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Tara E. Dwyer

Member

[email protected]

+1.202.585.3504

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Tara enjoys working with managed care organizations, pharmaceutical services providers such as PBMs, and integrated delivery systems, and companies that invest in them, on matters relating to compliance with federal health care program regulations, federal and state fraud, waste and abuse laws and plan benefits.

She works closely with Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) and Medicare Part D Plan Sponsors, including Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWPs), and first tier and downstream entities to address regulatory and compliance matters that arise as a result of participating in Medicare Parts C and D.  Tara often advises clients on matters relating to plan bids, medical loss ratio reporting, drug pricing in both Medicare Part B and Part D and direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) reporting.  She regularly counsels clients regarding risk adjustment systems and practices needed to support them. Tara also actively engages with CMS on behalf of clients on many matters.

She also works closely with discount medical and pharmacy plan operators (DMPOs) on matters relating to compliance with state laws and provider contracting.

Tara uses her substantive day-to-day compliance experience to assist clients in litigation matters and transactions. 

Tara has extensive experience preparing and negotiating complex services agreements for and between MAOs, providers, PBMs, pharmacies, wholesalers, manufacturers, and DMPOs.     

viewpoints

Earlier this week, CMS released both the Contract Year 2019 Final Rules for Medicare Advantage and Part D (Final Rules) and the 2019 Call Letter. CMS also released fact sheets for the Final Rule and the Call Letter.
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CMS has slowly but surely been providing additional guidance to Medicare Plans (Medicare Advantage and Part D plans) regarding steps they can and should take to address the opioid epidemic as it relates to their beneficiaries. CMS’s most recent guidance to Plans regarding the opioid epidemic was included in the Advance Notice and Call Letter.
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Late last week, CMS released the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2019 for Medicare Advantage (MA) Capitation Rates, Part C and Part D Payment Policies and 2019 draft Call Letter (Advance Notice and Call Letter).
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Today is the deadline for interested parties to submit comments to CMS regarding the proposed contract year 2019 Medicare Advantage and Part D regulations. 
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On January 9th, the Senate Committee on Finance conducted its nomination hearing of Alex Michael Azar II, President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Under President George W. Bush, Mr. Azar served in HHS, first as general counsel to HHS and then as deputy secretary.
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Medicare Part D plan sponsors and pharmacies are often confused by the program's any willing pharmacy (AWP) requirements while allowing any pharmacy willing to accept the terms and conditions to participate in the sponsor’s network (AWP Requirements).
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The rising cost of drugs in the U.S. is frequently in the news. So it is not surprising that in its contract year 2019 Proposed Medicare Advantage and Part D Regulations (Proposed Rule), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) seeks to address Part D drug prices.
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Last Thursday, November 17, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed contract year 2019 Medicare Advantage and Part D regulations. The proposed rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2017.
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CMS Completes Final Medicare Part D Reconciliation for 2016

October 11, 2017 | Blog | By Tara E. Dwyer

CMS has completed the 2016 Final Part D Payment Reconciliation. Each Medicare Part D plan sponsor’s reconciliation reports will be available on October 12, 2017.
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On Friday, June 23, 2017, CMS released the Final Medicare Part D DIR Reporting Requirements for 2016.  Part D sponsors may begin submitting their DIR information on June 30, 2017 and must finish their submissions by the end of July 31, 2017.  As explained in our earlier post, CMS publishes Part D DIR Reporting requirements each year and sets the deadline for DIR submissions.
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News & Press

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The Cigna Health Group signed a deal selling its Medicare businesses to Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) for $3.7 billion. A Mintz team led by Tara Dwyer and Lauren Moldawer acted as regulatory counsel to The Cigna Group on the sale. In the deal, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, HCSC will acquire Cigna’s Medicare lines including Medicare Advantage, Medicare supplement, and Medicare drug plans, as well as CareAllies, a unit that works with physician groups and other healthcare providers.
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Member Tara Dwyer spoke to Bloomberg Law and discussed potential roadblocks delaying Medicare's plans for negotiating lower drug prices.
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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.
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Mintz Member Tara Dwyer was quoted in Law360 examining the release of a Health and Human Services rule which prompted backlash and predictions of litigation.
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Mintz Member Tara Dwyer was quoted in a Bloomberg Government article on the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure package and reconciliation bill, which would be paid for in part by delaying a controversial rebate rule – a rule which pharmacy benefit managers and insurers are in stiff opposition to.
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Mintz Member and Chair of the firm’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice Alden J. Bianchi and Member Tara E. Dwyer co-authored an article published by Bloomberg Tax & Accounting’s Compensation Planning Journal examining the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, holding that the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) does not preempt an Arkansas statute that regulates reimbursement levels paid by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to local pharmacies, and its impact on employer-sponsored group health plans.
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In an article published by Bloomberg Law, Mintz Member Tara E. Dwyer was quoted on the Trump administration’s proposed final rule, which is currently under review by the Office of Management and Budget, that would end legal shields for drug rebates.
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In the latest guide, Mintz garnered rankings as a top national firm in eight practice areas, and 32 firm attorneys were individually recognized.
This feature article discusses a potentially significant change proposed to Medicare Advantage audits by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Health Law Member Tara Dwyer is among the industry sources quoted in the story providing commentary.
Mintz is pleased to announce that eight attorneys have been named Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers for 2018 and three others have been named Washington, D.C. Rising Stars. The annual publication identifies lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.
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Mintz is advising a consortium of investors led by TPG Capital and Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in their acquisition of Kindred Healthcare, Inc. The definitive agreement totals approximately $4.1 billion in cash including the assumption or repayment of net debt.
Eight Mintz attorneys have been named Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers for 2017 and four have been named Washington, D.C. Rising Stars. The list will be published in a special advertising supplement in The Washington Post Magazine and in a stand-alone magazine, Washington D.C. Super Lawyers Magazine.
Seven Mintz attorneys have been named Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers for 2015 and five have been named Washington, D.C. Rising Stars. The list will be published in a special advertising supplement in Washington Post Magazine and in a stand-alone Washington D.C. Super Lawyers Magazine.
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Recognition & Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America: Health Care (2024)

  • Included on the Washington DC Super Lawyers Rising Stars: Health Care list (2016 - 2021)

  • Recognized by The Legal 500 United States for Healthcare: Service Providers (2019-2020)

  • Order of the Coif

  • ABA-BNA Award for Excellence in the Study of Health Law

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