Health Care

It seems that everything in our life is getting connected to the Internet. We now live in an age where household items like refrigerators have Internet-connected LCD screens and privacy experts talk about the so-called "Internet of Things." Medical devices are increasingly becoming connected as well, and like any connected device, they are at risk of getting hacked.

To understand the policy challenge created by repeal of the non-interference clause, consider this simple example.  Acme Drug Company brings a drug to the market as a single source innovator. 

This week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a projection that shows Medicare enrollment will grow by more than 30 percent in the next decade alone, and the number of seniors will steadily grow from 55 million today to more than 80 million by 2036.

In 2012 Massachusetts adopted the most recent in a series of comprehensive legislative approaches to health care reform, Chapter 224 of the Acts of 2012 (Chapter 224), which focused especially on addressing the drivers of health care costs in the Commonwealth. 

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) has issued its 2015 Cost Trends Report, based on the HPC’s annual health care cost growth hearings.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance (DOI) recently held a two-day hearing on rate changes proposed by Massachusetts health insurance plans to be effective for the second quarter of 2016 (Q2).

FDA lacks the appropriate data to effectively conduct post market surveillance and safety tracking activities, according to two reports released earlier this month.

An ophthalmologist cooperative in Puerto Rico settled charges with the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) last week that it orchestrated an illegal boycott of a health plan.

In keeping with the boom of telehealth legislation introduced last year at both the state and federal level, the Senate Finance Committee is considering several policy changes that, if ultimately enacted, could make telehealth the preferred method of care delivery for millions of Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions.

Earlier today, my colleagues at ML Strategies published the Washington Outlook for 2016, offering their insights about what we might expect from Capitol Hill and the Administration in the coming year.

On Tuesday, our colleague, Patricia Moran, discussed the importance of employers using “wrap” documents for certain health and welfare plans on Mintz Levin’s Employment Matters Blog.

My colleagues Hope Foster, Larry Freedman, and Bridget Rohde, members of Mintz Levin’s Health Care Enforcement Defense group, recently published a report surveying health care enforcement trends and developments in 2015 and forecasting what these developments herald for 2016.

In college and graduate school, we all had professors that had “non-attribution/academic freedom” policies designed to foster open debate, critical thinking and robust discussion.

President Obama has announced plans to tighten gun control regulations, including applying the background check requirement to dealers at gun shows and on websites. Federal law already requires that those “engaged in the business” of selling guns must have a Federal Firearms License (FFL) and conduct background checks at the time of every purchase.

As we start a new year, let’s take a look back at a few hot topics that emerged in the managed care industry in 2015 and will likely be drivers of developments in 2016.

Recognizing the importance of telemedicine, a committee of the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission recently voted on a grant program that will award up to $500,000 each for two telemedicine pilots that target the behavioral health needs of children, homebound seniors, and people with substance use disorders.

As 2015 comes to a close and you look ahead to the New Year, we hope that you will consider joining us for an informative webinar on health care enforcement trends for 2016.

Over the past year, significant regulatory changes began to take shape that will have lasting effects on the laboratory industry for years to come.

Last week, the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") authorized staff to file an administrative complaint and to seek in federal court a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction to block the proposed merger of Advocate Health Care Network (Advocate) and NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) in the Chicago area.

As the year winds down, we look back on the significant developments in telemedicine in 2015 as well as look forward to what 2016 will bring.