Policy & Compliance
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October 27, 2025
Ex-Magellan CEO Avoids Prison Over Faulty Lead Tests
The former CEO of Magellan Diagnostics was sentenced in Massachusetts federal court Monday to a year of home confinement for failing to alert regulators to a problem in the company's lead-testing devices that resulted in inaccurately low lead levels being detected in blood samples.
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October 24, 2025
USAA Defends Medical Reimbursement Cuts In Coverage Row
Two USAA units sought to toss two insureds' proposed class action accusing the companies of under-reimbursing their medical providers via claim handling software, telling a Washington federal court "there is no admissible evidence that plaintiffs' treatments were medically necessary and related to their auto accidents."
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October 24, 2025
Generic-Drug Makers Want Conn. Price Cap Blocked During Suit
A trade group for generic and biosimilar drugmakers is asking a Connecticut federal judge to block the state's new drug price cap during the pendency of its challenge, saying it illegally controls prices on sales made outside the state.
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October 24, 2025
Paramedics Can't Use Mich. Law To Escape Negligence Suit
Evidence suggesting paramedics may have forged a patient's signature declining hospital transport for COVID-19 care and purported statements that responders didn't bring him in because hospitals were full are enough to overcome a state law that gives immunity to emergency responders, a Michigan appellate panel has determined.
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October 23, 2025
Wash. Justices Skeptical Of Debtor's Collection Notice Stance
Washington Supreme Court justices appeared wary Thursday of second-guessing a Seattle federal judge who asked them to decide whether a hospital billing disclosure law applies to debt collectors, as the plaintiff in the underlying proposed class action pressed the court to "reformulate" the certified question.
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October 23, 2025
6th Circ. Panel Torn On Mich. 'Conversion Therapy' Ban
A Sixth Circuit panel appeared divided Thursday about whether to block enforcement of Michigan's ban on conversion therapy for minors as the U.S. Supreme Court grapples with a nearly identical Colorado law.
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October 23, 2025
Ex-Exec Accused Of Stealing IVF Co.'s Trade Secrets
The co-founder of a Garden State genetic testing company abruptly quit, deleted all the data on his company laptop — including the only copy of some materials — then took the trade secrets to help a competitor, according to a lawsuit filed in New Jersey federal court.
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October 23, 2025
Telehealth Ketamine Provider Hit With Wrongful Death Suit
Online ketamine therapy provider Mindbloom was hit with a wrongful death suit in North Carolina state court by the father of a 27-year-old man who says his medical history should have disqualified him from receiving the allegedly dangerous anesthetic.
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October 23, 2025
2nd Circ. Says NY Health System Must Face Race Bias Claims
The Second Circuit reinstated a suit Thursday from a Black registered dietitian who said her boss berated her and fired her out of prejudice, ruling the former employee put forward enough detail to keep some of her race bias claims afloat.
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October 23, 2025
Ex-DOJ, WilmerHale Attys Latest To Join Democracy Forward
Democracy Forward on Thursday announced the addition of four attorneys, including a former U.S. Department of Justice appellate leader and a longtime assistant U.S. attorney in Virginia.
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October 23, 2025
McGuireWoods Asks NC Justices To Stay Defamation Case
McGuireWoods LLP and a former partner are asking North Carolina's highest court to halt a defamation case over statements made in connection with an investigation into the former CEO of a managed care organization, saying they risk permanently losing their immunity defense if the suit is allowed to move forward.
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October 23, 2025
5th Circ. Revives Religious Bias Suit Over DOD Vaccine Policy
The Fifth Circuit breathed new life into a proposed class action claiming the U.S. Department of Defense unlawfully slow-walked civilian employees' requests for religious exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccination directive, saying the mandate getting rescinded didn't nullify the lawsuit.
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October 22, 2025
Judge Voids HHS Rule Banning Gender Identity Discrimination
A Mississippi federal judge on Wednesday struck down a Biden-era U.S. Department of Health and Human Services rule that protected gender-affirming care under the Affordable Care Act, ruling that federal officials exceeded their authority by broadening the definition of sex discrimination to cover gender identity.
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October 22, 2025
State AGs Push Back In First Amendment Subpoena Fight
A coalition of state attorneys general is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to safeguard their fundamental investigative authority, warning in an amicus brief filed Tuesday that a New Jersey anti-abortion center's challenge could allow subpoenaed entities to routinely bypass state courts and tie up enforcement actions in federal litigation.
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October 22, 2025
NIH Sued For Access To Research On Trans Youth Care
A conservative government watchdog group sued the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday seeking access to data from a multiyear study on the impact of gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender youth.
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October 22, 2025
Ed Dept. Must Face States' Case Over Mental Health Grants
A Seattle federal judge declined to throw out a lawsuit accusing the U.S. Department of Education of illegally discontinuing grants for student mental health programming, recognizing that Washington and other states have valid claims that the move will cut them off from money meant for reducing violence in schools.
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October 22, 2025
States Back Boston Hospital In Fight Over Trans Care Records
A group of states backed a Boston hospital in its bid to block the Trump administration from accessing transgender care records, warning a federal judge that allowing the government's request could expose a wide variety of doctors to criminal charges.
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October 22, 2025
Obstetrician's Win Upheld In 'Outrageous Terminology' Suit
A Georgia Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a trial court's decision that an Atlanta obstetrician's allegedly "outrageous terminology" wasn't "extreme and dangerous," and that she didn't intentionally inflict emotional distress when she told a couple their stillborn child had been "decapitated" during delivery.
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October 22, 2025
DOJ Pushes To Pause DACA Health Suit Due To Shutdown
Pointing to the government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Justice asked a North Dakota federal judge to pause litigation over a regulation that allowed immigrants brought to the U.S. as children without authorization to access Affordable Care Act health coverage.
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October 21, 2025
Novo Nordisk Says Officials Not Qualified To Doubt Drug Bills
Attorneys for Novo Nordisk Inc. on Tuesday sought to undercut witness testimony that Medicaid claims in Washington state for the company's hemophilia drug NovoSeven were shockingly high, leading one state auditor to suspect fraud.
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October 21, 2025
Anesthesia Giant Cuts Deals To End Hospital Antitrust Cases
North America's largest anesthesia provider has reached settlements ending antitrust claims from hospitals in New York and Florida as well as counterclaims accusing the hospitals of illegally recruiting away clinicians, according to court filings.
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October 21, 2025
MAHA Insider Talks 'Fever Point' For Healthcare
A MAHA insider says the healthcare industry should be prepared amid a massive cultural shift on health issues.
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October 21, 2025
Healthcare Laws This Week: Drug Pricing, AI And Aid In Dying
Law360 Healthcare Authority looks at a proposal by congressional Democrats to scale back Medicare price negotiation exemptions for so-called orphan drugs, new chatbot safeguards enacted in California to prevent youth suicide and other legislative developments affecting the healthcare industry this week.
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October 21, 2025
4th Circ. Backs Hospital's Firing Of Christian Vaccine Refuser
The Fourth Circuit declined Tuesday to reinstate a lawsuit from a hospital worker who claimed she was illegally fired for refusing to get immunized against COVID-19 because of her Christian faith, agreeing with the hospital that letting her remain unvaccinated would have put patients at risk.
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October 21, 2025
Calif. Court Backs Birth Battery Claim, Split On Gender Abuse
A California appeals court has reinstated a medical battery lawsuit brought by a woman who accused her obstetrician of forcing an unwanted procedure on her during childbirth, but the court rejected her claim that the act constituted gender-based violence, prompting a sharp judicial dissent.
Expert Analysis
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How Importers Can Minimize FCA Risks Of Tariff Mitigation
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.
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10 Practical Takeaways From FDA's Biopharma AI Guidance
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.
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Lawmakers Shouldn't Overlook Rare Disease Therapies' Value
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.
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What Trump's Order Means For The Legal Status Of IVF
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.
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Mitigating Tariff Risks For Healthcare In US And Canada
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.
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What's At Stake In High Court Transgender Care Suit
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.
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6 Laws Transforming Calif.'s Health Regulatory Framework
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.
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Anticipating Calif. Oversight Of PE Participation In Healthcare
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.
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Considering The Future Of AI Regulation On Health Sector
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.
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What To Expect From 'Make America Healthy Again' Actions
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.
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How Citizen Petitions Have Affected Drug Competition
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.
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Drug Kickback Ruling Will Make FCA Liability Harder To Prove
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.
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Assessing PE Risk After Mass. False Claims Act Amendments
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.