On February 1, 2024, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a final rule revising 42 CFR Part 8, which regulates opioid treatment programs (OTPs). The final rule is the first update to...more
In 2020, over 142 million prescriptions for opioid medications were filled in the U.S. That same year, 16,416 people died from overdoses on prescription opioids—a 376% increase from 1999....more
In Justice Breyer’s final opinion from the bench in a 9-0 decision, the United States Supreme Court clarified that for a physician to be criminally convicted of distributing a controlled substance, the Department of Justice...more
On June 27, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Ruan v. United States, No. 20-1410, and Kahn v. United States, No. 21-5261, in a consolidated ruling. The Court held that when a criminal defendant is authorized to dispense...more
Patients who say they were injured by wealthy corporations must possess great fortitude as they seek justice in the civil system, as has been reaffirmed by the courts in California and Oklahoma that rejected separate cases...more
For most Florida prescribers whose licenses haven’t renewed since 2019, it’s time to commence electronic prescribing. In 2019, the legislature enacted legislation that required electronic prescribing. However, this...more
Health workers with legal prescribing privileges have gotten newly revised federal guidelines — once again — making it easier for them to help those addicted to powerful opioid painkillers by prescribing buprenorphine,...more
On January 28, 2021, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) issued its fifth amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”) related to COVID-19...more
The opioid abuse and drug overdose crisis has tarred yet another of the nation’s business titans: McKinsey, a globally renowned consulting firm, has discovered that providing corporate clients sketchy advice about addictive,...more
Editor’s Note: In a new playbook, supported by Arnold Ventures, Manatt Health provides state policymakers and other stakeholders with legislative, regulatory, reimbursement and operational strategies to increase access to...more
Doctors, nurses, hospitals and other health care providers, should know that the pandemic has not deterred federal or state authorities from prosecuting false claims, HIPAA and other types of enforcement actions in...more
Complimentary webinar with the DEA on Controlled Substances! During this global pandemic, the Diversion Control Division is working to assure that there is an adequate supply of controlled substances in the United States,...more
House overrides minimum wage veto - On a vote of 100-49, the House voted to override Gov. Phil Scott’s veto of the minimum wage bill. The bill will raise the state’s minimum wage to $11.75 in 2021, and $12.55 in 2022, and...more
In response to the opioid epidemic, many states, including Texas, created prescription drug monitoring programs to monitor high-risk patients and provider behaviors. The Texas Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (“PMP”) is...more
On January 27, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $145 million settlement with electronic health record (EHR) vendor Practice Fusion to resolve civil and criminal allegations that it violated the Anti-Kickback...more
Headlines that Matter for Companies and Executives in Regulated Industries - DOJ News - Four Physicians Found Guilty for Role in $150 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme - Following a four-week trial, a federal jury in...more
In this installment of the Healthcare Enforcement Quarterly Roundup we cover several topics that have persisted over the past few years and identify new issues that will shape the scope of enforcement efforts in 2020. In this...more
Perhaps the single most appropriate word to describe the current state of the civil and criminal healthcare fraud enforcement environment is uncertainty. From changes in personnel and policy at the highest levels of...more
Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its largest ever national health care fraud takedown, resulting in charges against 601 diverse defendants including...more
At the close of the 2018 session, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill (SB) 675, which if allowed to become law by the Governor, will help hospitals and their facilities that are under common control manage their...more
Current issues in the distribution of controlled substances Join us for a complimentary webinar on current issues affecting the distribution of controlled substances. In an efficient hour, we will provide an overview of the...more
The 2016 Florida Legislature enacted substantial legislation (Ch. 2016-212, Laws of Florida) to bring Florida’s Drug and Cosmetic Act (Ch. 499, Florida Statutes) in line with the federal Drug Supply Chain and Security Act...more
Hawaii, like some other states, only permits employers to consider convictions that bear a “rational relationship to the duties and responsibilities of the position.” Recently, the Hawaii Supreme Court had occasion to decide...more