Policy & Compliance

  • May 09, 2025

    CFPB's Vought Set To Ditch Dozens Of Guidance Docs

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's acting Director Russell Vought is withdrawing dozens of the agency's interpretive rules, policy statements and other guidance documents dating back to 2011, according to a Federal Register draft notice filed Friday.

  • May 08, 2025

    Panel Says Colo. Hospitals Need Notice Of Retaliation Claims

    A Colorado appeals court on Thursday sided with a Denver health system in a precedential ruling, finding healthcare workers who sue public hospitals under a state anti-retaliation statute must warn hospitals about their claims.

  • May 08, 2025

    Albertsons Says Counties Have 'Paradoxical Status' In MDL

    A group of pharmacies led by Albertsons Cos. Inc. have told the Texas Supreme Court that two counties can't assert claims against them in the state's opioid multidistrict litigation while simultaneously denying they qualify as claimants.

  • May 08, 2025

    3rd Circ. Rejects Challenge To Medicare Drug Price Program

    The Third Circuit on Thursday rejected AstraZeneca's challenge to the Medicare drug price negotiation program, ruling that the pharmaceutical giant was unable to show how it is injured by the program's guidance or how it violates its due process rights.

  • May 08, 2025

    Judge Asks DOJ To Define DEI In Health Grant Case

    A Massachusetts federal judge on Thursday ordered U.S. Department of Justice lawyers to provide the Trump administration's definitions of diversity, equity and inclusion, saying he needs to know so he can consider whether that is a valid basis for pausing federal health research grants.

  • May 08, 2025

    Conn. High Court Snapshot: Rehab Permit And Towing Tiff

    The Connecticut Supreme Court, in its upcoming term, will consider whether an existing substance abuse treatment center has the right to challenge the opening of a competitor nearby, and determine if a murder suspect is owed a new trial over an allegedly botched jury poll.

  • May 08, 2025

    5th Circ. Says Late Filing Dooms Fired Worker's Vax Bias Suit

    The Fifth Circuit declined to revive an ex-Texas Children's Hospital worker's bias suit claiming she was fired for seeking a religious exemption to its COVID-19 vaccination requirement, rejecting her argument that a lost password excused missing a deadline to file the case.

  • May 07, 2025

    Ga. Panel Weighs New Trial In EMT Negligence Suit

    The Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday considered whether to order a new trial in a man's lawsuit alleging an EMT negligently administered fentanyl to his mother after she fell out of a window, causing her heart to stop.

  • May 06, 2025

    New Suits Target HHS Cuts, PBM Rates And Med. Device Regs

    The Trump administration is facing a wave of new allegations over its restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services, with state attorneys general, local governments, labor groups and nonprofits alleging in recent days that the cuts exceed executive authority.

  • May 06, 2025

    Fed Lawmakers Demand Halt On Cuts Affecting Tribal Health

    A bipartisan group of U.S. senators is urging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to halt any further actions that would affect tribal healthcare and to ensure necessary resources and staffing to fully deliver services for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

  • May 06, 2025

    What's Ahead For FDA Enforcement: 3 Things To Watch

    Companies regulated by the FDA should remain vigilant and expect scrutiny under the new Trump administration, not just from the agency itself but also from DOJ officials, the plaintiffs bar and others, attorneys at a boutique firm say.

  • May 06, 2025

    Battle Brewing In Michigan Over Nurse Practice Expansion Bill

    Facing a doctor shortage, Michigan lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow nurse practitioners to treat patients without oversight from a licensed doctor. The effort is already receiving pushback from the state's medical board.

  • May 06, 2025

    UBH Can't Escape Residential Treatment Coverage Suit

    United Behavioral Health can't dodge a proposed class action claiming it used restrictive guidelines and bundled reimbursement requests to deny claims for residential mental health treatment, with a California federal judge saying plan participants' allegations were detailed enough to stay in court.

  • May 06, 2025

    How A Small Pa. Firm Defended A Huge Fraud Case

    When attorneys at Grail Law took on representation of one of three defendants facing trial for their purported roles in a $22 million healthcare fraud, the team knew it was up against the federal government's robust resources, and in a case that had already netted a string of guilty pleas.

  • May 06, 2025

    Buchanan Adds Senate Health Policy Vet To Gov't Practice

    Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC has hired the majority staff director of the U.S. Senate's Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee who aided Republican lawmakers, including its chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, in advancing health policy legislation.

  • May 06, 2025

    Trump Orders FDA To Speed Up Drug Plant Approvals

    President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to cut the approval timelines for new manufacturing facilities by domestic drugmakers and also to pressure foreign drugmakers to comply with quality control inspections, according to a recent executive order.

  • May 06, 2025

    Ind. Hospital Merger Hits 'Public Advantage' Law Roadblock

    Opposition from Indiana's top law enforcement official to the combination of Terre Haute's only two hospitals could spell the end to the hotly contested deal.

  • May 06, 2025

    New AG, Same DOJ Stance On Whistleblower Law

    The Trump administration's forceful defense of the qui tam provisions of the False Claims Act is significant but not surprising, given the government's increasing reliance on whistleblowers to thwart fraud and abuse.

  • May 05, 2025

    Columbia Inks $750M Settlement Over OB-GYN Sex Abuse

    A New York state court on Monday signed off on a $750 million settlement secured by hundreds of patients who say they were sexually abused by a former Columbia University obstetrician-gynecologist, according to an announcement by the patients' attorneys.

  • May 05, 2025

    DC Circ. Has Doubts About Narcolepsy Drug Appeal

    The D.C. Circuit is now set to decide whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was wrong to declare a rival narcolepsy treatment not the "same drug" as another produced by Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc., after appearing highly skeptical of the drug company's arguments that it was.

  • May 05, 2025

    High Court Urged To Back HHS Authority On Preventive Care

    The federal government urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to overturn a Fifth Circuit ruling that found the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' secretary lacked authority over a preventive healthcare services task force, arguing the HHS secretary's oversight stemmed from multiple laws and precedent.

  • May 05, 2025

    UnitedHealth Tells Court Not To Review Special Master Report

    A special master rightly determined that no reasonable jury could render a verdict for the U.S. Department of Justice in a massive False Claims Act case targeting Medicare Advantage plans operated by UnitedHealth, the health insurance company told a D.C. federal judge.

  • May 05, 2025

    Trump Admin Urges Dismissal Of States' Abortion Pill Suit

    The Trump administration on Monday asked a Texas federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit seeking to roll back access to the abortion medication mifepristone, contending the three states pursuing the case waited too long to file and are suing in the wrong jurisdiction.

  • May 05, 2025

    Wash. Panel Quizzes State In Biologist's Vax Mandate Case

    Washington appellate judges hinted on Monday they might revive an ex-state biologist's suit claiming she was wrongfully denied a religious accommodation to keep her position without getting the COVID-19 vaccination, citing factual questions as to whether her job duties were essential and whether she was technically fired.  

  • May 05, 2025

    Fla. Judge Wants Briefs In ACA Trans Health Fight

    A Florida federal judge Monday requested briefing from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the state of Florida on how to handle a suit challenging the Biden administration's regulations clarifying gender identity-based discrimination under the Affordable Care Act.

Expert Analysis

  • 4th Circ. Health Data Ruling Opens Door To State Law Claims

    Author Photo

    In Real Time Medical v. PointClickCare, the Fourth Circuit recently clarified that state law claims can rest in part on violations of a federal law that prohibits electronic health information blocking, expanding legal risks for health IT companies and potentially creating exposure to a range of competitive implications, say attorneys at BCLP.

  • Unpacking Trump Admin Plans For Value-Based Care

    Author Photo

    Recent developments from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation suggest the Trump administration intends to put its own stamp on value-based care, emphasizing cost savings assessment in particular, with its recent cancellation of several payment models that had supported primary care, says Miranda Franco at Holland & Knight.

  • What To Expect For Stem Cell Regulation Under Trump Admin

    Author Photo

    The new administration's push for deregulation, plus the post-Chevron legal landscape, and momentum from key political and industry players to facilitate stem cell innovation may create an opportune backdrop for a significant reduction in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulatory framework for stem cells, say attorneys at Sheppard Mullin.

  • How Importers Can Minimize FCA Risks Of Tariff Mitigation

    Author Photo

    False Claims Act risks are inherent in many tariff mitigation strategies, making it important for importers to implement best practices to identify and report potential violations of import regulations before they escalate, says Samuel Finkelstein at LMD Trade Law.

  • 10 Practical Takeaways From FDA's Biopharma AI Guidance

    Author Photo

    Recent guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration provides much-needed insight on the usage of artificial intelligence in producing information to support regulatory decision-making regarding drug safety, with implications ranging from life cycle maintenance to AI tool acquisition, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Lawmakers Shouldn't Overlook Rare Disease Therapies' Value

    Author Photo

    As the ORPHAN Cures Act is pending in Congress, policymakers assessing the value of certain drugs for price regulation should consider data beyond what is collected in clinical trials, say Alice Chen at the University of Southern California, and Molly Frean and Yao Lu at Analysis Group.

  • What Trump's Order Means For The Legal Status Of IVF

    Author Photo

    An executive order signed by President Donald Trump last month signals the administration's potential intention to increase protections for in vitro fertilization services, though more concrete actions would be needed to resolve the current uncertainty around IVF access or bring about a binding legal change, says Jeanne Vance at Weintraub Tobin.

  • Mitigating Tariff Risks For Healthcare In US And Canada

    Author Photo

    Healthcare stakeholders should take steps to evaluate the impact of cross-border tariffs, as the historically strong ties between Canada and the U.S. demonstrate the potential for real disruption and harm to the healthcare industry in both countries, say attorneys at Norton Rose.

  • What's At Stake In High Court Transgender Care Suit

    Author Photo

    The outcome of U.S. v. Skrmetti will have critical implications for the rights of transgender youth and their access to gender-affirming care, and will likely affect other areas of law and policy involving transgender individuals, including education, employment, healthcare and civil rights, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff.

  • 6 Laws Transforming Calif.'s Health Regulatory Framework

    Author Photo

    Attorneys at Hooper Lundy discuss a number of new California laws that raise pressing issues for independent physicians and small practice groups, ranging from the use of artificial intelligence to wage standards for healthcare employees.

  • Anticipating Calif. Oversight Of PE Participation In Healthcare

    Author Photo

    A new bill recently introduced in the California Senate revives last year's attempt to increase oversight of healthcare transactions involving private equity groups and hedge funds, meaning that attorneys may soon need to assess the compliance status of existing management relationships and consider modifying contract terms, says Andrew Demetriou at Husch Blackwell.

  • Considering The Future Of AI Regulation On Health Sector

    Author Photo

    As Texas looks to become the next state to pass a comprehensive law regulating artificial intelligence, the healthcare industry should consider how AI regulation will continue to evolve in the U.S. and how industry members can keep up with compliance considerations, say attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis.

  • What To Expect From 'Make America Healthy Again' Actions

    Author Photo

    The Make America Healthy Again Commission recently established by President Donald Trump and chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will potentially bring energy and attention to important public health topics, and stakeholders should be aware of pathways for sharing their input and proactively informing proceedings, says Nicholas Manetto at Faegre Drinker.