New guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) highlights the importance of updating corporate compliance programs to satisfy regulatory requirements. The 2020 updates pick up where the 2019 guidance left off in addressing the evaluation metrics for compliance. The key takeaway for 2020 is that companies are encouraged to update and improve compliance programs with the latest in … Continue Reading
THE ABC’S OF THE S.I.U.: What Providers Need to Know
Medical record requests by payors are commonplace for health care providers. Typically, these requests are received by a front desk employee who responds to the inquiry in short order. Yet, not all requests should be treated the same. When a request for documentation is propounded by the “Special Investigation Unit” (S.I.U.) of an insurance company, special care should be exercised … Continue Reading
PA Health Care Practices and Facilities Should Modify Their COVID-19 Policies for New Travel Quarantine
On July 1, 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Gov. Wolf issued a 14-day quarantine recommendation for any individual returning to PA from any of 19 states. The Department expects to adjust the list from time to time to reflect the rise or decrease in COVID-19 cases in states around the country.
Health care practices and facilities should consider … Continue Reading
OSHA Safety Considerations for Reopening Dental Practices during the COVID-19 Pandemic
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is keenly aware of the need to protect employees of dental practices returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. On May 11, 2020, OSHA issued an alert listing safety tips employers can follow to help protect dental industry workers from exposure to COVID-19. OSHA’s alert is consistent with the … Continue Reading
PA Medical and Dental Practices Permitted to Resume Elective Care with Limitations
***UPDATE: The PA DOH is now permitting dental practices to re-open for non-urgent or elective care. Please see our post summarizing the guidance here: PA Dental Practices Permitted to Re-Open for Routine Cleanings
In Guidance issued May 8, 2020 and May 9, 2020, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) has now permitted medical and dental practices across the Commonwealth to … Continue Reading
PA Continues Fight Against Opioid Addiction with Opioid Treatment Agreements
In the continued fight against opioid addiction, Pennsylvania enacted a new law, effective November 27, 2019, that requires prescribers in Pennsylvania to implement additional steps prior to treating a patient’s chronic pain with a controlled substance containing an opioid, including the implementation of an Opioid Treatment Agreement. The new law can be accessed here: Act 112 of 2019.… Continue Reading
EEOC Permits Employers to Test Employees for COVID-19 Prior to Entering the Workplace
Hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinical labs, pharmacies, medical practices and dental practices may now test employees for COVID-19 prior to them entering the workplace.
Yesterday, the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 guidance to provide that under the current circumstances presented by the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic, “an employer may choose to administer COVID-19 testing to … Continue Reading
New Jersey Legislation Provides Civil and Criminal Immunity to Certain Health Care Providers Battling COVID-19
Early last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed sweeping legislation offering civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities battling COVID-19, retroactively effective March 9, 2020.
The new law does not apply to health care services or procedures performed by health care professionals that are unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency (including, but not … Continue Reading
New Jersey Legislation Provides Civil and Criminal Immunity to Certain Health Care Providers Battling COVID-19
Early last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed sweeping legislation offering civil and criminal immunity to certain health care professionals and health care facilities battling COVID-19, retroactively effective March 9, 2020.
The new law does not apply to health care services or procedures performed by health care professionals that are unrelated to the COVID-19 emergency (including, but not
Relaxed Direct Physician Supervision Requirements during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Shortly after the State of New York relaxed its direct physician supervision requirements in response to the rampant spread of Novel Coronavirus 2019 (“COVID-19”), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published revised standards for its direct physician supervision requirements on March 30, 2020 and April 9, 2020.
March 30, 2020 CMS Guidance
- The revised standards allow physicians to