As value-based care (VBC) models continue to grow across our nation’s health system and specifically within different specialties like nephrology, the costs and challenges of maintaining these models continue to rise. In...more
8/13/2024
/ Antitrust Investigations ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Kickbacks ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Private Equity ,
Spinoffs ,
Value-Based Care ,
Whistleblowers
FTC final rule banning noncompetes grandfathers existing agreements for senior execs -
The FTC voted 3-2 in favor of the final rule, which bans noncompete clauses in employee contracts in most cases. While the rule would...more
Five NJ nephrology practices combine under Northeast Kidney Care banner -
The combined company claims to be the largest independent group of nephrologists in the state, with 26 locations. ...more
NY Governor vetoes noncompete ban bill after opposition from health, business groups -
Kathy Hochul vetoed a bill passed by both houses of the NY legislature in June that would’ve imposed bans of non-compete clauses in...more
1/17/2024
/ Data Breach ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) ,
ESRD ,
Fraud ,
Governor Vetoes ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Lobbying ,
Medicare ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Wage and Hour
Fresenius hiring Ascension Capital exec to head care delivery -
The appointment of Craig Cordola as CEO of the dialysis company’s care delivery segment takes effect Jan. 1. He was at Ascension Capital for the past six...more
11/14/2023
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
ESRD ,
Health Care Providers ,
Healthcare Workers ,
Hospitals ,
Medicare ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Prescription Drugs
Federal Law increases competition in organ procurement, transplant system; NKF, ASN approve -
The President signed the bipartisan bill into law on Sept. 22. The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) was...more
FTC, DoJ propose changes to HSR Act for more effective, efficient merger reviews -
The FTC, along with the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division, proposed changes to the premerger notification form and...more
9/8/2023
/ Artificial Intelligence ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ,
Health Insurance ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medicare ,
Merger Reviews ,
Organ Donation ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Partnerships ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Startups
NY non-compete ban still receiving pushback as Governor waits to sign off -
While NY Governor Kathy Hochul waits to sign off on one of the country’s toughest bans on non-compete agreements, many lobby groups from the...more
8/7/2023
/ Business Model ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
ESRD ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medicare ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Organ Donation ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Spinoffs
Benesch: NLRB decision overturns use of ‘entrepreneurial opportunity’ super factor for classifying employees -
Benesch explains the labor board’s decision retains the 10-point test to determine who can be considered an...more
Benesch: MN ban on non-compete agreements includes carveout for business sale, dissolution -
Benesch Law notes the bill only awaits the signature of MN’s Governor and could become law as early as July 1. It would prevent...more
6/9/2023
/ Capital Raising ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
ESRD ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medicare ,
No-Poaching ,
Non-Compete Agreements ,
Organ Donation ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
Private Equity ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Spinoffs
MedPAC recommends no additional increase in payments for dialysis in 2024 -
MedPAC’s report on outpatient dialysis services recommends Congress not increase Medicare payments for dialysis services next year beyond the...more
5/9/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Divestiture ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Health Care Providers ,
Joint Venture ,
MedPAC ,
Organ Donation ,
Restrictive Covenants ,
Trade Secrets
ME trial reminiscent of DaVita anti-poaching case that also ended in acquittal; DOJ strategy questioned -
In Apr. 2022, juries in TX and CO acquitted healthcare companies charged by the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. In the CO...more
4/12/2023
/ Acquittals ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
ESRD ,
Government Investigations ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Medical Research ,
Medicare ,
Medigap ,
Organ Donation ,
Veterans Administration
Correction to our January 31, 2023 newsletter article, “Dialysis Provider Satellite Healthcare Reports Data Breach Affecting Nearly 100k Patients”:
Media Statement, Satellite Healthcare -
In January 2023, Satellite...more
Federal omnibus spending bill rolls back some Medicare payment cuts scheduled for 2023, 2024 -
Buried within the $1.7-trillion spending package signed by the President on Dec. 29 was partial relief for a planned 4.5% cut...more
1/16/2023
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Donors ,
ESRD ,
False Claims Act (FCA) ,
Fraud ,
Fresenius ,
Health Care Providers ,
Medicare ,
Organ Donation ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Physician Medicare Reimbursements ,
Physicians
Benesch outlines five states with data protection laws coming into effect in 2023 -
Next year, statutes for data security and data privacy will go into effect in CA and VA on Jan. 1, while laws in CO and CT will be...more
Fresenius CEO resigning; to be replaced by head of company’s pharmaceutical business -
Michael Sen, President and CEO of Fresenius Kabi, will replace Stephan Sturm as CEO of Fresenius SE on Oct. 1. Shares in the company...more
DOJ files civil complaint alleging Fresenius performed unnecessary procedures on dialysis patients -
In June, it was revealed that DOJ would partially join a whistleblower lawsuit against the dialysis provider. In a civil...more
8/3/2022
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Fraud ,
Healthcare Facilities ,
Healthcare Fraud ,
Medical Devices ,
Medtronic ,
Mergers ,
Organ Donation ,
Product Recalls
SCOTUS sides with OH-based medical plan in dispute with DaVita over dialysis reimbursements -
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Benefit Plan in a case that hinged...more
Medtronic, DaVita forming kidney tech company to develop dialysis delivery systems -
The healthtech and the dialysis provider will be 50-50 partners in the venture, which will include the entirety of Medtronic’s renal...more
Denver jury acquits DaVita, former CEO, of all charges in antitrust trial -
After two days of deliberations, a Denver jury found DaVita and former CEO Kent Thiry not guilty of all charges relating to charges they...more
5/10/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Grants ,
Medical Devices ,
Medical Research ,
Organ Donation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Sherman Act ,
Whistleblowers
SCOTUS questions appear to support DaVita’s position in dialysis care discrimination case -
Private plans are supposed to provide coverage for dialysis for the first 30 months before the patients can transition to...more
CMS calls for applications for second cohort of KCC Model; deadline set for Mar. 25 -
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation says performance period participation agreements for the CMS Kidney Care First Option...more
Benesch: SCOTUS decisions on COVID-19 vaccine mandates have repercussions for employers, healthcare facilities
The Supreme Court decided two cases relating to COVID-19 vaccination mandates. In the first case, SCOTUS ruled...more
2/4/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Employer Mandates ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Physician Medicare Reimbursements ,
Vaccinations ,
Workplace Safety
SCOTUS to consider case alleging private plan’s ESRD coverage violates MSPA -
The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of Marietta Memorial Hospital Employee Health Benefits Plan v. DaVita, which alleges a private...more
12/6/2021
/ Antitrust Litigation ,
Biden Administration ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Dialysis ,
Dialysis Providers ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
ESRD ,
Medicare ,
Organ Transplant Centers ,
SCOTUS ,
Vaccinations
Carolina Kidney Partners: Addition of Ga.-based nephrology practice expands Medicare, commercial insurance footprint -
Savannah’s Nephrology & Hypertension Medical Associates operates seven clinics in Ga. and S. Car....more