Effective January 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) implemented significant changes to the accreditation and enrollment framework for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (“DMEPOS”) suppliers through the CY 2026 Home Health Prospective Payment System Final Rule (“Final Rule”). CMS adopted these changes in response to what it describes as long-standing program integrity vulnerabilities in the DMEPOS sector and acknowledged that the reforms will increase compliance costs and operational burdens for suppliers and accrediting…
Continue Reading 36-Month Rule Applies to DMEPOS Suppliers Effective January 1, 2026

In 2026, the definition of an “estate” has expanded far beyond physical property, real estate, and paper records, with estate planning for digital assets becoming all the more necessary. For today’s affluent families, a substantial portion of their wealth—and their legacy—is stored entirely online. Cryptocurrency portfolios, revenue-producing websites, valuable domain names, cloud-based business systems, and AI-generated intellectual property now form the backbone of modern estates. Yet these digital assets are often secured behind complex layers of encryption, two-factor authentication,…
Continue Reading Estate Planning for Digital Assets: Protecting Your Online Wealth

For many families in Illinois and Wisconsin, a vacation home is more than just real estate; it is a repository of memories, a sanctuary for multi-generational gatherings, and a significant component of a family’s legacy. However, without a strategic approach to estate planning for vacation homes, these cherished properties can become a source of legal complexity and family disharmony.
At Lexern Law Group, we help families navigate the unique challenges of passing down secondary residences, ensuring that…
Continue Reading Beyond the Deed: Estate Planning for Vacation Homes

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the registration period for the fiscal year 2027 H-1B cap lottery will open at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 4 and will close at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time on March 19. The registration fee for this year is $215 per registration.
New Weighted Selection Process
This year marks the first use of USCIS’s new weighted H-1B selection process. If the number of registrations exceeds the annual cap and a…
Continue Reading USCIS Announces Registration Dates for Fiscal Year 2027 H-1B Cap Lottery

A new wave of litigation under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) has emerged, zeroing in on a technology many employers now routinely use: AI-powered meeting transcription and note-taking tools. In recent months, plaintiffs have filed class actions alleging that vendors like Fireflies.AI collect and store “voiceprints”—unique biometric identifiers derived from speech—without providing the written notice, informed consent, or transparent retention and destruction policies BIPA demands.
Continue Reading Employers Beware: Uptick in BIPA Lawsuits Targeting AI Note-Taking Software

Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with flowers and fine dining, but the ultimate expression of commitment is ensuring your partner’s future is secure. Whether you are navigating the complexities of a family business, managing significant real estate holdings, or protecting the interests of a blended family, strategic estate planning for couples ensures your legacy remains intact and your wishes are legally enforceable.
At Lexern Law Group, we specialize in helping couples in Illinois and Wisconsin navigate these sensitive…
Continue Reading Strategic Estate Planning for Couples in 2026

Although a significant percentage of Wisconsin’s population
lives outside of the main metro areas, access to clinical research studies has been primarily limited to trials initiated by the two academic medical health centers located in
Milwaukee and
Madison. However, the availability and adoption of digital health technologies (DHTs) – such as software and digital applications, electronic sensors, and computing platforms – is increasing. As a result, clinical research studies can incorporate one or more components of telehealth…
Continue Reading Technology is Expanding the Wisconsin Clinical Research Map

It is February 2026. Tax season is underway, and like most people, you are gathering W-2s, 1099s, and receipts, trying to make sure nothing important is missing before your return is filed.

Every What many people do not realize is that this same stack of tax documents also provides one of the clearest snapshots of their financial life they will see all year. From an estate planning perspective, that snapshot is invaluable.has its own rhythm, milestones and turning points.
Continue Reading More than a Refund: The Strategic Link Between Tax Season and Estate Planning

If your practice includes residential real estate transactions where the buyer is an entity or a trust and the deal is not financed through a traditional lender, an important new federal reporting requirement starts March 1, 2026. Read on for more information.

What is changing, in plain English

Beginning March 1, 2026, certain people (including lawyers, in some cases!) involved in real estate closings and settlements will have to file a report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (…
Continue Reading New FinCEN Reporting for Certain Residential Real Estate Transactions Begins March 1, 2026

  • Kaiser Permanente recently purchased seven acres near downtown Atlanta for $31.5M. Kaiser plans to solicit community feedback before determining what type of medical facility to construct at the site. The announcement follows Atrium Health’s 2024 purchase of 40 acres in downtown Atlanta.
  • Colliers recently published a report on challenges faced by rural hospitals. The report said small rural hospitals (under $40M in annual expenditures) comprise 25% of U.S. short-term general hospitals but receive less than 3% of hospital spending.

    • …
    Continue Reading Weekly Hospital Real Estate Briefing

    Over the past year, escalating protective tariffs have prompted many domestic and foreign medical device manufacturers to reach out for assistance with duty-free entry of their products into the U.S.

    In many cases, relief is available under the little-known international agreement, the Nairobi Protocol, formally known as the Protocol to the Agreement on the Importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials.
    How the Nairobi Protocol Provides Duty-Free Entry
    The U.S. implements the Nairobi Protocol through special provision of the…
    Continue Reading How to Qualify Medical Devices for Duty-Free Import Into the U.S.

    The beginning of a new year often signifies an opportunity to reflect upon the past, to set goals for the future, and to begin with a fresh start. Each January, many of us, inspired by the start of the new year, resolve to become better versions of ourselves, try something new, or achieve myriad personal aspirations. But new year’s resolutions need not be limited to personal growth. While many of us are hoping to hit the gym more frequently…
    Continue Reading Get Your Employee Handbook into Shape

    The Indiana Court of Appeals (the “Court”) recently affirmed a trial court’s finding of grave disability, reiterating two settled principles: (1) no single fact can establish grave disability; and (2) courts must evaluate the totality of the circumstances. The Court also confirmed that past conduct with a nexus to the patient’s current condition may have evidentiary value. In re: Civil Commitment of K.M., 270 N.E.3d 506 (Ind. Ct. App. 2025).
    Background
    K.M., who has a documented history of…
    Continue Reading Indiana Court of Appeals Reaffirms Holistic Approach to Grave Disability Determinations

    I recently discovered BookBub, a free service that sends daily personalized emails featuring discounted and free ebooks. After a quick signup, you select the genres that interest you—legal thrillers, science fiction, biography, history, fantasy, whatever you prefer. Each morning, you get an email with curated book recommendations in your chosen categories, most priced at 99 cents to a few dollars, with some completely free.
    How It Works
    An editorial team picks the selections, so you’re not sorting through…
    Continue Reading BookBub: A Free Tool for Finding Discounted Ebooks

    On February 2, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) released a new guidance letter (“February 2 Letter”) regarding state directed payments (“SDPs”) as governed by Section 71116 of Public Law 119-21 (which CMS refers to as the “Working Families Tax Cuts” or “WFTC legislation”). Per CMS, its previous September 9, 2025, guidance letter (“September 9 Letter”) has been rescinded.

    The February 2 Letter largely repeats everything in the September 9 Letter. For example, the preprint-related criteria…
    Continue Reading CMS Issues New Guidance Letter for State Directed Payments

    Limited IRS guidance is here, but should your organization jump in or wait?

    JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, and Charles Schwab have already announced they will match the federal government’s $1,000 seed contribution to Trump accounts for their employees’ children. But for most employers, the question is whether the regulatory landscape is clear enough to make an informed decision.

    In December, the IRS released Notice 2025-68, providing the first substantive guidance on Trump accounts, the new tax-advantaged savings vehicles for minors…
    Continue Reading Trump Accounts: A New Player in the Employee Benefits Lineup