As one of the two primary exclusion screening lists against which federal contractors are required to check routinely, the health care industry relies on the accuracy of SAM.gov database to make hiring and retention deci...
Apache’s Log4j Vulnerability – A Sobering Message to Congress
On February 8, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee held a full hearing to address the Log4j software vulnerability made public in November of 2021 and to better understand the status of re...
Contractor Cyber-Security Fraud Now Subject to False Claims Act Penalties
In October 2021, the U.S. Department of Justice launched the Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative leveraging the federal False Claims Act (FCA) to address cybersecurity-related fraud by government contractors. According to the&n...
The Role of OFAC in U.S. Sanctions of Russia
The recent events in Ukraine have resulted in an unprecedented imposition of crippling financial sanctions against Russia by the United States, the European Union and multiple countries around the globe. For the U.S., th...
The Impact of the ACA’s “Allegations of Credible Fraud” Rule on States and Providers
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (the ACA) brought health care to millions of uninsured Americans. However, in addition to the creation of health coverage options, this expansive act als...
The OIG Considers Discontinuing Publication of LEIE Monthly Supplements
The HHS Office of the Inspector General has just issued a notice that the OIG is considering whether to discontinue its publication of monthly supplements to the LEIE. They are soliciting public input about the impact of...
STARK & ANTI-KICKBACK’S REBOOT TO THE 21ST CENTURY
On January 19, 2021, sweeping new regulations related to both the CMS Physician Self-Referral Law (Stark) and OIG’s Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) went into effect, notwithstanding technical issuance deficiencies. R...
HCCA’s 26th Annual Compliance Institute
The Compliance Institute (CI), a flagship event held by Health Care Compliance Association® (HCCA), has been supporting practitioners with educational and networking opportunities for two and a half decades. This confer...
Highlights from the OIG’s Fall 2021 Semi-Annual Report to Congress
On December 2, 2021, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued its Semiannual Report to Congress for fiscal year 2021 (Report). The Report describes OIG’s work id...