The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks comment on a proposed rule published on July 27, 2018 to update payment policies and rates and quality provisions for services provided under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) begin…
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A recent guidance document published by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (“DHCD”)—the “DHCD Matrix”—will allow ALFs classified as Type I-1 (Condition 2) buildings to serve a greater number of non-ambulatory res…
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Seeking to remove unnecessary government obstacles to care coordination, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to help identify aspects of the physician self-referral law (Stark Law) that ma…
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The passage of Virginia General Assembly House Bill 793 (HB 793) authorized a new option for eligible nurse practitioners to practice without a practice agreement.[1] HB 793 amends Va. Code § 54.1-2957, which governs the licensure and practice of nu…
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In a recent memo released to state survey agencies, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) clarifies standards governing texting among health care providers, including both traditional SMS text messaging and messaging through apps desig…
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The previous Standards for Licensed Assisted Living Facilities (22VAC40-72) are being repealed and will be replaced with new comprehensive regulations (22VAC40-73).[1] The new regulations take effect on February 1, 2018, although the Department of So…
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) intends to implement a new long-term care survey process on November 28, 2017. This new process is part of a larger regulatory revision to implement parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and Im…
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Two recent Virginia Court of Appeals decisions illustrate important morals: If a provider chooses to practice outside the scope of her specialty and training or opts to use alternative courses of treatment, she may encounter licensing board sanctio…
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On January 18, 2017, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a Final Rule that revises the requirements for the disclosure of substance use disorder patient records. Barring intervention by the Trump administr…
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The new Conditions of Participation published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on October 4, 2016 require nursing facility providers to make a number of changes to their policies, procedures, agreements and operations in advanc…
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