, did not give a direct answer when asked whether he was for or against Medicaid cuts Friday during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. “I cherish Medicaid and I’ve worked within the Medicaid environment quite extensively practicing at Columbia University,” Oz said when asked by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) if he would oppose cuts to Medicaid. “I want to make sure that patients today and in the future have resources to protect them if they get ill. The way you protect Medicaid is by making sure it’s viable at every level, which includes having enough practitioners to afford the services, paying them enough to do what you request of them, and making sure that patients are able to actually use Medicaid.”

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What Trump has done with Medicare so far

03/18/25 at 03:00 AM

What Trump has done with Medicare so far Kiplinger; by Kathryn Pomroy; 3/17/25 Since President Trump was sworn into office on January 20, he has proposed or initiated changes impacting Medicare. Here's a roundup. ...

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CMS deletes Medicare Advantage vision statement, signaling another shift from health equity

03/12/25 at 03:00 AM

CMS deletes Medicare Advantage vision statement, signaling another shift from health equity Fierce Healthcare - Regulatory; by Noah Tong; 3/10/25 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wiped away the agency’s stated intentions for the future of Medicare Advantage (MA), underlining new uncertainty for the future of health-related social needs, CMS Innovation Center models and the federal health program. ... A frequently asked questions page gave further explanation, as did an executive summary of a report to be released in early 2025. The page included a section with the question, “What is CMS’ vision for the future of the MA program?” as of Feb. 22, archived versions of the web page shows. But that question and answer was quietly deleted, and the page was last modified Feb. 26. It previously described how the VBID model helped health plans address health-related social needs and stressed health equity as an important cornerstone of its mission. ... The CMS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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UnitedHealth Group withdraws motion to dismiss antitrust challenge

02/11/25 at 03:00 AM

UnitedHealth Group withdraws motion to dismiss antitrust challenge Competition Policy International; by CPI; 2/8/25 UnitedHealth Group has withdrawn its motion to dismiss the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit challenging its proposed acquisition of Amedisys, a home care and hospice provider. According to the , the healthcare giant stated that new information provided by the government in late January rendered its initial motion moot. ... On January 29, the Justice Department responded to the motion by filing a list of 381 service areas where it alleged the acquisition would negatively impact competition. UnitedHealth Group, in its latest filing, acknowledged that this submission “finally identified” the locations in question, leading the company to withdraw its motion.

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UnitedHealth drops dismissal bid in US suit over Amedisys deal

02/10/25 at 03:00 AM

UnitedHealth drops dismissal bid in US suit over Amedisys deal Bloomberg Law; by Justin Wise; 2/6/25 (additional subscription may be required)UnitedHealth Group Inc. is withdrawing its motion to dismiss the Justice Department’s lawsuit seeking to block its $3.3 billion acquisition of home-health and hospice services provider Amedisys Inc. and planning to fight the case at trial. In a Wednesday [2/5/25] filing in the US District Court for the District of Maryland, UnitedHealth and Amedisys said that new information provided by the Justice Department eliminated the basis for its request to toss the case at a preliminary stage. The firms previously argued the DOJ was withholding key geographic market information integral to its claim that the tie-up would stifle competition ...

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DOGE probes CMS for Medicare, Medicaid fraud: WSJ

02/07/25 at 03:00 AM

DOGE probes CMS for Medicare, Medicaid fraud: WSJ Becker's Hospital Review; by Rylee Wilson; 2/5/25Members of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency have been granted access to payment and contracting systems at CMS, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 5. Department representatives have been on-site at CMS' offices this week, examining spending data for potential fraud or waste and reviewing the agency's organization and staffing, unnamed sources told the Journal. ... DOGE aims to cut federal spending by $1 trillion, with Medicaid emerging as a likely target, according to The New York Times. CMS spent more than $1.5 trillion on healthcare programs in fiscal year 2024, accounting for 22% of total federal spending, according to the agency's 2024 annual report. "Yeah, this [CMS] is where the big money fraud is happening," Mr. Musk wrote on X in response to the Journal's article.  

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Immigration policies’ ‘chilling effect’ on the hospice workforce

02/07/25 at 02:00 AM

Immigration policies’ ‘chilling effect’ on the hospice workforce Hospice News; by Holly Vossel; 2/5/24 The White House recently issued several executive orders that have ramped up the nation’s immigration enforcement policies. The health care sector may be facing a host of staffing and operational challenges as the regulatory moves unfold, according to Hannah Liu, manager of immigration advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). A tightening of immigration policies has come with “concern, panic and confusion” across diverse communities nationwide, Liu stated. “As the effects of these hostile immigration policies play out, patients may also face the life-or-death situations that arise from interruptions in care caused by staffing shortages,” Liu told Hospice News in an email. “Immigrants in the health care industry may fear the possibility of arrest and detention, including in workplaces like hospitals, palliative care facilities and clinics.” 

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AHHC joins other state hospice advocates in legal challenge to Special Focus Program

01/27/25 at 03:00 AM

AHHC joins other state hospice advocates in legal challenge to Special Focus Program The Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHCNC); Press Release; 1/23/25The Association for Home and Hospice Care of North Carolina (AHHCNC) has joined a multi-state coalition of hospices and hospice associations in challenging the federal government's implementation of the Hospice Special Focus Program (SFP), deeming it unlawful and arbitrary. The challengers are seeking a preliminary injunction to halt the SFP, citing patient safety concerns, misrepresentation of compliance records, and jeopardized access to high-quality end-of-life care. Congress directed CMS to establish the SFP to enhance enforcement for noncompliance hospices, but the Final Rule includes unrelated measures, heavily relying on survey data and other information not related to hospices’ compliance with Medicare requirements. Tim Rogers, President and CEO of AHHCNC, states:  "The approach CMS uses disadvantages well-established hospices and ignores Congress’s intent." [Click on the title's link to continue reading.] 

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Trump freezes HHS communications: report

01/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Trump freezes HHS communications: report Modern Healthcare Alert; by Bridget Early; 1/22/25 The Health and Human Services Department and its agencies are going silent for now, according to the Washington Post. On Tuesday, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, HHS received an order to halt all outbound communications, including health advisories, weekly reports, research, website updates and social media posts, the newspaper reported. The Washington Post reports that the pause has no definitive end date and that the decree does not specify whether exceptions will be made for disease outbreaks or other urgent situations. The directive applies to agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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16 top data governance tools to know about in 2025

01/13/25 at 03:00 AM

16 top data governance tools to know about in 2025 informa - TechTarget; by Craig Stedman and David Weldon; 1/9/25 ... Data governance is the process of creating internal data standards, along with policies that control who can access data and how data is used in business operations and analytics applications. It often incorporates data quality improvement initiatives, as well as master data management (MDM) ones. ... Here's a look at 16 prominent data governance tools, listed in alphabetical order, with summaries of their key features and capabilities. The list was compiled by Informa TechTarget editors based on research of the data governance software market that included the use of market reports and vendor rankings from Forrester Research and Gartner.

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Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection; Comment request

12/17/24 at 03:00 AM

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed collection; Comment request Federal Register - United States Government; A Notice by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Health  and Human Services; 12/16/24 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

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‘Open door’ policy for staff key to preventing hospice False Claims Act complaints

12/16/24 at 03:00 AM

‘Open door’ policy for staff key to preventing hospice False Claims Act complaints Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 12/13/24 Taking employee concerns seriously about patient eligibility and other issues can help prevent hospices from becoming involved in a False Claims Act case. The overwhelming majority of False Claims Act cases involve qui tam whistleblowers, usually a current or former employee who observed alleged malfeasance or errors. In a qui tam action, a whistleblower, called a “relator” by the courts, files a False Claims Act suit on behalf of the government and possibly receives a portion of any funds recovered by the government via the lawsuit, typically ranging from 15% to 25%. In Fiscal Year 2023, for example, these cases recovered $2.3 billion of the total $2.68 billion recouped by the government in FCA settlements and judgements, according to a report from the law firm Polsinelli.

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Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO brings resentment of the health care system to the fore

12/09/24 at 03:00 AM

Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO brings resentment of the health care system to the fore STAT Business, Boston, MA; by Bob Herman and Tara Bell; 12/6/24 The targeted killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has become a defining moment in the zeitgeist of American health care. The attack was a tragedy that adds to the country’s grim tally of gun deaths. But instead of eliciting sympathy, it opened the floodgates for an outpouring of rage, captured across social media and online forums, over the health care system — one that charges people the highest prices in the world, erects financial and bureaucratic barriers to getting care, and has plunged millions of people into debt. Social media posts have ranged from mournful to apathetic to joyful, including morbid celebrations of Thompson’s death. That deluge has forced people across the country to grapple with two heavy subjects at once: the callousness of a slaying, and an undercurrent of deep-seated anger at a health care industry that makes a lot of money by exploiting Americans. ... [Click on the title's link to continue reading.]

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New alliance steps up as voice for providers & patients

12/06/24 at 03:00 AM

New alliance steps up as voice for providers & patients HomeCare; by Hannah Wolfson; 12/3/24 Stopping Medicare cuts, ensuring Medicare Advantage beneficiaries have good access to care, passing groundbreaking hospice legislation and bringing homecare into the forefront are all priorities for the newly-formed National Alliance for Care at Home, said CEO Steve Landers. “We’ve got to start improving access to home health care, and the way that we do that is we end this march of payment cuts that are being set forward by Medicare,” Landers said at the Alliance’s Homecare and Hospice Conference and Expo, which was held in October in Tampa, Florida. ... The alliance has automatically enrolled members of both legacy organizations, but Landers said that for renewals or new members, participants will be required to sign an attestation that says they have a program in place for quality and compliance, that they monitor the Office of Inspector General’s expulsion list and don’t take referrals or staff from organizations on that list and that they strive to participate in Medicare’s quality reporting programs.

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HHS OIG's Fall 2024 Semiannual Report to Congress

12/06/24 at 03:00 AM

HHS OIG's Fall 2024 Semiannual Report to CongressU.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] - Office of Inspector General [OIG]; by OIG; issued on 12/4/24, posted on 12/4/24 The Fall 2024 Semiannual Report to Congress highlights OIG's work focusing on the most significant and high-risk issues in health care and human services related to HHS programs and operations during the semiannual reporting period of April 1 through September 30, 2024. The semiannual reports are intended to keep the HHS Secretary and Congress informed of OIG’s crucial findings and recommendations.  ...

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What is compliance risk?

11/27/24 at 03:00 AM

What is compliance risk? TechTarget; by Katie Terrell Hanna and Francesca Sales; 11/26/24 Compliance risk is an organization's potential exposure to legal penalties, financial forfeiture and material loss, resulting from its failure to act in accordance with industry laws and regulations, internal policies or prescribed best practices. Compliance risk is also known as integrity risk. Organizations of all types and sizes are exposed to compliance risk, whether they are public or private entities, for-profit or nonprofit, state or federal. An organization's failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations can affect its revenue, which can lead to loss of reputation, business opportunities and valuation. Types of compliance risk ... An organization might be implicated in the following types of compliance risks:

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Inside the Justice Department’s Amedisys-Optum lawsuit

11/19/24 at 03:00 AM

Inside the Justice Department’s Amedisys-Optum lawsuit Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 11/18/24 ... DOJ’s chief concern is that the combination of the two companies would dampen competition in the hospice and home health space. Should the transaction proceed, Optum would control 30% or more of the home health or hospice services in eight states, according to the Justice Department’s complaint. The deal would expand Optum’s home health and hospice footprint to five additional states, allowing the company to gain nearly 500 locations in 32 states. “UnitedHealth Group Incorporated and Amedisys, Inc. are two of the largest home health and hospice service providers in the country,” DOJ indicated in the complaint. “Today, competition between UnitedHealth and Amedisys benefits millions of Americans who need home health or hospice services. But the proposed merger between UnitedHealth and Amedisys would forever eliminate that competition.”

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New FTC regulations could create obstacles for hospice M&A

10/25/24 at 03:00 AM

New FTC regulations could create obstacles for hospice M&A Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 10/24/24 Changes to federal rules governing mergers and acquisitions could have sweeping effects on hospice and other health care transactions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently finalized a rule that will implement changes to required pre-merger notification forms. Pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, parties to certain transactions must submit these documents to the FTC and other regulatory agencies to help identify and address potential antitrust concerns. The law requires that transactions exceeding $120 million must submit the form, which agencies will use to conduct a 30-day premerger assessment, according to Luke Smith, member at the law firm Bass, Berry and Sims. The final rule will likely complicate the closing of some hospice acquisitions.

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Hospice advocate Judi Lund Person ... featured on Close Up Radio

08/07/24 at 02:00 AM

Hospice advocate Judi Lund Person ... featured on Close Up Radio Western Slope Now, Ashburn, VA; by EIN Presswire; 7/26/24 (article) and 7/29/24 (recording)... Talking about where you’d like to be, who you’d like to be, and what you’d like to do is essential to entering this life-stage with confidence and grace. As the former Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) and a longtime advocate for hospice services under Medicare, Judi Lund Person has been working hard for more than 40 years to protect the definition of hospice care and to provide resources and guides for hospice providers to meet the Medicare requirements and provide high quality hospice care. ... Her passion for supporting patients and families during and after death began as a child. “When I was 12, my dad had a heart attack at night and passed when he was only 42. With two younger sisters, ages eight and ten, I was stunned that no one seemed to know what to do with us concerning our grief as children. We were left to try and figure it out on our own. I always thought that wasn’t quite right. Deep down, that experience was a driver for my career. I always knew families deserved more support during the grieving process,” shares Ms. Person. Editor's Note: Click here for the session's description. Click here for the recording. 

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Empowering patient access, protection, and choice: The 21st Century Cures Act eight years on

08/01/24 at 03:00 AM

Empowering patient access, protection, and choice: The 21st Century Cures Act eight years on Healthcare Business Today; by David Navarro; 7/26/24 The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law in December 2016, marked a significant shift in the healthcare landscape by focusing on patient empowerment through enhanced access to medical records, stringent privacy protections, and increased choices in healthcare options. Eight years later, this landmark legislation continues to revolutionize the interaction between patients, providers, and the healthcare system. Recently, The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an updated ruling to the Act to establish penalties for healthcare providers who engage in information blocking. This rule, aims to deter practices that prevent or discourage the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI).

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Vital Signs: Digital Health Law Update | Spring 2024

07/24/24 at 03:00 AM

Vital Signs: Digital Health Law Update | Spring 2024 Jones Day - Vital Signs; by Vital Signs' Editors; July 2024Welcome to Vital Signs, a curated compilation of the latest legal and regulatory developments in digital health.  [Topics include the following:]

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