On April 27, 2023, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law House Bill 1155, otherwise known as the My Health My Data Act. Certain “geofencing” portions of the law became effective July 23, 2023. Other provisions will become effective
Health Industry Washington Watch
Updates by Reed Smith on U.S. legislative & regulatory developments affecting the health care industry
Health Industry Washington Watch, published by Reed Smith LLP, focuses on legal and regulatory developments affecting the healthcare and life sciences sectors. The blog covers topics such as Medicare and Medicaid policy changes, pharmacy benefit management reforms, healthcare provider compliance, life sciences transactional and litigation issues, product liability directives, and emerging trends in healthcare fraud and abuse enforcement. It also addresses the impact of new laws on healthcare ownership and investment, telehealth supervision rules, and evolving legal challenges in areas like vaccine liability and women’s health. The content is aimed at healthcare providers, payers, manufacturers, and legal professionals navigating complex healthcare regulations and industry shifts.
Latest from Health Industry Washington Watch - Page 11
New Connecticut Law Targets Drug and Device Manufacturers who Employ Sales Representatives for Additional Scrutiny
Shortly after Connecticut’s 2023 legislative session kicked off, Governor Ned Lamont announced a series of policy initiatives aimed at reducing health care costs and undertaken in collaboration with the Connecticut Hospital Association. “An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary…
CMS Proposes National Minimum Nursing Staff Requirements for LTC Facilities
In a proposed rule sent to the federal register public inspection list on Sept. 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a long-awaited minimum staffing requirement for Long Term Care (LTC) facilities that participate in the Medicare…
CMS Updates Medicare Rates and Policies for Inpatient and LTC Hospitals, Promoting Health Equity and Patient Safety
On August 28, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final payment rule for inpatient and long-term care hospitals (“LTCH”) that builds on the Biden-Harris Administration’s priorities to provide support to historically underserved and under-resourced communities…
CMS Announces Initial Part D Drug Price Negotiation List
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the names of the top 10 drugs by Medicare spend on Aug. 29. The list is the first step in the new Medicare drug price negotiation system that was put into…
OIG Issues Unfavorable Advisory Opinion, Upholding Longstanding Contractual Joint Venture Concerns
The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued an unfavorable advisory opinion (the “Opinion”) last Friday in which it refused to bless a proposed arrangement involving an intraoperative neuromonitoring (“IONM”) company (the “Requestor”) and various…
Focus on AI Governance to Mitigate AI Risk in Health Care Sector
The health care industry seems to have so much potential for new technologies built on Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) technology, such as chatbots that assist patients and/or physicians in patient care and the adoption of tools that expedite the health claims…
FDA and DEA seek to ameliorate the shortage and misuse of stimulants
On August 1, 2023, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) issued a joint letter to all Americans to provide a status update regarding the ongoing shortage of prescription stimulants. Stimulants fall under the…
OIG again approves online health directory’s use of appointment and advertising fees
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released an advisory opinion permitting a technology company to charge health care providers “per booking” fees to participate in its online provider directory and to allow…
OIG Finalizes Information Blocking Penalties
Three years after the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology (ONC) issued a final rule that defined and clarified the scope of the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures…