Florida Hospital Association’s (FHA) 2017 Health Law Summit brought together more than 40 in-house attorneys and compliance officers from FHA member hospitals to discuss the current state and future direction of the health care industry.

Amid so much economic and political uncertainty, we are diligent about keeping our fingers on the pulse of the macro trends impacting providers operating in the U.S. health system. While we know you’ve been paying close attention to these developments as well, following is a brief recap that encapsulates the key takeaways from event speakers and other health care practitioners in attendance.

Telehealth and Destination Medicine

Florida has rapidly become a hotspot for the burgeoning area of destination medicine, and hospitals must account for the movement, lest they lose valuable revenue and patients to specialty competitors. While current laws and regulations are complex, there are avenues to create compliant offerings, including telehealth and online second opinion programs.

Health Care Privacy and Cybersecurity

Managing relationships with vendors, especially those who handle protected health information, is key. Best practices include conducting due diligence and negotiating appropriate contractual protection.

Labor and Employment Law

Laws affecting the workplace are in a state of flux, but changes are on the horizon under the new administration, which is generally viewed as being pro-employer. Hospital executives are eager to see how the DOL will be steered on issues such as overtime, worker safety and collective bargaining, to name a few.

False Claims Act Investigations and Enforcement

Civil Investigative Demands (CID) served by the government must be treated differently than other kinds of subpoenas or demands, and misperceived responses can have an adverse impact. In-house counsel who receive CIDs must have an escalation plan that addresses potential high-risk or high-likelihood scenarios, including investigations, litigation, settlements, liability, damages, insurance and disclosures.

Update on Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute

Government enforcement of such violations is expanding at a rapid rate, particularly in Florida. There were several notable public settlements in the state last year, as well as changes made to 11th Circuit case law, so it’s important for in-house counsel to stay abreast of these developments.

Boards and Hospital Governance and Compliance

The Department of Justice is increasingly holding individual leaders responsible for the stewardship of their hospitals. Educating hospital boards is vital to effective compliance, especially related to financial arrangements and quality of care.