Telemedicine has new and profound importance due to the COVID-19 crisis. “Virtual” healthcare preserves patient protective equipment that would otherwise be used and allows physicians to manage chronic illnesses remotely, without the in-person interaction that exposes provider and patient to the risk of spread. This increased reliance on telemedicine has prompted…
As patients, naturally we intend to go to the doctor to get well. But there is a catch 22. What if the trip to the doctor or the emergency room to be made well might cause us to get sick, or more sick? Or what if we make the doctor…
On April 6, 2020, Lee Little Health Law co-presented with Brian Tuttle, Navigating HIPPAA and Telemedicine during COVID19. The United States Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued new COVID-19 guidance on various aspects of its jurisdiction under both HIPAA and the federal civil rights laws. Many of these changes…
Business interruption insurance is especially important for small businesses and companies that rely on physical locations to carry out day-to-day activities associated with their organizations. Our business and healthcare law firm represents medical practices and other businesses with regard to insurance coverage disputes. Filing a business interruption claim can be…
We salute all of our clients and friends who are healthcare providers on the front lines of COVID-19 pandemic for their commitment and steady hand during these perilous days of uncertainty. All of us are better and safer because of you. Above all, we wish good health and safety for…
In a landmark federal False Claims Act case closely watched for many years by hospice administrators, other healthcare providers and legal experts, last week the Department of Justice (DOJ) entered a joint dismissal in settlement of the case against AseraCare Inc., a national hospice provider company. The settlement marks an…
As a business and healthcare litigation firm focused exclusively on advising and representing health care providers, we work virtually every day with contracts that involve non-compete agreements and other forms of restrictive covenants. Almost all physician employment, for example, will involve a physician employment agreement that contains a restrictive covenant. …
Because our healthcare law firm often handles employment-related disputes and litigation (for employers and employees alike), we follow developing trends in employment litigation. Employment discrimination lawsuits continue to make headlines in the healthcare industry. Between 2018 and 2019, numerous allegations regarding doctors, nurses, and administrative staff have resulted in litigation…
As technology improves the ability for providers to communicate, existing healthcare laws will continue to be put to the test. Now, a new call for care coordination is driving quality improvement initiatives for physicians and hospitals. In 2018, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched its initiative “Regulatory…
Providing access to high quality services to patients in rural areas is an ongoing challenge in the U.S. Throughout our country, a large percentage of citizens living in rural areas are less healthy than their peers in urban areas, as rural citizens lack access to healthcare providers in their small…