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Physician Law Blog

We provide insights and analysis for physicians, nurses, chiropractors, dentists, physical therapists and other health professionals on issues impacting their practices.

Physician Law Blog
March 18, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services Declares Liability Immunity for Activities Related to COVID-19

On March 10, 2020 the Secretary of Health and Human Services issued a declaration of liability protection under the Public Health Service Act pursuant to a seldom used section of the Act titled the “Targeted Liability Protections for Pandemic and Epidemic Products and Security Countermeasures.” The Declaration, effective February 4, 2020, immunizes licensed health professionals, manufacturers, distributors, program planners, and those that prescribe, administer, or dispense drugs, biological products, or devices, used to diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or treat COVID-19.

Physician Law Blog
July 10, 2015

New Risk for Hospitals - CMS Proposes Bundled Payments for Hip & Knee Replacement Surgeries

Building upon the bundled payment demonstration programs currently underway for Medicare, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a proposal for a major shift in the way hospitals will be paid for hip and knee replacements. In an effort to incentivize hospitals to encourage quality and care improvements as patients transition from surgery to recovery, CMS proposed a change in the manner of payment to focus on episodes of care, rather than a piecemeal system.