By FRED SCHULTE
Two-year-old Zion Gastelum died four days after receiving baby root canals and crowns at Kool Smiles, a private equity-affiliated dental clinic in Yuma, Arizona. In a lawsuit, which was settled in 2021, his parents accused the clinic and the investment firm of putting profits ahead of patient safety. The clinic and investment firm denied liability. The boy’s death was featured on ABC15 Arizona on Jan. 4, 2018.

Two-year-old Zion Gastelum died just days after dentists performed root canals and put crowns on six baby teeth at a clinic affiliated with a private equity firm.

His parents sued the Kool Smiles dental clinic in Yuma, Arizona, and its private equity investor, FFL [Read More]

By EWA MATUSZEWSKI
I was overwhelmed by the response to my October column on internships. It’s a topic that resonated with readers for varying reasons – whether they recalled fond memories of their own internship or saw the impact of internship programs, formal or informal, at their own organization. I want to continue in a similar vein this month by taking the logical jump from internships to mentoring. While I did include mentoring in the conversation last month, I didn’t really dissect it until someone recently asked me if I had a mentor in my early career.

It took me a split second to acknowledge one of my earliest mentors, Myra Lenard. [Read More]

By ROLF LOWE
Effective Dec. 1, 2023, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) announced in Medical Services Administration (MSA) Bulletin 22-38 that it will be eliminating the remaining temporary suspensions of certain provider enrollment and revalidation requirements issued in the spring of 2020, shortly after the COVID 19 pandemic and federal emergency disrupted the normal course of business for providers and MDHHS.  On April 30, 2020, MDHHS released MSA Bulletin 20-28, temporarily suspending certain Medicaid, Healthy Michigan, Maternity Outpatient Medical Services (MOMS), Children’s Special Health Care Services (CSHCS) and MI Health Link provider enrollment and revalidation requirements. The bulletin, which had an effective date of March 1, 2020, [Read More]

By ERICA ERMAN
One interstate compact you may not have heard of yet that could be very helpful for the behavioral health field is the Interstate Compact for Counselor Licensure. As of August 4, 2022, the Counselor Compact now has 17 members – Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (the first state to enact the Counseling Compact), Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, West Virginia, Utah – and The Compact became active when ten states passed it.

This month, the Compact Commission will convene for the first time in October of 2022! According to the Compact’s website, “The Commission will adopt initial bylaws and rules to carry [Read More]

Lansing Lines is presented in cooperation with MIRS, a Lansing-based news and information service.

Hospitals In Low Population Counties Could Become Non-Profits Under Bill

A Sen. Wayne A. Schmidt (R-Traverse City) bill allowing qualifying county hospitals to convert to non-profit designations heard testimony before the House Health Policy Committee and was voted out unanimously.

SB 1055 , which passed the Senate unanimously in June, was passed out of committee 18-0 after Schmidt testified in favor.

The bill would amend the Municipal Health Facilities Corporations Act to allow Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center in Luce County to restructure as a nonprofit.

The county hospital is a 25-bed critical access facility that has been providing ancillary out-patient [Read More]

By EMMARIE HUETTEMAN
Half of voters say the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the constitutional right to an abortion has made them more motivated to vote in next month’s midterm elections, with enthusiasm growing especially among Democrats and those living in states with abortion bans, according to a new poll from Kaiser Family Foundation.

The survey also showed that most voters, whether they are Democrats or Republicans, do not think abortion should be prohibited in cases of rape or incest, nor do they support laws that set criminal punishments for abortion providers and women who have abortions.

The findings, collected in late September through KFF’s regular survey of public opinion on health care issues, highlight that [Read More]

Abortion providers and medical providers are pushing to pass Proposal 3 next month to keep the money coming in the door and to shield themselves from potential legal action down the road, according to Democrats who opposed the constitutional amendment on the Capitol lawn.

A handful of speakers led by the “Democrats for Life” argued that passing the Reproductive Freedom for All initiative will mean abortions with no limitation or oversight.

The message coming out of the event was Proposal 3 will eventually eliminate all statutory regulations over abortion. The courts will have no choice but to side with the broad constitutional language that allows for abortion, regardless of age, up until [Read More]

By EWA MATUSZEWSKI
How does one build a 41-year-old organization? My response today is different than it would have been 15 or so years ago, largely due to my increased understanding of the value of internships. During this time, we’ve hired numerous interns of differing backgrounds and skill levels and the overwhelming majority have made meaningful contributions that ultimately helped us build a stronger organization.

I define ‘stronger’ in differing ways. One is our ability to take on new projects where we can lead with creativity and enthusiasm; another, our reputation for offering interns – and staff – both direction and independence in their careers with us – which in turn helps [Read More]

By JENNI COLAGIOVANNI & DANIEL AYYASH
Wachler & Associates, PC

Overview

Signed into law on Dec. 27, 2020, the No Surprises Act addresses surprise medical billing or “balance billing” at the federal level by protecting patients from receiving surprise medical bills resulting from gaps in coverage for emergency services and certain services provided by out-of-network clinicians at in-network facilities, including by air ambulances. Effective Jan. 1, 2022, healthcare providers, facilities, and providers of air ambulance services (hereinafter “providers”) are subject to new requirements that generally apply to items and services provided to individuals enrolled in group health plans, group or individual health insurance coverage, and Federal Employee Health Benefit plans. These requirements generally [Read More]

By KIMBERLY RUPPEL
The current Public Health Emergency expiration deadline is this month.  However, the Secretary of the Health and Human Services indicated he would provide a 60-day notice before ending the PHE in order to minimize disruptions and potential loss of government and private insurance coverage.  That notice has not yet occurred.  Therefore, we expect another 90 extension.  In the meantime, telehealth waivers remain in effect.

Moreover, once the PHE is finally over, the Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law earlier in 2022 provides a 151 day extension period of the expiration of many of the Covid-related exceptions or waivers, to allow for a transition period.

CMS has provided some guidance as [Read More]