Policy & Compliance

  • April 16, 2026

    Feds Can't Stay Trans Healthcare Orders During Appeal

    The Trump administration won't be able to enforce two executive orders that ban federal funding for gender-affirming care for patients under the age of 19 while the federal government appeals a nationwide injunction blocking the orders, the Fourth Circuit ruled Thursday. 

  • April 16, 2026

    DOL Benefits Chief Pressed On Labor Secretary's Conduct

    The head of the U.S. Department of Labor's employee benefits arm faced tough questions from House Democrats at an oversight hearing Thursday, fielding questions about the labor secretary's on-the-job conduct as well as the DOL's take on mental health parity enforcement. 

  • April 15, 2026

    Aluminum Co. Settles Trans Worker's Suit Over Health Plan

    A subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum has agreed to resolve a lawsuit claiming it discriminated against transgender employees by excluding coverage for medical treatments related to gender-affirming care from its health plan, according to a filing in Washington federal court.

  • April 15, 2026

    NC Judge Won't Undo $4M Philips Copyright Verdict

    A North Carolina federal judge has refused to erase a $4 million jury verdict against independent service organization Transtate Equipment Co. for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, saying trial evidence provided a "firm basis" to support the jury's statutory damages award.

  • April 14, 2026

    4th Circ. Revives Pharma Bid To Block Maryland's 340B Law

    A split Fourth Circuit panel on Tuesday tossed a Maryland district court's order denying a preliminary injunction to pharmaceutical manufacturers that have challenged a state law addressing drug delivery in the federal 340B discount program, pointing to its recent ruling that West Virginia's similar statute is likely preempted.

  • April 14, 2026

    Justices Told That Eli Lilly's FCA Qui Tam Challenge Too Late

    A whistleblower who secured a $183 million trial win against Eli Lilly urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday to reject its constitutional challenge over his ability to sue for the federal government, arguing the drugmaker's arguments came too late.

  • April 14, 2026

    Colo. Justices Weigh Bid To Restore Trans Youth Care

    Colorado's justices pushed Children's Hospital Colorado on Tuesday to explain how its decision to halt gender-affirming care for transgender youth patients is not discriminatory, even amid the federal government's threats to cut funding for providers that offer the care to children and adolescents.

  • April 14, 2026

    Trade Group Latest To Sue Wash. Over 340B Drug Pricing Law

    Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America claims a new Washington state law attempts to illegally reshape the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program and singles out participating drugmakers with burdensome regulations, according to a fresh federal lawsuit that follows similar constitutional challenges mounted by Novartis and AbbVie.

  • April 14, 2026

    Ga. Providers Say Rutledge Bars United's Preemption Win

    Medical providers are urging a Georgia federal court to deny United's bid for an early win in its case seeking a declaration that the providers' purported attempt to claw back reimbursements for out-of-network services are preempted, arguing that state-law claims involving employee benefits aren't preempted by federal benefits law.

  • April 14, 2026

    FDA Offers Guidance On Safety Testing For Gene-Editing Tech

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday issued draft guidance recommending steps drug companies should take to evaluate the safety of gene-editing technology as they seek federal approval for cutting-edge treatments aimed at genetic diseases.

  • April 14, 2026

    Doctors Hope Justices Maintain Shield Against Med Mal Suits

    A case headed to the U.S. Supreme Court next week could roll back a legal doctrine that physicians say is key to protecting them from frivolous medical malpractice suits filed by patients who've already lost in state court.

  • April 14, 2026

    7th Circ. Suggests High Court Ruling Supports Ark. PBM Rule

    The Seventh Circuit appeared reluctant Tuesday to revive a union fund's challenge to an Arkansas rule making health plans disclose pharmacy compensation and pay fees, with judges pointing to a 2020 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that permitted state cost regulations on pharmacy benefit managers.

  • April 14, 2026

    Mich. AG Says PBMs Can't Duck Drug-Pricing Suit

    Two pharmacy benefit managers can't dodge an antitrust lawsuit accusing them of price-fixing reimbursement rates because Michigan has properly claimed an antitrust violation, state Attorney General Dana Nessel told a federal court, asking it to toss aside the PBMs' dismissal bid. 

  • April 14, 2026

    Vehicle Co. Inks $150K Deal To End Tobacco Fee Suit

    International Motors LLC, formerly Navistar, has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a suit claiming the company illegally charged workers an extra $600 a year if they used tobacco without giving them a proper avenue to dodge the fee, according to an Illinois federal court filing.

  • April 14, 2026

    Screening Time Deal Doesn't Bar Break Suit, Wash. Panel Says

    An eldercare company's class settlement over COVID-19 screening time doesn't bar a separate suit claiming the company failed to pay workers for missed meal breaks, a Washington state appeals court ruled, reviving the break claims.

  • April 13, 2026

    Ill. Judge Wants More Proof To Recalculate Kickback Damages

    An Illinois federal judge tasked with recalculating damages from a home health company's referral kickback scheme said Monday that she needs more complete and reliable evidence to help determine the appropriate amount, but allowed the government to continue offsetting Medicare payments as part of its judgment collection bid.

  • April 13, 2026

    Mylan Can't Revive Copaxone Antitrust Claims Against Teva

    A New Jersey federal judge sided Monday with a special master's recommendations to nix some of the parallel claims from Mylan and retailers like Walgreens accusing Teva of using regulatory deception, false advertising, improper rebates and more to delay generic competition to its Copaxone multiple sclerosis treatment.

  • April 13, 2026

    Abbott Urges Toss Of Relator, State Suits In FCA Recall Row

    Abbott Laboratories urged a Michigan federal court to throw out litigation brought by whistleblowers and a group of states over the 2022 infant formula shortage, saying their respective complaints lacked the details necessary to support claims that it defrauded numerous healthcare programs.

  • April 10, 2026

    Chest Binders Become Latest Front In Anti-Trans Litigation

    Chest binders — medical devices that can be used by individuals experiencing gender dysphoria or who want a more gender-neutral alternative to bras — have emerged as the newest target in an unfolding regulatory and legal climate that transgender advocates describe as an overtly partisan political attack against a type of product that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has deemed the least risky.

  • April 10, 2026

    Wisconsin High Court OKs COVID Immunity For Hospitals

    A Wisconsin state appeals court erred when it held that a statute shielding healthcare providers from civil liability during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic violated a woman's constitutional right to a jury, the state's highest court ruled unanimously Friday.

  • April 10, 2026

    Colo. Transport Co. Says Termination Lacked Due Process

    A medical transportation company that provided transportation services for Medicaid users in Denver asked a Colorado state judge to reverse a termination of its services from the state, claiming the statute used to issue the termination against the company is unconstitutional.

  • April 10, 2026

    Compass Group Workers Get Cert. For Tobacco Fee Suit

    Former employees for food service company Compass Group USA have secured class certification for their Missouri federal lawsuit claiming the company's $48 bi-weekly health insurance fee for tobacco using-workers violates federal law.

  • April 10, 2026

    Philip Morris Urges 11th Circ. To Affirm FDA Rule Toss

    Philip Morris urged the Eleventh Circuit to affirm a decision that struck down a U.S. Food and Drug Administration rule calling for graphic warnings on cigarette packaging, arguing a district court rightly found the FDA had not followed proper procedure when crafting the regulations.

  • April 10, 2026

    Drugmakers Can Intervene In Texas, Fla. Abortion Drug Suit

    A federal judge Friday allowed abortion medication manufacturers GenBioPro Inc. and Danco Laboratories to intervene in litigation brought by the states of Texas and Florida seeking to undo a slew of federal regulations concerning the abortion drug mifepristone.

  • April 10, 2026

    Elevance Can't Nix Suit Over GLP-1 Coverage For Sleep Apnea

    An Indiana federal judge declined to toss a proposed class action claiming Elevance Health Inc. illegally denied coverage for a GLP-1 weight loss medication that was prescribed to treat sleep apnea, ruling that the insurance company is the right party to answer to the allegations at play.

Expert Analysis

  • 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.

  • How Citizen Petitions Have Affected Drug Competition

    Author Photo

    In light of recent citizen petitions and proposed legislation regulating such petitions, Omar Robles at Managing Health analyzes the statistics of the extent to which citizen petitions have been filed, and to what extent they have delayed competition in prescription pharmaceuticals.

  • Drug Kickback Ruling Will Make FCA Liability Harder To Prove

    Author Photo

    The First Circuit's ruling in U.S. v. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, requiring the government to prove but-for causation to establish False Claims Act liability based on violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, raises the bar for FCA enforcement and deepens a circuit split that the U.S. Supreme Court may need to resolve, say attorneys at Baker Donelson.

  • Assessing PE Risk After Mass. False Claims Act Amendments

    Author Photo

    A law recently passed in Massachusetts amends the commonwealth's False Claims Act by dramatically expanding potential liability for private equity firms and investors, underscoring the importance of robust diligence and risk assessments for private equity firms conducting transactions in the commonwealth, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • What Trump Actions Mean For Federal Research Funding

    Author Photo

    New guidance from the National Institutes of Health represents a massive policy shift regarding federal funding for researchers at institutions of higher education, contributing to a perfect storm of significant resource shortfalls in upcoming years, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • A Look At Healthcare Transaction Oversight In Oregon

    Author Photo

    Understanding Oregon's enforcement authority and its impact on proposed transactions last year provides a road map to the state's plans to strengthen its processes this year, though enforcement could be challenged by ongoing litigation, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

    Author Photo

    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.