BCBS’ New Initiatives to Fight Opioid Epidemic
Posted by donna@healthlawcenterplc.com in Apr, 2018
Use of industry-leading data to better understand addiction trends and upcoming documentary to expand awareness are among BCBS System commitments WASHINGTON – Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) and top executives from Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies around the country today committed to addressing the nation’s growing opioid crisis with an executive-level committee […]
Category: News & Updates, Opioid Epidemic
Medicare Reimburses for Cognitive Care Planning Services
Posted by Donna Craig in Jul, 2017
Medicare Reimburses for Cognitive Care Planning Services More than 5 million individuals in the United States are currently affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other related dementias, with more than 510,000 of those patients living in Michigan.[i] Across this country the care and support for these 5 million individuals are borne by more than 15 […]
Category: Medicare
New Human Trafficking Educational Requirements For Michigan Health Care Professionals
Posted by Donna Craig in Mar, 2017
The prevalence of human trafficking has reached alarming levels in the United States. In an effort to address this widespread crisis, individuals licensed or registered by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (nurses, professional counselors, physicians, social workers, massage therapists, etc.) have a new continuing educational requirement which must be met when seeking […]
United States Supreme Court Upholds Tax Subsidies To Individuals In All States
Posted by Donna Craig in Jun, 2015
On June 25, 2015 the Supreme Court of the United States (“SCOTUS”), in a 6-3 decision in the King v Burwell case, ruled in favor of individuals who purchase health insurance in federal Exchanges. The crux of the case came down to four words in the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) which allowed individuals who are […]
Category: News & Updates
The Affordable Care Act – Employer Challenges in 2015. Is Your Business On Track?
Posted by Donna Craig in Mar, 2015
This week marks five years since the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) was passed. Over the last five years some ACA provisions impacting employers have been implemented, while future changes affecting employers are on the horizon. Since January 1, 2015, employers with 100 or more employees are required to either provide affordable and qualified health insurance […]
Category: News & Updates
Affordable Care Act’s Tax Credits Comes Before the Supreme Court
Posted by Donna Craig in Mar, 2015
On March 4, 2015, the United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in King v. Burwell. The issue in the case is the legality of an Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) decision to extend tax credits to individuals who purchased health insurance through federal insurance Exchanges and federally facilitated insurance Exchanges (“federal Exchanges”). Michigan has […]
Category: News & Updates
Is Your Patient Health Information Protected?
Posted by Donna Craig in Feb, 2015
Last week we woke up to the news that the second largest health insurance company in the country, Anthem Insurance Company, had its patient database hacked into by cyber attackers. While it is too early to know the full scope and impact of Anthem’s security breach, it does raise questions as to what security measures […]
Category: HIPAA
Are You Unknowingly Violating HIPAA In Your Office Practice?
Posted by Donna Craig in Jan, 2015
Using electronic media to communicate with others is a fact of life. But when health care providers send emails to patients, they may be in violation of HIPAA. To protect patients’ protected health information and avoid being the subject of HIPAA complaints consider the following: Does your Notice of Privacy Practices allow for protected health […]
Category: HIPAA
January 1, 2015 – Large Employers With More Than 100 FTEs Must Meet Mandated Regulations Or Pay Penalties
Posted by Donna Craig in Jan, 2015
As of January 1, 2015, large employers with more than 100 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees must provide affordable health insurance to at least 70 percent of their full time employees or pay penalty fines, which are not deductible as business expenses. Full time employees are those employees working an equivalent of 30 hours per week. […]
Category: News & Updates
Supreme Court’s Review Sought Regarding Non-Profit Religious Organizations’ Rights To Deny Contraceptive Insurance Coverage
Posted by Donna Craig in Jan, 2015
In 2014 the United States Supreme Court ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (U.S., June 30, 2104), that the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (“RFRA”), meaning that religious for-profit organizations are not required to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives. The Supreme Court clearly ruled that the exercise of religion […]
Category: News & Updates