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Showing 29 posts in Health Care.

Healthcare in Delaware’s 150th – What to Look for after the State of the State

Posted In Health Care, Legislation

Delaware Governor John Carney delivered his third State of the State address yesterday, January 17th, in the Senate Chamber. For the healthcare world, what was in it was just as interesting as what was not in it. Highlights included re-emphasis of his existing benchmark proposal as well as Lt. Gov. Hall-Long’s work on mental health and addiction. Looking forward, he signaled a shift in focus to promoting healthy lifestyles, stating support to “raise the age for purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 21.” We’ll unpack these a little more below, but interestingly what didn’t make it in there was any talk about the outcomes of the Medicaid Buy-In Task Force (to not buy the lede – Delaware may become an individual mandate state) or the Primary Care Collaborative, both of which released major reports just a few weeks ago. More ›

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Allyson DiRocco to Talk with First Healthcare Compliance on the Americans with Disabilities Act

Posted In ADA, Health Care

First Healthcare ComplianceTune in July 16th to hear Morris James LLP employment attorney Allyson Britton DiRocco & Catherine Short of First Healthcare Compliance discussing the Americans with Disabilities Act (for employers) on 1st Talk Compliance - a HealthcareNow Radio talk show. Recorded versions will air 7:30 am, 3:30 pm, and 11:30 pm daily M-F for a month.

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Opiates – The Power to Tax

Posted In Health Care

The multi-year effort to address the addiction crisis, specifically opiates in recent years, continues in earnest. Some policies do seem to be working: as reported by Delaware officials in April, opiate prescriptions are down 14%. The larger addiction public health crisis continues, however, with the News Journal estimating that one person a day still dies from overdose in Delaware. The legislature, the Behavioral Health Consortium led by Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and Attorney General Matt Denn have not let up in their efforts. This year, a new tactic is coming to the forefront: taxes and fees. More ›

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Guns, Guns, and Guns – Tarasoff 3.0?

Posted In Government Relations, Health Care, Legislation

Gun Control

No topic has been hotter in the Delaware legislature this year than gun control. Some view gun violence as a public health crisis and several industry groups have taken positions on the various gun bills. While we’ll briefly touch on some of the broader subjects being discussed, we’re going to hone in on how legislation this session has the potential to change the Delaware healthcare landscape in terms of healthcare professionals’ reporting requirements. Right now our general overall summary of the session from a tangle of proposals (with a few weeks to go) can be summed up as: yes red flag laws, maybe with many caveats on gun accessories, and no to weapon bans. Our major recommendation so far to the Delaware healthcare industry is that mental health professionals seek legal guidance in revamping their policies and procedures for dealing with patients who may be a danger to themselves.

The total number of filings on bump stocks, magazine sizes, purchase age, bans, and protection orders has already reached the double digits. While most of these bills that make it to the agenda clear the Democratic supermajority House, they seem to be stalling in the Senate – a la SB 163 the assault weapon ban that failed to even get out of committee – or get “ping ponged” back to the House with new wrinkles and amendments. Perhaps a reminder that the Senate is a one-vote Democratic majority and that Delaware is in many ways a purple state.  One bill emerged as a clear exception to all the rules. House Bill 302, the “Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act” sponsored by Representative David Bentz, mustered unanimous votes and was signed into law in April. Known as a “red flag” law, it is the successor to House Bill 88 of 2013 which was proposed out of then-Attorney General Beau Biden’s office. House Bill 88 passed the House unanimously, but failed in the Senate. More ›

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Primary Care on the Brink

Posted In Health Care

Continuing the Morris James’ government relations team’s seven days of updates on the 149th Legislative session with today’s topic: where is Delaware when it comes to foundational health policy? 

Under the Markell administration Delaware received a $35 million State Innovation Model (SIM) grant from the federal government to transform its delivery system. A lot of work went into strategies surrounding healthy neighborhoods, healthcare IT, workforce, practice transformation, and the shift away from fee for service using tools like common scorecards for quality metrics. Some dollars were committed to actual implementation, but the SIM grant’s strongest value to the state was in planning and sharing stakeholder vision. 

When Governor Carney entered office in 2016 his focus moved away from the SIM conversation and into his own vision of the healthcare benchmark (more on this when the administration’s report comes out at the end of the month). It started a related, but new conversation about how to put downward pressure on the overall healthcare cost inflation rate.  More ›

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Delaware Takeaways from the 2015 Cerner Health Care Conference

Posted In Health Care

I attended Cerner's global gathering of health care professionals beginning October 12 in Kansas City.  We discussed the future of health care, innovations, and best practices.  Cerner’s own blog recaps major events and themes.  Delaware had a strong contingent in attendance.  Cerner provides health care IT services to Christiana Care and many of Delaware’s other hospitals and physician groups.  The relationship between Delaware’s health care community and Cerner expanded as the movement to create electronic medical records (EMR) has accelerated.  As a result, Cerner now handles over 70% of Delawareans’ EMR.  Delaware connects more electronic patient records with health care providers and labs than any other state through its health information exchange, or HIE, known as the Delaware Health Information Network (the DHIN).  The DHIN’s COO, Randy Farmer, explained the DHIN’s role and vision in a recent News Journal Op Ed.
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Courtney Hamilton Receives Joint Certificate in Law and Anatomy from Temple University Beasley School of Law and School of Medicine

Posted In Health Care
HamiltonMorris James attorney Courtney Hamilton was awarded a Joint Certificate in Law and Anatomy from Temple University Beasley School of Law and School of Medicine on November 19, 2014. The eight-week course was co-taught by Doctors of Medicine and Law and educated the students on medicine and anatomy and the importance of understanding these medical issues as an attorney. Courtney said of the program, “I feel that it has given me a deeper understanding of the practice of medicine and the anatomy of the body, which will enable me to provide a high level of  legal services to the medical professionals I represent. ” Courtney had hands-on experience in the medical lab, through which she gained a unique perspective in human anatomy. The class also discussed specific examples of how the medicine and anatomy covered directly related to issues which commonly arise in legal representation of medical providers.   More › Share

Morris James LLP Welcomes New Attorney Joshua H. Meyeroff

Posted In Health Care

MeyeroffMorris James LLP is pleased to announce Joshua H. Meyeroff has joined the firm’s Wilmington office as an associate in the Professional Liability Litigation Group. His practice will focus on the defense of medical malpractice claims. More ›

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Morris James’ Healthcare Industry Group Offers Recorded Webinar on Practice Integration

Posted In Health Care

In this recorded webinar, Kimberly Hoffman, Bruce Tigani and James Gallagher discuss the benefits of Practice Integration, a platform that enables physician practices to strategically combine and operate more efficiently, while proactively addressing the demands of a healthcare environment with ever-increasing regulatory burdens and shrinking reimbursements.

Watch the free webinar via First Healthcare Compliance here. 

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Morris James’ Healthcare Industry Group Offers Webinar on Practice Integration

Posted In Health Care
healthcareJoin Kimberly Hoffman, Bruce Tigani and James Gallagher as they discuss how practice integration can allow physician practices to operate more efficiently and the basic considerations for implementation, including compliance with STARK, anti-trust and professional practice structure. More › Share

Morris James Receives Top Legal Rankings in Chambers USA 2014

Posted In Health Care

Thirteen Lawyers and Four Practices Recognized as Top-Tier in Delaware

Morris James LLP is pleased to announce that thirteen attorneys in five separate practice areas have been top ranked among the leading Delaware lawyers in the 2014 edition of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.  Chambers also ranked four of its practice areas as among the top practices in Delaware including Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Chancery, Intellectual Property and Labor & Employment.  Read more.

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Delawareans Face Substantial Health Insurance Increases

Posted In Health Care, Health Exchange

96226495-e1382074913159Health insurance premiums are showing sharp increases across the country, with Delaware leading the way.  An April survey by Morgan Stanley of brokers who sell coverage in the individual and small group market shows the largest acceleration in small and individual group rates over the 12 prior quarterly periods in which the survey was conducted.  The average increases are in excess of 11% in the small group market and 12% in the individual market.  Delaware, unfortunately, had the highest increase of any state, with premiums in the individual insurance market (those sold direct to consumers) increasing by 100%.  In neighboring Pennsylvania, the rate of increase was 28% - still high, but nowhere near what Delawareans face.  Other states with large increases were: New Hampshire 90%; Indiana 54%; California 53%; Connecticut 45%; Michigan 36%; Florida 37%; Georgia 29%; and Kentucky 29%,

Author:  John H. Newcomer, Jr. chairs the Real Estate Practice at Morris James LLP and is a member of its Healthcare Industry Team.

 

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Morris James Southern Heart Ball Exclusive Pre-Party - RSVP Now!

Posted In Health Care
If you would like to attend the Morris James pre-party at the Dover Downs Hotel on the mezzanine level from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm, please contact Bruce Tigani, Esq. at btigani@morrisjames.com or 302.888.6962 or Beth B. Miller, Esq. at bmiller@morrisjames.com or 302.678.4373.  This private soiree is RSVP only!  We look forward to seeing all of our friends at the party, and meeting new friends as well! More › Share

Kimberly Hoffman to Participate in the 18th Annual Diabetes Update

Posted In Health Care

HoffmanJohn H. Ammon Medical Education CenterKimberly Hoffman, Chair of Morris James' Healthcare Industry Team, will be a panel member at the upcoming 18th Annual Diabetes Update which will be held at the John H. Ammon Medical Education Center (Christiana Hospital campus) on March 8, 2014.  "An estimated 70,000 Delawareans have diabetes.  Almost a quarter of them are under the age of 20," she commented.  "Health care providers and policy makers nation-wide have a lot of legal questions about addressing the disease.  It should be an interesting discussion."

Kim serves on the Executive Committee of the American Diabetes Association's Delmar Community Leadership Board, and Morris James LLP will again be a sponsor of the Father of the Year Awards in June to benefit the ADA.  The firm's team has also won awards for corporate fundraising at the ADA's Step Out Walk.  "With diabetes as the sixth leading cause of death in Delaware, Morris James is proud to support the ADA's effort to save and improve the quality of life for Delawareans." Hoffman explained.

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Morris James to Sponsor the Wilmington & Southern Delaware Heart Balls

Posted In Health Care

Morris James LLP is proud to be a sponsor of the 2014 Wilmington Heart Ball and the Southern Delaware Heart Ball – two Delaware events that celebrate the American Heart Association's work and mission; donors and volunteers; and — most importantly — the lives saved and improved because of everyone's effort.   Beth B. Miller, an attorney in Morris James' Dover office and member of the Executive Leadership Team of the Southern Delaware Heart Ball Committee commented "both the Wilmington and the Southern Delaware Heart Balls promise to be engaging evenings bringing community and health leaders together."

Event Details 

Although the Wilmington Heart Ball is sold out on March 1, 2014, you can still obtain tickets to the Southern Delaware Heart Ball to be held March 22, 2014 or donate by visiting https://donate.heart.org

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest, largest voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and stroke.  Founded by six cardiologists in 1924, the organization now includes more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters working tirelessly to eliminate these diseases.  The American Heart Association funds innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to save and improve lives.  The nationwide organization includes 144 local offices and nearly 2,700 employees.

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