Current News

News

01/17/22

SCOTUS Decides on CMS and OSHA Vaccine Mandates

On January 13, 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) decided the fate of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) vaccine mandate as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) vaccine mandate. In this article, I will provide answers to the following questions: Let’s Begin!

Read More
11/16/21

CMS COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate

Update December 4, 2021 From CMS: On November 29 and November 30, 2021, the United States District Court for the Eastern District ofMissouri and United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana issued preliminaryinjunctions against the implementation and enforcement of the Interim Final Rule against Medicare and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers. CMS has appealed both of these decisions, and has filed motions for stays of these orders. While CMS remains confident in its authority to protect the health and safety of patients in facilities certified by the Medicare and Medicaid programs, it has suspended activities related to the

Read More
03/27/20

Massachusetts Governor Mandates Telehealth Coverage

On March 15, 2020, Massachusetts Governor Charles D. Baker issued an order expanding access to telehealth services and to protect healthcare providers. This order requires all Commercial Health Insurers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and Health Maintenance Organizations regulated by the Division of Insurance, are hereby required to allow all in-network providers to deliver clinically appropriate, medically necessary covered services to members via telehealth. Click HERE to access this order. Click HERE to access the Massachusetts Physical Therapy Association COVID-19 Resource Center.

Read More
03/26/20

Alaska Mandates Telehealth Coverage

The state of Alaska has released the following Notice: Notice of the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development announces the issuance of Bulletin 20-07 to insurers regarding changes to telehealth coverage standards that are the result of emergency legislation, effective March 17, 2020. The new law may be found at: http://www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp  . Enter the bill number HB29 to find the full text and legislative history of the bill. You may obtain a copy of the bill by contacting the Alaska Legislative Information Office. Please note that this bill has an IMMEDIATE effective date of 3/17/2020. The bill revises AS 21.42.422 to expand telehealth

Read More
03/26/20

New York Mandates Insurances Pay for Telehealth Services

On March 3, 2020, New York State Department of Financial Services issued Insurance Circular Letter No. 3 (2020) to All Insurers Authorized to Write Accident and Health Insurance in New York State, Article 43 Corporations, Health Maintenance Organizations, Student Health Plans Certified Pursuant to Insurance Law § 1124, and Municipal Cooperative Health Benefit Plans. The letter goes on to state the following: “Issuers are reminded that Insurance Law §§ 3217-h and 4306-g and Public Health Law § 4406-g prohibit issuers from excluding a service that is otherwise covered under a comprehensive health insurance policy or contract because the service is

Read More