NEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

Is Increased PBM Transparency on the Way? Newly proposed Federal legislation would increase PBM transparency regarding aggregate rebates and "spread pricing".An oft-controversial issue, independent pharmacy associations have long lobbied for greater disclosure of the rebates that PBMs receive from drug companies, which can have a significant effect...

A Federal District Court in Minneapolis has issued a highly favorable decision for physicians and healthcare providers on the limits of an insurance plan's ability to recoup.  Specifically, the court ruled that insurers can only recoup against providers from the same health plan that the alleged overpayment was issued under, even if the insure...

We are pleased to announce the publication of our 2017 First Quarter Newsletter devoted to the issues facing pharmacies in connection with PBM audits. Please read it here.

Calling the attention of every New York Medicaid provider reimbursing its billing/collection agents on a percentage basis, the New York State Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) has recently sent out recoupment letters demanding repayments of Medicaid funds paid to billing companies under fee-splitting arrangements. Notably, the recoupments actions ...

In a groundbreaking decision addressing one of the most pressing issues currently faced by Medicare providers, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered CMS to clear the lengthy backlog of Medicare appeals at the administrative law judge (ALJ) level. Under the Medicare Act, CMS must provide an ALJ hearing and decision within 90 d...

As providers continue to rely on software vendors to maintain protected health information ("PHI"), a well-drafted business associate agreement ("BAA") becomes increasingly important. The BAA will set forth the obligations between providers and business associates such as software vendors with respect to the PHI. Software vendors will often attempt...

Medical practices, urgent care centers, and other healthcare facilities often employ clinical practitioners, such as physician assistants or nurse practitioners, who frequently work over 40 hours per week.   Whether these employees need to be paid overtime wages is a question our clients frequently ask us in our role as employme...

Effective March 27, 2016, a new law will require New York State prescribers to issue prescriptions electronically directly to a pharmacy, with limited exceptions. The new law requires electronic prescribing for all types of medications (controlled substances and non-controlled substances) and for syringes and other medical devices dispensed at a ph...

​Pharmacies and pharmacists across the country are receiving subpoenas in a federal case filed in the Eastern District of New York.  In this case, a manufacturer of diabetic test strips, Abbott  Laboratories, is suing distributors and pharmacies accusing them of importing and selling diabetic test strips intended for sale i...

Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) recently created a new website to facilitate monitoring of ALJ appeals. Physicians, DME suppliers & other providers can now check on the status of filed Medicare reimbursement appeals, find useful documentation as well as other information pertinent to the appeal. OMHA also launched listserv websit...

While the stated goals of meaningful use compliance include terms such as empowerment, improvement and efficiency, for many participating physicians the possibility of a meaningful use audit just adds another level of anxiety to the already stressful and increasingly time-consuming burden of administrating a medical practice in the current regulato...

Nothing is as critical to the economic health of an independent pharmacy as successfully resolving inevitable audits by Pharmacy Benefits Managers ("PBMs"). While the PBM concept originated as a measure to cut back on fraud, waste and abuse, the current role played by a PBM can often be perceived as antagonistic to the interests of independent phar...

The New York State Office of Medicaid Inspector General ("OMIG") has long required Medicaid providers to implement compliance programs as a condition of enrollment with Medicaid. However, now under Federal law, practitioners, regardless of the size of their practice, will have to develop a comprehensive compliance program. Under Section 6401 of the...