New and evolving technologies continue to present the health care industry with opportunities to improve patient outcomes and access to care and reduce the need for more expensive interventions. While reimbursement continues to be tight for orthopedic, physical therapy, and occupational therapy practices in New York, opportunities remain for New York practices that are willing … Continued

New York State Department of Health Medicaid Decisions Compiled by Ron L. Oakes Courtesy Transportation Services, Inc. (Decision After Hearing, June 20, 2024, Matthew C. Hall, ALJ) Appellant is an ambulette and transportation provider operating in New York. The New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) conducted a data match desk audit … Continued

The New York Department of Financial Services (DFS), which regulates insurers, issued a final Circular Letter No. 7 on July 11, 2024, titled, “ Use of Artificial Intelligence Systems and External Consumer Data and Information Sources in Insurance Underwriting and Pricing” (the “Circular Letter”).1 This Circular Letter was addressed to all insurers authorized to write insurance … Continued

In the wake of significant push back – including litigation in the Northern District of Texas – the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was compelled to moderate its position on the use of online tracking technologies. Online tracking technologies are scripts or codes that collect information about users on websites or mobile … Continued

Washington State’s My Health My Data Act (MHMDA or the “Act”)1 went into effect for all persons and entities, as defined in the Act, on June 30, 2024. As its name implies, the Act regulates how persons and entities collect, transfer and sell, or offer to sell, “consumer health data.” The Act aims to close … Continued

Introduction Black women in the United States experience disproportionately high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality in comparison to other groups, with white women being almost three times less likely to experience pregnancy-related deaths than Black women.1, 2 More than a decade of research has consistently documented racial disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity rates across groups. … Continued

Private equity ownership has infiltrated almost every sector of the health care industry and is associated with a harmful impact on patient costs as well quality of care.1, 2 These for-profit entities prioritize profit maximization and usually have a short three to five-year turnover period to resell and to satisfy high-interest payments and debts associated with private … Continued

Introduction This commentary highlights a major vulnerability facing medicine and the health care industry. Community clinics, hospitals, large health systems, health plans, professional medical societies, medical schools, and individual medical professionals must begin to confront published patient-care decision support (CDS) tools and practice guidelines that recommend separate and unequal care based on a patient’s race. … Continued

New York State Department of Health Medicaid Decisions Compiled by Ron L. Oakes National Seating & Mobility, Inc. (Decision After Hearing, May 6, 2024, John Harris Terepka, ALJ) Appellant is a durable medical equipment (DME) and medical/surgical supplies provider. In December of 2020, the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG) initiated … Continued

1/24/24: Admission and Discharge Criteria for Psychiatric Inpatient Units of General Hospitals Notice of Proposed Rule Making. The Office of Mental Health proposed to amend Part 580 of Title 14 N.Y.C.R.R. to standardize admissions and discharges. See N.Y. Register January 24, 2024. Admission and Discharge Criteria for Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Programs Notice of Proposed Rule Making. The … Continued