Legislation passed this session in the Iowa General Assembly adopts new requirements and restrictions for health care employment agencies that provide health care entities with agency workers who provide nursing or other...more
The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) has again extended a waiver of its previously issued rules relating to the establishment of urban and rural rates for health care and telecommunication service providers seeking...more
Effective January 1, 2022, Iowa public entities, including public hospitals and schools, must ensure that any lodging provider they pay or reimburse with public funds for lodging, conferences, meetings, or banquet space has...more
Several provisions of the No Surprises Act took effect on January 1, 2022, including prohibitions on out of network providers balance billing patients for emergency services provided by out of network providers and facilities...more
The American Rescue Plan Act requires employers to subsidize 100% of the cost of COBRA and comparable state continuation coverage for “assistance eligible individuals” from April 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021. The...more
3/12/2021
/ American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 ,
COBRA ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Group Health Plans ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Health Insurance ,
Subsidies ,
U.S. Treasury
As part of the COVID-19 relief legislation passed at the end of 2020, Congress adopted the “No Surprises Act” which prohibits out-of-network providers from balance billing patients for charges above the rates paid by their...more
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released updated reporting guidance for the Provider Relief Fund.
The updated guidance implements the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations...more
On December 27, President Trump signed the Economic Aid to Hard Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act into law. It makes temporary changes to rules governing health and dependent care flexible spending accounts and...more
The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits and Venues Act passed yesterday includes language allowing health care providers to utilize Health & Human Services’ June 2020 guidance to calculate “lost revenues”...more
On November 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released long-awaited final rules revising regulations implementing the Physician Self-Referral Law (known as “Stark”). Simultaneously, the Office of...more
With the growth in telemedicine, Critical Access Hospitals have a renewed interest in exploring delegated credentialing. Several years ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) modified the conditions of...more
HHS announced that reporting instructions for providers who received CARES Act funds have been delayed. According to HHS, the instructions will be released after August 17, 2020 but well in advance of October 1, 2020, the...more
On August 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that announces and solicits public comments on proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule and other...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has many healthcare providers wondering whether they can suspend their consent and admission processes. Although state and federal regulators have waived some consent requirements to provide greater...more
Last week HHS announced that health care providers who received general or targeted provider relief funds through the CARES Act may begin filing the required reports regarding the use of those funds on October 1, 2020....more
As guidance continues to change on the Provider Relief Fund payments made to health care providers, a number of providers have asked us about reporting and use of the funds.
Reporting Requirements -
Question: Do...more
On Friday, May 22, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it will allocate additional CARES Act funding to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) to assist with COVID-19 related expenses and lost revenue.
Each...more
Earlier this week, the IRS released new guidance allowing certain mid-year election change events under an employer’s cafeteria plan in calendar year 2020 for group health plan coverage, health flexible spending accounts, and...more
HHS announced earlier this week that it will distribute an additional $20 billion from the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund to health care providers starting Friday, April 24. Providers who file cost report...more
The United States Department of Health and Human Services announced it is releasing $30 billion of the $100 billion Public Health Emergency & Social Services Fund. The funds will go to Medicare Fee For Service Providers in an...more
In an effort to support American workers, Congress passed the new federally funded Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Here’s what employers need to know about how this will affect their health and...more
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security Act (CARES Act) contains numerous regulatory and payment reforms aimed at bolstering the health care industry and its COVID-19 response efforts. Although far from complete, the...more
On March 26, 2020, Governor Reynolds issued an emergency proclamation mandating the postponement of all non-essential surgeries and procedures that require the use of personal protective equipment (“PPE”)....more
On March 24, 2020, CMS issued updated FAQs relating to provider enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of note, CMS confirms practitioners can provide telehealth services from their homes provided that they add their home...more
Although we remain hopeful that Iowa will be spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic and health care resources will be sufficient to care for all patients in need, we encourage hospitals and hospital-based physicians to...more