The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a Special Fraud Alert from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlighting the fraud and abuse risks associated with the offer, payment, solicitation, or receipt of remuneration related to speaker programs sponsored by healthcare companies.

In September 2020, the state of Alabama was awarded $1.8 billion in Coronavirus Aid, Relief & Economic Security (CARES) Act money to support health care organizations and providers, communities, and businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children's of Alabama, in partnership with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, has found a way to help physicians facing the shortage of pediatric mental health providers in rural Alabama.

Known for its contributions in research and basic science, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology in Huntsville also has a mission to bring that new knowledge to patient care.

Prior to COVID-19, most healthcare providers were benefiting from a strong economy, low unemployment and increased patient insurance coverage thanks to the Affordable Care Act (but unfortunately not Alabama, which continues to refuse to expand Medicaid). Then, everything changed. The COVID-19 pandemic.

A UAB study, led by Sylvie Mrug, PhD and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health, has identified soft drink consumption as a likely predictor of aggressive behavior.

On October 8, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS") announced amended repayment terms for loans ("AAP Loans") issued under the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program (the "AAP Program"), to help ease the terms of repayment and recoupment.

Since early April 2020, the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund (PRF) has distributed $175 billion to healthcare entities impacted by the coronavirus.

"Most people know more about their car insurance than their health insurance," says Jerry Golden, and he wants to change that. Golden oversees five medical practices in Alabama as CEO of Forefront Medical Management and serves as administrator for Coastal Neurological Institute in Mobile with 10 neurologists and neurosurgeons.

At a time when Alabama has seen six rural hospitals close in nine years, Citizens Baptist Medical Center has remained a solid bastion of healthcare in Talladega.

In the face of a global health crisis that called for limiting close, in-person contact, it's not surprising telemedicine has enjoyed skyrocketing popularity in 2020.

While it is essential for health care professionals to stay current with the rapidly changing body of knowledge, it can be a challenge to accomplish this during the pandemic.

Life during a pandemic is something few of us will soon forget. But five years from now, how well will you remember the specifics of day-to-day details if you are called on to testify during a lawsuit?

"We do everything a little different now," Jennifer Perry, Norwood Clinic administrator, says. When Alabama shut down in March to slow the spread of COVID-19, the multi-specialty, 20-physician practice had to stop elective surgeries, ophthalmology visits, and even mammograms. Once the state reopened in May, they had to adapt to new restrictions.

Five months after the initial COVID-19 shutdown, it is apparent that most industries have been affected by shutdowns, restrictions and quickly changing guidelines and best practices.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic, creating a sense of normalcy where kids can feel safe and continue to develop the social skills they will need to navigate a complex world isn't easy.

A number of statutes provide physicians with protection from liability when responding directly to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About half of American workers have been forced to work from home by Covid-19, and it appears the shift may become the new norm. In April, nearly one in five CFOs surveyed by the Brookings Institution planned to keep at least 20 percent of their workforce working remotely.

From a fitness tracker to healthy eating app, data is everywhere ... but it isn't all protected by HIPAA. The AMA has created a set of privacy principles that put patients in charge of their information.

Don't underestimate the value of 2020 hindsight. Looking back and evaluating how your practice or health services business fared in the first half of a difficult year could help you better prepare for whatever lies ahead.

With the damage the coronavirus shut-down has done to businesses, including health care practices, the government has stepped in to create an economic lifeline. However, with the uncertainty of the rapidly changing situation, it is important to stay up to date on the available resources and requirements.

As bad as the COVID 19 pandemic has been, it has led to some positive changes, including expanded insurance coverage for patient care by telemedicine.

At the beginning of 2020, the video-conferencing platform Zoom was seeing 200 million daily meeting participants on average. That was before Covid-19 struck. Now, with remote workers becoming the norm, Zoom and other virtual meeting tools have become as much a part of the workday as email.