Podcasts

Catherine Short speaks with Rebecca L. Rakoski, Co-founder and Managing Partner at XPAN Law Partners, about “Vendor Management in Healthcare: The High Cost of Failing to Triage Your Vendors.” We will be discussing the importance of vendor management in the healthcare industry, explore recent vendor- related data breaches and the threat vendors can pose, discuss the issues presented by COVID-19, and explain the regulatory framework- healthcare-related businesses need to understand.

Catherine Short converses with Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, P.L.L.C., Houston, TX, on the topic of “The New AKS and Stark Laws Final Rules - Key Take-Aways.” On November 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule related to the Medicare Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law). Nearly simultaneously, the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), released a Final Rule, which amends various safe harbors to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The changes appear to be based, in large part, on value-based healthcare delivery and payment systems. On this episode, we will highlight the key changes, along with the similarities and differences in the language between the two Final Rules, examine the new AKS safe harbors and Stark Law exceptions, compare and contrast critical items found in both Final Rules, and appreciate the risks of non-compliance.

Cindy Groux, CHBME/Board Member at HBMA and CEO, President and Owner of Health Care Practice Management, will address new CPT codes for 2021 to include prolonged services and clinical staff services, documentation changes to reduce the administrative burden, decreased needs for audits and how to promote coding consistency, and new rules for time billing.

Stephen Bittinger, partner with K&L Gates in the firm’s Charleston office and a member of the health care/FDA practice group, is presenting with us on the brief history of use of big data in investigating and proving False Claims Act liability. He will offer an explanation of the government agencies and contractors involved in gathering health care data for investigation of fraud and abuse. We will look into the increased risk of fraud investigations due to regulatory changes implemented in response to COVID-19, and give practical ways to use data to reduce risk of investigation and liability.

Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA, principal with Rachel V. Rose – Attorney at Law, P.L.L.C., Houston, TX presents on these new updates. On November 20, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Final Rule related to the Medicare Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark Law). Nearly simultaneously, the Office of the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), released a Final Rule, which amends various safe harbors to the Federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS). The changes appear to be based, in large part, on value-based healthcare delivery and payment systems. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight the key changes, along with the similarities and differences in the language between the two Final Rules.