Business Transactions
From business formation, to employment contracts and physician non-competition agreements, to mergers and acquisitions, FGHW assists health care professionals in every aspect of their businesses.
Compliance
FGHW assists employers, physicians, and health care businesses to comply with statutory and regulatory government requirements, such as HIPAA, the ACA, anti-kickback, and other state and federal laws.
Telemedicine/Telehealth: Update on Regulatory Issues
/in Regulatory Issues/by Scott ChaseThis article was originally printed in Dallas County Medical Society’s Dallas Medical Journal, November 2019. This article will focus on updates to regulatory issues that could impact a physician’s practice of telemedicine or any other provider’s practice of telehealth. The terms ‘telemedicine’ and ‘telehealth’ are often used interchangeably, but there is a growing difference. Telemedicine […]
2019 Update on Balance Billing and Texas Health Insurance Law
/in Medicare, ACA, & Payment Issues/by Scott ChaseThis article updates the prior article, “Balance billing and Texas healthcare law.” “Balance billing” occurs when doctors, hospitals, or other health care providers who are not contracted with a patient’s health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider benefit plan (PPO) bill the patient for the difference between the amount the health plan pays and the […]
The Revised AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Commercial Interactions with U.S. Health Care Professionals
/in Regulatory Issues/by Scott ChaseAdvanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) is a trade association for companies producing medical devices, diagnostic products, and health information systems. Relationships between AdvaMed member companies and Health Care Professionals (HCPs) are vital to the development of medical technologies, their safe and effective use, and medical research and education. However, these relationships can also create risk […]
The Physician Payments Sunshine Act
/in Physician Practice Matters/by Scott ChaseThe Physician Payments Sunshine Act (“PPSA”) requires medical product manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologics, and medical supplies covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program to annually disclose to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) any payments or transfers of value made to physicians or teaching hospitals. The PPSA is designed […]
The Expansion (Finally) of Telemedicine in Texas: A Brief History and Future Applications and Considerations for Healthcare Providers
/in Physician Practice Matters/by Katie AckelsIf you are a healthcare provider in Texas looking to supplement, or even transition, your practice into telemedicine, now is your time. Texas has always been a prime candidate for the benefits of telemedicine. It is an expansive state, with a large rural population that is often distant from medical care. Thus, Texas residents are uniquely […]
The 5 Most Important Decisions in a Physician Employment Agreement
/in Physician Practice Matters/by Scott ChaseOver the years, physician employment agreements have become very standardized. However, there are several provisions in such agreements that the to-be-employed physician must review carefully with his/her attorney. The following is a brief summary of what I consider to be the 5 most important provisions for a physician to understand and negotiate with the employer. […]
$2.5M settlement shows that not understanding HIPAA requirements creates financial risk
/in HIPAA/by Jennifer SnowThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), recently announced a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) settlement based on the impermissible disclosure of unsecured electronic protected health information (ePHI). In 2012, CardioNet, a company that remotely monitors patients at risk for cardiac arrhythmias, reported to the HHS Office […]
What is the status of ObamaCare, and why should I care?
/in Medicare, ACA, & Payment Issues/by Scott ChaseRegardless of your position on the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as ObamaCare (“ACA”), you should neither panic nor rejoice just yet over the actions and inactions of the United States government regarding this healthcare insurance law. You have probably read about the various options, i.e., “repeal and replace,” “repeal and delay,” or simply “repeal” […]
Healthcare providers’ risk of data breach
/in HIPAA/by Scott ChaseBy Scott Chase and Catherine Parsley Healthcare providers receive, collect, and store vast quantities of sensitive personal health information (“PHI”) from their patients. However, only half of providers responding to a recent survey said that they are prepared to respond to cyber-attacks. Attacks and other security breaches can have far-reaching effects for providers and their […]
Balance billing and Texas healthcare law
/in Medicare, ACA, & Payment Issues/by Clara EvansBalance billing occurs when doctors, hospitals, or other health care providers who are not contracted with a patient’s HMO or preferred provider benefit plan (PPO) bill the patient for the difference between the amount the health plan pays and the amount the provider believes to be the adequate cost of a service. For example, a […]