Recent CMS Rule Changes to Impact Physicians

By  Lynda M. Johnson, Timothy C. Ezell
Published in Arkansas Medical News (November/December)

On November 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services finalized the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Pay­ment Program rules (2019 Rules). 

Hospital Litigation Trend Causes Concern Among Providers

A recently approved $2.2 million settlement by an Arkansas hospital accused of improper billing practices in violation of the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (ADTPA) could prompt similar lawsuits against other hospitals. Though the practice in question has been accepted in the medical industry, it is now the subject of a new litigation trend and a concern of hospital administrations. 

Attorney Michelle Ator Joins Panel at AHA Meeting

At this year’s Arkansas Hospital Associations Annual Meeting, Medical Malpractice Attorney Michelle Ator took part in a panel discussion that focused on recent developments, trends and challenges in legal and risk management.

Compliance Programs: Are they really voluntary?

By  Lynda M. Johnson, Timothy C. Ezell
Published in Arkansas Medical News (September/October)

There has been much written regarding the “voluntary” nature of instituting and maintaining an “effective compliance program” for healthcare providers. Much of this literature supports the concept of compliance being interwoven into the culture of an organization. Whether compliance programs are truly voluntary is debatable.

Protecting Your Practice From a Business Associate’s Breach

By  Lynda M. Johnson, Timothy C. Ezell and Tonya S. Gierke 
Published in Arkansas Medical News (July/August)

Ponemon Institute recently calculated the average cost of a healthcare data breach in 2017 to be $380 per record. In addition, the most recent enforcement data provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) indicates that the OCR has settled or imposed Civil Monetary Penalties of nearly $79 million dollars since the enactment of HIPAA.