In its 2021 regular session, the Kentucky General Assembly passed, and ultimately overrode Governor Andy Beshear’s veto of, House Bill 312 to amend the Kentucky Open Records Act, KRS 61.870 to KRS 61.884. Effective as of June 29, 2021, among other changes, the amended Act will restrict inspection rights to Kentucky “residents,” require public agencies to accept emailed open records requests, and extend public agencies’ time for handling requests from three days to five days.

Following the most recent slew of high-profile ransomware attacks, the White House deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, Anne Neuberger, issued an open letter to the private sector urging action to increase cyber defenses to match the nation’s increasing ransomware threat.

Medicare and Medicaid billing mistakes can result in fraud investigations with serious, long-lasting consequences. Providers may be required to pay back up to three times the amount they were paid for improperly billed services. In addition, if the government finds that the improper billing was intentional, providers can face criminal charges, the loss of professional licenses, and exclusion from participation in Medicare and Medicaid.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently begun to send warning letters to hospitals that are not in compliance with the recently effective price transparency rule. This warning comes on the heels of CMS’s audits of a sample of hospitals in January.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Chambers USA selected 22 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in Kentucky and Tennessee for inclusion in their 2021 guide.

Kentucky-based Stites & Harbison PLLC has expanded its operations to Ohio for the first time in nearly 200 years with a new office in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, the firm announced Friday. Led by member Robin D. Miller, the Cincinnati-area office is currently operating with the help of attorneys from the nearby town of Covington, Kentucky, but the firm said it hopes to hire more Cincinnati full-timers by the end of 2021.

CINCINNATI—Stites & Harbison, PLLC announced today it has opened a Cincinnati, Ohio office to better meet the increased needs of its clients in the region. The office will be led by Member (Partner), Robin D. Miller.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The American Bar Association (ABA) Health Law Section has ranked Stites & Harbison, PLLC in 6th place in its Eighth Annual Regional Law Firm Recognition List for the South region for 2020.

Nearly one year into the pandemic, healthcare providers and anxious Americans have another threat with which to contend: counterfeit personal protective equipment (PPE). CNN recently reported U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 14 million counterfeit face masks entering the U.S. from the time the pandemic began through the end of 2020.

The Lane Report takes a closer look at the women who are making a difference in Kentucky. Stites Chair and Louisville attorney Marjorie Farris is featured today.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Leadership Louisville recently announced that Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Brian A. Cromer is one of 47 community leaders selected for membership in the 2021 Bingham Fellows class.

Although hospitals are still devoting their full attention and resources to responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they are expected to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) price transparency rule. After withstanding a recent legal challenge, the rule went into effect on January 1, 2021. Understandably, hospitals have been slow to comply with the rule.

Although hospitals are still devoting their full attention and resources to responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, they are expected to comply with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) price transparency rule. After withstanding a recent legal challenge, the rule went into effect on January 1, 2021.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC announced today that three attorneys have been promoted within the law firm effective January 2021.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2021 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 42 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices.

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has appointed Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorney Sarah Cronan Spurlock as Chair of its Cyber Security, Data Privacy and Technology Committee.