This week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), in conjunction with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (“SAMHSA”), issued a temporary rule extending the telemedicine waivers of the Ryan Haight Act (“RHA”) promulgated during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (“PHE”). This is notable as access to care, including mental health and substance abuse treatment,…

On March 30, Judge Reed O’Connor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a decision in Braidwood Management Inc. v. Becerra (“Braidwood”), invalidating the Affordable Care Act’s (“ACA’s”) mandate requiring health plans and health insurers offering health insurance coverage to provide coverage for preventative care services recommended by the U.S.…

Summary: California lawmakers have greenlighted emergency loans to support struggling hospitals facing financial challenges across the state. These loans will serve as a critical lifeline, helping eligible hospitals stabilize operations and navigate through turbulent times. Assembly Bill 112, passed by the California Senate and Assembly and expected to be signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom, establishes…

The Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) is responsible for detecting and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in federal health care programs. The OIG has authority to enforce the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (“AKS”) and the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalty law (“CMPL”). One of the ways that…

In February, when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) delivered two annual reports to Congress for the 2021 calendar year as mandated by the HITECH Act, several notable takeaways were exposed. By providing data on enforcement actions and insight into areas of noncompliance, the reports assist HIPAA…

In light of the increasing demand for mental health treatment and simultaneous provider shortages, the private insurance industry is rolling out targeted initiatives to increase mental health support for members by mitigating many of the barriers to entry facing the mental health industry today.

Challenges Facing Mental Health Care

As the importance of mental health…

According to the White House, the end of the COVID-19 national emergency and public health emergency (PHE) declarations is now barely two months away, as they are scheduled to end on May 11, 2023. These declarations provided the federal government with flexibility to waive or modify certain regulatory requirements applicable to the healthcare industry. Once the…