With COVID-19 surging as the United States enters the winter months and holiday season, employers in all industries can expect to grapple with significant COVID-19 hazards for the foreseeable future. Employers in the healthcare industry though are doubly burdened not only by increased workloads stemming from higher numbers of ill patients, but also by increased health and safety risks for their workers. Accordingly, healthcare employers should pay close attention to guidance and updates from the…

Destination: Health Law

Sarah Churchill Llamas in Medpage Today: Docs Can Prescribe Opioids Via Telemedicine, for Now

By Sarah Churchill Llamas

November 30, 2020

Winstead PC Shareholder Sarah Churchill Llamas recently spoke with Medpage today about the federal emergency orders in response to the Covid-19 pandemic that currently allow physicians to prescribe opioid medications to patients via telemedicine. An excerpt is below: “In the COVID-19 era, under relaxed federal emergency orders, licensed clinicians have been able to prescribe opioid analgesics for their patients even if they’ve only ever seen the patient via telehealth, rather than in person. For providers…

Destination: Health Law

Healthcare M&A in a Post-PPP World: Time to Look that Gift Horse in the Mouth

By Justin Hoover

November 24, 2020

In the wake of the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many practitioners have started to see a notable uptick in healthcare M&A activity through the third quarter of 2020. Such activity spans from consolidation transactions in certain medical practice segments, accretive acquisitions in the hospice and home health space, business combinations to expand telemedicine offerings, and a growing interest in value-add healthcare real estate opportunities. In most cases, the seller parties that have weathered…

Destination: Health Law

SBA Procedural Notice Summary – Changes of Ownership

By Bhavesh Modi

November 24, 2020

In order to clarify the required procedures for changes of ownership of entities that have received Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) funds, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”), on October 2, 2020, released a Procedural Notice. Specifically, the Procedural Notice addresses the procedures companies with outstanding PPP loans must follow when undergoing a change of ownership, including mergers, equity or asset acquisitions, or ownership restructurings.[1] Prior to the October 2, 2020 Procedural Notice, SBA loans…

Destination: Health Law

There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

By Corinne Smith & Kevin Wood

November 17, 2020

There’s no such thing as a free lunch…. This adage is over 50 years old, and the Office of Inspector General for Health & Human Services (OIG) wants to remind doctors that it remains true. The pharmaceutical and medical device industry continues to woo doctors with invitations to educational speaker programs in high-end restaurants, with golf excursions, or at sporting venues. On Monday, November 16, the OIG issued a new Special Fraud Alert to remind…

Destination: Health Law

Sarah Churchill Llamas Moderates Panel Discussion at the Texas Life Science Venture Forum

By Sarah Churchill Llamas

November 12, 2020

Today, November 12, Shareholder Sarah Churchill Llamas moderated the panel discussion “Successful Raises and Investor Considerations” at the Texas Life Science Venture Forum, hosted by Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship and BioHouston. The panel discussed advice for entrepreneurs/inventors that impacts valuation; the specific risks that erode valuation and how companies can mitigate risks at various stages of growth; and approaches to increase a company’s valuation once you are invested or engaged. The Texas Life…

Destination: Health Law

Understanding the Basics of Cooperation Credit in False Claims Act Matters

By Matthias Kleinsasser

October 26, 2020

It’s no secret that the Department of Justice has made the False Claims Act (“FCA”) a priority for years. Last month, we discussed why regulatory changes in response to Covid-19 (e.g., STARK waivers) could provide additional bases for the government to bring FCA cases. This post addresses the basics of cooperation credit for defendants who cooperate with the Department of Justice during an FCA investigation.…

Destination: Health Law

Coding Webinar: “Changes to Outpatient Evaluation and Management (E/M) Guidelines” | Corinne Smith to Moderate | CPE and CLE Credited

By Corinne Smith

October 20, 2020

On October 23, Shareholder Corinne Smith will moderate a coding webinar titled, “Changes to Outpatient Evaluation and Management (E/M) Guidelines,” which will cover the significant changes to outpatient E/M services that will go into effect on January 1, 2021. The webinar will also discuss best practices and elaborate on information that is critical for healthcare attorneys, accountants and medical professionals to understand as they navigate healthcare compliance issues, false claims and reimbursements. This webinar is approved for CPE and CLE credits. Date: Friday, October…

Destination: Health Law

Academic Institutions Also Have Secrets: Avenues for Protecting Trade Secrets in Publish-or-Perish Environments

By Gabe

October 15, 2020

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. (EDT) Winstead attorneys Frank Amini, Ph.D. and Lekha Gopalakrishnan, Ph.D. will present at an AUTM live webinar on the topic of protecting trade secrets on Tuesday, October 20, 2020. Trade secrets can be an institution’s most valuable and prolonged assets. However, maintaining trade secrets in academic institutions can be challenging because trade secret protection requires secrecy, while academic institutions generally advocate publication and open collaboration. Furthermore, determining whether…

Destination: Health Law

Issues in Life Science Leases

By Jim Lloyd

October 2, 2020

As landlords and tenants continue to navigate the uncertainties of traditional office and retail properties in the era of COVID, one asset type that has emerged as more resilient in this new environment is life science real estate.[1] The spaces utilized by biotech and pharmaceutical companies, as well as medical research facilities, are highly technical, with site-specific functionality that cannot be replicated by remote work environments. As a result, life science real estate continues to attract…

Destination: Health Law

Business Trends, Innovative Technology & Legal Insight

Blog Authors

Healthcare Industry Employers, Take Heed: OSHA Issues Most Cited Standards Related to COVID-19 Hazards

Sarah Churchill Llamas in Medpage Today: Docs Can Prescribe Opioids Via Telemedicine, for Now

Healthcare M&A in a Post-PPP World: Time to Look that Gift Horse in the Mouth

SBA Procedural Notice Summary – Changes of Ownership

There’s No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

Sarah Churchill Llamas Moderates Panel Discussion at the Texas Life Science Venture Forum

Understanding the Basics of Cooperation Credit in False Claims Act Matters

Coding Webinar: “Changes to Outpatient Evaluation and Management (E/M) Guidelines” | Corinne Smith to Moderate | CPE and CLE Credited

Academic Institutions Also Have Secrets: Avenues for Protecting Trade Secrets in Publish-or-Perish Environments

Issues in Life Science Leases

Stay Connected

Company

Products

Support

New to the Network