Emergency Rulemaking Expands AHCCCS’ Exclusion Authority

AHCCCS has broad authority to exclude participating providers from its program.  For example, AHCCCS may terminate a provider’s AHCCCS participation agreement if the provider fails to comply with their provider participation agreement, or with federal and state laws, rules, or regulations.  AHCCCS must also suspend payments pending an investigation of a “credible allegation of fraud”…

Are You Ready for June 27? New Federal Law Requires 8-Hour Training in Opioid Abuse Treatment

The Medication Access and Training Expansion (“MATE”) Act was signed into law on December 29, 2022. The Act applies to all “qualified practitioners” anticipating initial or renewal DEA registration on or after June 27, 2023.  A qualified practitioner is someone licensed under state law to prescribe controlled substances (excluding veterinarians). As part of the DEA…

Arizona’s New Health Professional Wellness Programs: Five Things You Should Know

For the past few years, healthcare professionals have faced unprecedented challenges, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent survey revealed that one of the top drivers for nurses leaving their current positions was the emotional toll of the job.[1] Conditions such as understaffing can lead to additional stress for physicians and other…

Getting Back to Normal: AHCCCS Begins Regular Enrollment Renewals

Concurrent with the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency (“PHE”), the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (“AHCCCS”) modified requirements related to member enrollment and provider revalidation. Following the Consolidated Appropriations Act of December 2022, Medicaid is decreasing specific additional funding made available during the PHE. As a result, AHCCCS has returned to the regular renewal process…

The Federal Trade Commission Seeks to Ban Non-Compete Clauses

In July 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order encouraging the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) to consider exercising its rulemaking authority to “curtail the unfair use of non-compete clauses and other clauses or agreements that may unfairly limit worker mobility.”[1] On January 5, 2023, the FTC issued a press release stating that non-competes in employment…

Get Prepared – The Corporate Transparency Act: A New Federal Disclosure Requirement for Certain Entities

New federal reporting requirements that implicate many small businesses will soon take effect.  If your business is required to report under the new regulations, certain information about your business, personal information of business owners, and certain key individuals within the business will be required to be reported to the federal government.    On January 1,…