Health Law › Conflict of Laws

Florida Medical Record Disclosure Law Preempted by HIPAA

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit recently ruled that a Florida law requiring nursing homes to disclose patient records of deceased patients was preempted by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability...more

The FTC Weighs in on Recent State Efforts to Promote/Hinder Healthcare Competition From APRNS

In recent years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) frequently has commented on state efforts to either expand or restrict competition faced by doctors from advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Generally speaking,...more

Supreme Court Clarifies Subrogation Rights, Emphasizes Need for Precise Plan Language

Plan sponsors, particularly those that sponsor self-funded health plans, should review plan document provisions in light of the recent decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in US Airways, Inc. v. McCutchen. In...more

Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Ingredients

Recent public discussion about the federal role in regulating compounding pharmacies has focused on compounded drugs for human use. Compounded drugs are also vital to companion animal health (like pets). In the world of...more

HIPAA Preemption Case – Opis Management Resources, LLC v. Florida Agency for Health Care Administration

On April 9, 2013 the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion regarding HIPAA preemption in the case of Opis Management Resources, LLC v. Florida Agency for Care Administration. Opis...more

Federal Appeals Court Sides With HIPAA Over Florida Law in "Catch 22" Case Over the Release of Deceased Patient Records by Nursing...

As we first reported in December 2011, it's a common scenario: A Florida nursing home resident dies, and his or her spouse, surrogate, proxy, or attorney requests the resident's medical records. However, if the nursing home...more

SCOTUS Holds Federal Medicaid Anti-Lien Statute Pre-empts State Law on Recovery of Medical Expenses

Federal Medicaid law requires states, in administering their Medicaid programs, to seek reimbursement for Medicaid covered medical expenses when beneficiaries later recover amounts for medical care from third-party...more

Employees Who Smoke (Part II) – The Exception for Health Insurance Plans

So yesterday, I made a convincing case that employees who smoke outside the workplace can’t be treated differently than your non-smokers. ...more

Stark Exception For ESRD Not Recognized In Florida

On January 10, 2013, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled in Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. v. Tucker, that an arrangement can violate Section 456.053 of the Florida Statutes, also known as...more

Eleventh Circuit Upholds Florida’s “Patient Self-Referral Act of 1992? as Constitutional

On January 10, 2013, the United States Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, issued a ruling upholding Floridas “Patient Self-Referral Act of 1992? (Fla. Stat. §456.05) as constitutional. The full text of the Courts ruling in...more

Can You Be Fired for Using Medical Marijuana?

In two recent cases, the EEOC settled with employers who had fired workers because of positive drug tests for prescription drugs. But in states where medical marijuana is legal, can employers fire employees who test positive...more

Washington Attorney General's Office Opinion Undermines Electronic Health Records Donation Programs

In 1949, the Washington Legislature enacted what has become known as the “anti-rebate statute,” codified as RCW Chapter 19.68. Rep. Eileen Cody recently asked the state Attorney General (AG)’s Office whether this statute...more

Will New Marijuana Laws Go Up In Smoke? [Video]

(Bloomberg Law) -- Voters in Colorado and Washington passed measures last month to legalize recreational marijuana use, putting state laws in conflict with federal law. But it's not the first time that's happened....more

Seventh Circuit Rules that Medical Necessity Trumps State-Imposed Cap on “Optional” Medicaid Coverage

In a class action lawsuit, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit recently affirmed a lower court decision granting a preliminary injunction that prevented the state of Indiana from enforcing a $1,000 annual cap on...more

Letters of Protection- A Hobson’s Choice for Patient, Doctor and Attorney A Personal Injury Lawyer/ Medical Practice...

A “Hobson’s Choice” is a choice that appears to give you more than one option, but in fact only offers one option. So it is with the Letter of Protection (LOP). You, the patient, doctor or attorney, think...more

Hall v. Sebelius

Brief of the CATO Institute as Amicus Curiae in Support of Petitioners

When Brian Hall, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, and other over-65 retirees requested to opt out of Medicare's hospital insurance coverage (because they preferred their existing private coverage), the Social Security...more

The ERISA Litigation Newsletter - September 2012

In This Issue: - Editor's Overview - ERISA Preemption in Provider Misrepresentation Claims: An Overview of the Jurisprudence Leading Up to the Fifth Circuit's En Banc Review of Access Mediquip and What Lies...more

California Assembly Votes to Amend State False Claims Act

On August 16, 2012, the California Assembly passed a bill (AB 2492) amending California’s False Claims Act, Cal. Gov’t Code §§ 12650-12656 (“CA FCA”), which must be signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown. The amendments...more

Revolution in Disputes Between Hospitals and Their Physicians?

Originally published in the Daily Journal on August 24, 2012. A new decision of the state Court of Appeal last week may change the way disputes between hospitals and their privileged physicians will play out. In Fahlen...more

Affordable Care Act Runs Into Religious Freedom Issues in Court

Although the Supreme Court, in a landmark decision earlier this summer, affirmed the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the challenges to and controversies surrounding that Act are far...more

The Supreme Court’s Immigration Decision May Give Clues On The Upcoming Decision On The Affordable Care Act’s Individual Mandate

Casey Stengel once advised that it is best not to make predictions, particularly about the future. So we will step into ill-advised territory with caution. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court’s decision in Arizona v. United...more

Employers in Florida Face State-Specific Employee Benefit Plan Issues

Employers with Florida employees face certain state-specific employee benefits compliance challenges. While in general ERISA preemption will serve to minimize the number of state laws applicable to the ERISA-governed benefit...more

Legally Operating a Medical Marijuana Business in California

Pursuant to California law, medical marijuana businesses legally are allowed to operate in the state. However, there are conflicts in the laws and confusion about what is and is not permitted. This article provides some...more

The Gap Between Express and Implied Preemption Narrows In The Ninth Circuit

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently shrank universe of state law claims pertaining to Class III medical devices that remain untouched by Riegel express preemption or Buckman implied preemption. In Stengel v....more

Insurance Business & Regulatory News - Spring 2012

In This Issue: - NAIC Changes Target Insurance Holding Company System - Delaware Series LLC Captive Insurance Programs - State Spotlights - Insurance Business and Regulatory Law Excerpt from State...more