The Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board recently approved a proposed regulation that is intended to reduce potential environmental impacts from oil and gas activities.

On Thursday, May 23rd Reed Smith's Energy and Natural Resources group presented on cap and trade, with a primary focus on the May 2013 auction.

Recently, our Financial Services Regulatory colleague, Michael Bleier, Global Regulatory Enforcement colleague, Timothy Nagle, and Christopher Fatherley wrote about the growing cybersecurity risks that are affecting financial institutions and making headline news.

In addition, the final rule establishes an optional abbreviated notice of the prohibition on redisclosure that must accompany each disclosure made with the patient's written consent.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals majority opinion, reversed the grant of summary by the District Court that a loan owner ...

On September 29, 2016, President Obama signed into law HR 5325, which averts a government shutdown by continuing funding for the federal government through December 9, 2016.

Medicare outpatient therapy limits are set to increase slightly in 2017. Specifically, the 2017 cap will be $1,980 for physical therapy and speech-language pathology combined and $1,980 for occupational therapy, compared to $1,960 for 2016.

CMS has released the 2014 update to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System files.

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently announced that it will now require all covered drugs under the Veterans Health Care Act to be offered on Federal Supply Schedule contracts...

CMS has announced that the second semi-annual meeting of the Advisory Panel on Hospital Outpatient Payment for 2013 will take place on August 26 and 27, 2013.

Recent Congressional hearings on health policy issues include the following.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a final rule to strengthen the federal government's ability to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases into the United States and interstate.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has instructed state survey agencies that they must conduct onsite complaint investigations related to Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act.

CMS is now accepting quality measure suggestions for potential inclusion in the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) in future years.

CMS published the methodology and payment rates for the new prospective payment system for FQHC services under Medicare Part B.

CMS has published its annual update of the amount in controversy (AIC) threshold amounts for Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings and judicial review under the Medicare appeals process.

The Accountable Care Organization "Investment Model" was developed in response to concerns that some providers lack adequate access to the capital needed to invest in infrastructure.

CMS has released the calendar year (CY) 2018 amount in controversy (AIC) threshold amounts for Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) hearings and judicial review under the Medicare appeals process.

CMS published a notice February 2, 2016 announcing an additional 6-month extension of its current temporary Medicare enrollment moratoria for new ground ambulance suppliers and home health agencies (HHAs), subunits, and branch locations in designated metropolitan areas.

Under the "Sunshine Act" provisions of the Affordable Care Act, certain manufacturers of drugs, devices, biologicals, and medical supplies covered by Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP must report annually to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) certain payments or transfers of value they have made to physicians and teaching hospitals.