CMS finally relaxes ASC rule on timing of notice of patients’ rights information *

USA - November 29 2011
On October 24, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) issued a final rule removing the requirement that ambulatory surgical centers (“ASCs”) provide required patients’ rights information in advance of the procedure date.

Co-authors: Jay Hardcastle.

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Hospitals take note: Tennessee physician non-compete law changes again *

USA - October 4 2011
Tennessee’s corporate practice of medicine statute has historically prohibited hospitals and their affiliates from imposing general post-employment covenants not to compete on physicians employed independently of a bona fide practice purchase

Co-authors: Kevin B. Campbell, Mark C. Lewis.

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CMS finalizes hospital readmissions reduction program in IPPS final rule *

USA - September 7 2011
On August 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released its Inpatient Prospective Payment System (“IPPS”) final rule. Included in the rule was the initial framework for the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (the “HRRP”) which is set to begin in the 2013 fiscal year

Co-authors: Jay Hardcastle.

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CMS proposes to expand the 3-day payment window rule to cover physician services provided by hospital-owned or controlled physician practices *

USA - July 26 2011
On July 19, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published its proposed 2012 Physician Fee Schedule (the “2012 Schedule”)

Co-authors: Mark C. Lewis.

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CMS proposes to expand Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction to the professional component of advanced imaging services *

USA - July 20 2011
On July 19, 2011 CMS published its proposed 2012 Physician Fee Schedule.

Co-authors: Jay Hardcastle, Andrew J. Murray.

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