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Health Law News

FTC Releases Second Interim Staff Report on Pharmacy Benefit Managers

[01/29/25]

Posted on January 29, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

On January 14, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) published its Second Interim Staff Report (“Report”) on pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), focusing on PBM pricing practices for specialty generic drugs. The Report described significant markups of cancer, HIV and other chronic condition specialty drugs and high reimbursement rates paid by Caremark Rx, Express Scripts and... READ MORE

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Medicare 14-Day Rule Enforcement Action

[01/29/25]

Posted on January 29, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

The United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) recently settled part of a qui tam lawsuit under the False Claims Act for alleged violations of the Medicare “14-Day Rule” for $388,667. From March 2012 to November 2023, a laboratory and health system allegedly delayed submitting physician orders for certain laboratory testing until 14 days after patients’ hospital... READ MORE

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Health Provider News

[01/24/25]

Posted on January 24, 2025 in Health Law News, Health Provider News

Published by: Hall Render

NATIONAL 2025 ushers new era in physician unions CMS faces renewed legal pressure on drug price negotiation program DOJ sues Walgreens for ‘knowingly’ filling millions of prescriptions that lacked legit medical purposes Employer cost-cutting pushes tech companies to merge Expect more hospital mergers in 2025, with deals driven by distress and opportunity Health system... READ MORE

Weekly HCRE Briefing: Hospitals Focus on Workforce Housing | Nonprofit Hospital Credit Downgrades Continue | Indiana Property Tax Exemptions for Hospitals May Be in Jeopardy

[01/24/25]

Posted on January 24, 2025 in Health Law News, Hospital Real Estate Briefing

Published by: Hall Render

President Trump’s first week in office ushered in a number of changes to health care policies, including an executive order rescinding President Biden’s executive order on lowering prescription drug costs. The president also selected Dorothy Fink, MD, as interim HHS Secretary. Nonprofit hospitals’ credit downgrades outpaced credit upgrades in 2024, according to a recent article. The... READ MORE

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Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act: What Employers Need to Know

[01/24/25]

Posted on January 24, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

The Colorado Artificial Intelligence Act (“AI Act”), enacted in 2024, becomes effective February 1, 2026. It has been called the first comprehensive AI law in the country, likened to the European Union AI Law, and predicted to be first tested in employment disputes. In Part 1 of this article, we cover the basics of the AI... READ MORE

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Private Equity Deal Spotlight | Weekly Update

[01/23/25]

Posted on January 23, 2025 in Health Law News, Private Equity

Published by: Hall Render

Health care continues to drive private equity (“PE”) activity, creating opportunities for investors and traditional health care providers. Transactions in the health care space are especially complicated, layering health care regulatory and reimbursement considerations on top of a complex securities, antitrust, privacy and security framework. Hall Render’s PE team of attorneys and advisors leverage... READ MORE

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FTC Announces Annual Hart-Scott-Rodino Premerger Notification Filing Thresholds Increase for 2025

[01/23/25]

Posted on January 23, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

The Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”), as amended, requires all persons contemplating certain mergers or acquisitions that meet or exceed the jurisdictional thresholds (shown below) to file a premerger notification (an “HSR Filing”) with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) Premerger Notification Office and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division and to... READ MORE

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Rhode Island Law Update: New Law Allows Cameras in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities

[01/23/25]

Posted on January 23, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

Later this month, the list of states that allow nursing home and assisted living facility residents and their families to place cameras and electronic monitoring devices in resident rooms will grow. Effective January 30, 2025, residents in Rhode Island nursing homes and assisted living facilities shall be permitted to conduct authorized electronic monitoring of... READ MORE

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DEA Publishes Long-Awaited Rules for Telemedicine Prescribing

[01/22/25]

Posted on January 22, 2025 in Health Law News

Published by: Hall Render

This past week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS,” and together with the DEA, the “Agencies”) announced the release of three highly anticipated rules related to the prescription of controlled substances through telemedicine. These new rules include: A final rule on the “Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment... READ MORE

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Health Provider News

[01/17/25]

Posted on January 17, 2025 in Health Law News, Health Provider News

Published by: Hall Render

NATIONAL 340B contractor boosts profits while driving up patient costs: Report A vital hospital revenue stream under threat Aetna suit against private-equity radiologists tests No Surprises Act Americans want action on consolidation, private equity in healthcare, federal report finds Anti-Kickback Statute grows in scope: 5 things to know AWS and General Catalyst partner to... READ MORE