PPACA Impact and Opportunities : Health Care Lawyer & Attorney : Epstein Becker Green Law Firm : Insurance & Costs : Health Reform Musings Blog

Our colleagues at Epstein Becker Green have issued a client alert: "HIPAA Omnibus Rule's Impact on Notices of Privacy Practices," by Patricia M. Wagner, Brandon C. Ge, and Alaap B. Shah.

Following is an excerpt:

This health reform alert summarizes the key changes to the Notice of Privacy Practices ("NPP") requirements in the revised Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ("HIPAA") regulations (the "Omnibus Rule") as well as what covered entities need to do to be compliant. Because many covered entities may have modified their NPPs based on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued on July 14, 2010 ("NPRM"), this alert also details the similarities and differences between the NPRM and the Omnibus Rule related to NPPs. In addition, Table 1 of this alert provides a quick summary of the NPRM proposals adopted—or not adopted—by the Omnibus Rule.

As covered entities work toward compliance, they should keep in mind that the Omnibus Rule becomes effective on March 26, 2013, but the deadline for compliance is September 23, 2013.

Read the full alert here.

Our colleagues at Epstein Becker Green have issued a client alert: "U.S. Supreme Court Opinion Addresses Availability of State-Action Antitrust Immunity," by Patricia M. Wagner, Ross K. Friedberg, and Daniel C. Fundakowski.

Following is an excerpt:

On February 19, 2013, in FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc., a case that highlights vigorous enforcement activities by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) in the health care arena, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a unanimous opinion (“Opinion”) that overturned a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and limited the invocation of the state-action doctrine where state laws grant government authorities general corporate powers. This new decision supports the FTC’s position that it has the authority to pursue a challenge to the hospital acquisition at issue in the case. Although the Opinion addressed the specific legislative powers granted to a hospital authority under state legislation, the Opinion will likely impact judicial interpretation of other state legislation that purports to provide parties with immunity from the federal antitrust laws, such as state hospital cooperation acts, and similar types of legislation being created to allow cooperation and integration of hospital and provider systems.

Read the full alert here.

by Dale C. Van Demark

Not by much – but perhaps in a unique way.

The increased pace of hospital and health system merger activity we’ve seen in the marketplace has had little to do with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”). Rather, broader market conditions, some of which are affected by the ACA, have been driving hospital market consolidation. The financial crisis, which negatively impacted many hospitals’ ability to raise capital or maintain their credit ratings, and the downturn in the broader economy, which resulted in fewer people seeking care, have created the primary incentive for hospital consolidation.

In addition, just as capital has become scarce and business has slowed, infrastructure upgrades are becoming critical. The push for “meaningful use” of information technology and increased emphasis on quality reporting are creating more and more budget demands. Further, staffing shortages and increasing government investigations have created more financial pressure.

Read the full post on the Hospital Deal Blog