Building Energy Performance Standards Will Impact Health Care Providers
In 2022, the Maryland General Assembly passed The Climate Solutions Now Act (CSNA), which is one of the most ambitious examples of climate change legislation in the country. As a result of the CSNA, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) was tasked with creating new regulations, requiring owners of certain large buildings (covered buildings)…Read More
Accountable Care Organization Denied Tax-Exempt Status
On October 28, 2024, the federal appellate court for the Fifth Circuit, in Memorial Hermann Accountable Care Organization v. Commissioner, affirmed a United States Tax Court decision, which held that an Accountable Care Organization in the Medicare Shared Saving Program did not meet its burden of showing that it qualified for exemption from federal income tax…Read More
Maryland 340B Law Survives First Judicial Test
Maryland has become one of the most recent battleground states for litigation regarding the federal 340B drug program initiated by pharmaceutical companies looking to curb the discounts they argue have expanded far beyond the program’s original intent. The 340B Program The 340B program allows hospitals and other covered providers to purchase outpatient drugs from pharmaceutical…Read More
2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2025 Medicare Fee Schedule, which included a reduction in the average payment for providers and modifications to the telehealth services covered by Medicare. Pay Changes The rule, which went into effect January 1, 2025, will result in a net 2.8% decrease in Medicare payments…Read More
Out of Network Price-Fixing
In August of 2024, a trial court in California dismissed a price-fixing claim in Verity Health System of California, Inc. v. MultiPlan Corporation. MultiPlan, a provider of health care data analytics, allegedly used its algorithmic repricing tool to set and to lower reimbursement rates health plans paid to out-of-network hospitals. The Facts A bankruptcy…Read More
Excessive Health Plan Costs
In the past decade, employers who sponsor pension plans have been subject to class actions brought by their employees, alleging the employers breached their fiduciary duty to pension plan participants by failing to rein in excessive fees. Now, that scrutiny has expanded to include employers who sponsor health plans, and who allegedly have not…Read More
Options for Retiring Physicians
With each passing year, many Maryland physicians are faced with a pressing question:What happens to my license when I retire? If a physician is approaching retirement, there are three options to consider: Inactive Status, Emeritus Status, and Voluntary Non-renewal. Inactive Status One option for physicians retiring in Maryland is to change the status of…Read More
New Reproductive Health Privacy Rules
In an effort to support reproductive health care privacy, as of December 23, 2024, providers must comply with a Final Rule promulgated by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Final Rule was issued in response to state abortion bans and other restrictions on reproductive freedom across the country following the U.S. Supreme…Read More
Stay or Pay Provisions
On October 7, 2024, Jennifer Abruzzo, General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), issued a memorandum expressing her opinion on several topics, including her conclusion that “stay or pay” provisions in employment agreements violate the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). Stay or pay provisions require employees to pay something or pay back something to…Read More
Top 5 Considerations for Your New Medical Office
Leasing a new space for your practice is a significant decision, as it represents one of your largest expenses and can greatly impact your practice. At Interplan, we understand that an efficiently designed and visually appealing environment enhances health outcomes, fosters patient wellness, and elevates staff satisfaction. With our extensive experience, we’ve identified the top…Read More