Literature Review

All posts tagged with “Public Policy News | Laws / Legal.”



Legacy even in defeat? Nursing home experts anxious about next moves on staffing efforts

04/23/25 at 03:00 AM

Legacy even in defeat? Nursing home experts anxious about next moves on staffing efforts McKnights Long-Term Care News; by Kimberly Marselas; 4/21/25 Two weeks after a judge struck down federal staffing standards for all US nursing homes, questions about the rule’s future continue to swirl within the industry. Will the government appeal the District Court’s ruling in Texas and continue to fight for regulations that would force nursing homes to create more than 100,000 new jobs in coming years? How will a judge hearing a similar challenge in Iowa interpret similar arguments, and what happens if the rulings conflict with one another? ... Regardless of whether the rule goes away, industry insiders have one clear expectation: Its legacy will continue to chafe nursing home leaders, who will still face intense pressure to recruit quality staff and improve patient care.

Read More

What's at stake if CDC's Infection Control Practices Committee is cut

04/21/25 at 03:00 AM

What's at stake if CDC's Infection Control Practices Committee is cut MedPage Today; by Alexander Sundermann, DrPH; 4/17/25 Whether you are placing a central line, managing a Clostridioides difficile case, or keeping a surgical field sterile, you're likely following standards influenced by the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). While it may not be widely known outside of infection prevention circles, HICPAC plays a central role in shaping the evidence-based guidelines that frontline clinicians use every day to protect both patients and healthcare workers. ... Frontline clinicians ... rely on HICPAC guidance every day. Its recommendations shape the protocols used to prevent device-related infections, respond to emerging outbreaks, and meet regulatory and accreditation requirements. ...Eliminating HICPAC wouldn't just slow progress -- it would erode the foundation of infection prevention in U.S. healthcare.

Read More

Florida lawmakers unanimously approve bill to make medical marijuana cards free for military veterans

04/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Florida lawmakers unanimously approve bill to make medical marijuana cards free for military veterans Marijuana Moments; by Ben Adlin; 4/15/25 A Florida House panel on Tuesday unanimously approved a bill that would exempt military veterans from state registration fees for medical marijuana cards, allowing them to obtain the certifications for free. ... If HB 555 becomes law, the changes would take effect July 1.

Read More

Attorney General Platkin co-leads multistate effort to protect Affordable Care Act from attack

04/16/25 at 03:00 AM

Attorney General Platkin co-leads multistate effort to protect Affordable Care Act from attack State of New Jersey - Department of Law & Public Safety, Trenton, NJ; Press Release by the Office of the Attorney General, Matthew J. Platkin; 4/14/25  Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with the Attorneys General of California and Massachusetts, co-led a multistate letter regarding a raft of proposed changes that would undermine the Affordable Care Act (ACA), making it more difficult and expensive for individuals to enroll in health coverage on federal and state exchanges. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would make a number of regulatory changes impacting access to insurance via the ACA. If allowed to take effect, the proposed changes would reduce access to ACA exchanges and risk causing between 750,000 and two million Americans to lose health insurance coverage in 2026. That would impose harms on States and their residents, both insured and uninsured, as when more individuals are forced to go without insurance, costs are driven up for everyone.

Read More

Closing the gap in end-of life care coverage: The role of nonprofits in policy advocacy

04/15/25 at 03:00 AM

Closing the gap in end-of life care coverage: The role of nonprofits in policy advocacy Forbes; by James Dismond; 4/14/25... As the demand for end-of-life care grows, so will the gap between the care that patients need and what they receive. ... Workforce shortages, restrictive regulations, outdated reimbursement models and misconceptions around hospice services are keeping millions of Americans from accessing quality hospice and palliative care services. ... These barriers disproportionately affect low-income families, rural communities and communities of color. ... Unlike for-profit entities, we can prioritize community needs over shareholders. We can prioritize patient well-being over profits—or, to say it more directly, we put people over profits. And I’ve seen firsthand how advocacy can drive progress. Nonprofits must engage in:

Read More

Community Catalyst leads national response against new rule that threatens health care access

04/15/25 at 03:00 AM

Community Catalyst leads national response against new rule that threatens health care access Community Catalyst, Boston, MA; by Jack Cardinal; 4/11/25 Today, Community Catalyst organized hundreds of local, state and national partners to submit comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing a new proposed rule from the Trump administration that would make it harder and more expensive for people to buy their own insurance on Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplaces and increase their medical debt. ... The administration’s own estimates suggest that as many as 2 million people will lose their coverage under this proposal, ...

Read More

Medicare and Medicaid officials finalize rule to clarify that medical marijuana isn’t covered by federal health programs

04/10/25 at 03:00 AM

Medicare and Medicaid officials finalize rule to clarify that medical marijuana isn’t covered by federal health programsMarijuana Moment; by Kyle Jaeger; 4/8/25 The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized a rule to clarify that marijuana products are not eligible for coverage under certain health plans for chronically ill patients because “they are illegal substances under Federal law.” In a notice set to be published in the Federal Register next week, CMS said that a series of policy and technical changes for its Medicare Advantage (MA) program and other services, including rulemaking related to cannabis products, will now take effect on June 3.[Continue reading ...]

Read More

What role do immigrants play in the direct long-term care workforce?

04/10/25 at 02:00 AM

What role do immigrants play in the direct long-term care workforce? KFF; by Priya Chidambaram and Drishti Pillai; 4/2/25 President Trump has made a slew of immigration policy changes focused on restricting entry at the border and increasing interior enforcement efforts to support mass deportation. While these actions are focused on undocumented immigrants, they likely will have ripple effects across immigrants of all statuses and millions more people living in immigrant families. Mass deportations could negatively impact the U.S. economy and workforce, given the role immigrants play, particularly in certain industries. ...

Read More

Executive orders and policy updates

04/07/25 at 03:00 AM

Executive orders and policy updates JD Supra; by Jones Day; 4/3/25 Since President Trump's inauguration, the Trump administration has issued a number of executive orders and policy actions ... Notable actions include rescinding Biden-era initiatives on health care access and equity, withdrawing from the World Health Organization, reducing indirect costs for NIH grants, and suspending foreign aid. While many of these actions may be subject to ongoing litigation, which is not addressed here, summaries of certain of these executive orders and policy actions are included below. ...

Read More

Terri Schiavo's death 20 years ago sparked lingering debate about death and politics

04/07/25 at 03:00 AM

Terri Schiavo's death 20 years ago sparked lingering debate about death and politics USA Today; by Marc Ramirez; 3/31/25 Monday [March 31st marked] 20 years since the death of Terri Schiavo, whose landmark case became the symbol of the "right to die" movement, generated political controversy and sparked public outcry as her husband and family members took their fight over her fate to the courts. Schiavo died on March 31, 2005, after a dragged-out legal and political battle ... The case thrust discussions about end-of-life care into the public consciousness, a topic that continues to provoke heightened emotions among Americans. “It became the most reviewed, debated end-of-life case in history,” said Arthur Caplan, who heads the division of medical ethics at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine. [Continue reading ...]

Read More

U.S. Supreme Court rejects medical marijuana firm's bid to avoid racketeering suit

04/04/25 at 03:00 AM

US Supreme Court rejects medical marijuana firm's bid to avoid racketeering suit Reuters, Washington, DC; by John Kruzel; 4/2/25 The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday against Medical Marijuana Inc (MJNA.PK), opens new tab in its bid to fend off a lawsuit by a commercial truck driver who was fired for failing a drug test after taking cannabidiol, or CBD, that he said was falsely sold as lacking the psychoactive ingredient present in marijuana. The justices, in a 5-4 decision authored by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett, upheld a lower court's ruling that had allowed plaintiff Douglas Horn to bring a civil lawsuit against the San Diego-based company under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. [Continue reading ...]

Read More

The marginalizing and dehumanizing of our sickest and oldest Americans

03/26/25 at 03:00 AM

The marginalizing and dehumanizing of our sickest and oldest Americans ABA - The American Bar Association; by Charles P. Sabatino; 3/19/25 Being old and with a disability ranks high as a target for discrimination in American culture, where ageism and ableism often prevent the public from seeing marginalization as an aberration. ... Summary:

Read More

Hospice community responds to proposed DEA telehealth prescribing rule

03/21/25 at 02:00 AM

Hospice community responds to proposed DEA telehealth prescribing rule Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 3/20/25 A proposed rule by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) could impede timely access to medications for hospice and palliative care patients, according to members of the hospice community. ... If finalized, this proposed rule would require prescribers to register with the DEA before they are allowed to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances, along with some monitoring and other requirements.  ... Implementation of the proposed rule would have adverse consequences for hospice and palliative care patients, according to the National Alliance for Care at Home. ... The Alliance made several recommendations to the DEA regarding the proposal: 

Read More

Hospice Insights Podcast - Psychedelics and end of life care: Understanding the legal landscape

03/17/25 at 03:00 AM

Hospice Insights Podcast - Psychedelics and end of life care: Understanding the legal landscape Hospice Insight - The Law and Beyond; by Husch Blackwell LLP; 3/12/25 There has been a lot of buzz around psychedelics, and particularly their potential usefulness in treating existential suffering at the end of life. Husch Blackwell was the first law firm in the country to establish a Psychedelics & Emerging Therapies practice group devoted to helping clinicians, researchers, and investors navigate the complex and difficult legal and regulatory issues involved in developing new therapies in this space. In this episode, host Meg Pekarske is joined by the leaders of Husch Blackwell’s Psychedelics & Emerging Therapies practice group, Kimberly Chew, Karen Luong, and Natasha Sumner, who provide an overview of what psychedelics are, their legal status under federal and state laws, and liability considerations for clinicians.

Read More

13th Annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review - 2024

03/10/25 at 03:00 AM

13th Annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review - 2024 JD Supra; by Bass, Berry & Sims PLC; 3/7/25 Bass, Berry & Sims is pleased to announce the release of the 13th annual Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Review examining important healthcare fraud developments in 2024. Compiled by the firm's Healthcare Fraud & Abuse Task Force, the Review provides a comprehensive analysis of enforcement developments affecting the healthcare industry, significant court decisions involving the False Claims Act, and an overview of settlements involving healthcare fraud and abuse issues.We began the Review over a decade ago with the intention of providing comprehensive coverage of the most significant civil and criminal enforcement issues facing healthcare providers each year. Over that time, the challenges facing the healthcare industry have been significant. ...

Read More

An opportunity to advance cannabis science—DEA rescheduling

03/08/25 at 03:20 AM

An opportunity to advance cannabis science—DEA reschedulingJAMA Psychiatry; Kevin P. Hill, MD, MHS; Anshul V. Puli, BS; 2/25In 1970, the US Congress enacted the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), establishing a scheduling system for drugs based on their medical use, abuse potential, and safety. The most restrictive classification is Schedule I; cannabis along with other drugs, such as heroin and lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), have this classification. May 13, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the agency regulating substance scheduling, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to investigate rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. This was due to a recommendation from the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reschedule based on its review of the medical and scientific cannabis research. Still, the FDA investigated HHS’ CAMU [cannabis’ current accepted medical use] claim and found some credible scientific support for treating “anorexia related to a medical condition, nausea and vomiting (eg, chemotherapy-induced), and pain.”

Read More

Judge sets trial date for DOJ’s challenge to UnitedHealth takeover of Amedisys

02/24/25 at 03:00 AM

Judge sets trial date for DOJ’s challenge to UnitedHealth takeover of Amedisys McKnights Home Care; by Adam Healy; 2/20/25 A judge reportedly has set a date for the Department of Justice’s challenge of UnitedHealth Group’s (UHG’s) acquisition of home health and hospice provider Amedisys. US District Judge James K. Bredar set the trial for Oct. 27. However, the trial may have to be rescheduled to Feb. 9, 2026, Bredar said in an order, according to MLex, which provides news and analysis on legal developments.

Read More

Health policy challenges for 2025 and beyond

02/22/25 at 03:35 AM

Health policy challenges for 2025 and beyondJAMA Health Forum; Lanhee J. Chen, JD, PhD; 1/25Despite multiple reform attempts, the US health care system is still burdened by high costs, limited access to quality care, and policies that have resulted in the inefficient delivery of care. However, technological advances, insights from the COVID-19 pandemic, and approaching policy deadlines, such as expiration at the end of 2025 of enhanced coverage subsidies available through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), offer policymakers a reason to act. The next few years will present policymakers with opportunities to address key health care challenges, including the future of Medicare, the continuing implementation of the ACA, and the health care provisions included in the federal tax code. The new administration and Congress will have their hands full in 2025 because the expiring tax and subsidy provisions are action-forcing events. Lawmakers will face a unique opportunity to reform the system in a way that improves accessibility and affordability and enforces some measure of fiscal discipline, and to make decisions that could positively affect the future of health care for millions of individuals in the US.

Read More

Mandated time off for bereavement gaining ground

02/13/25 at 03:00 AM

Mandated time off for bereavement gaining ground Altoona, PA; by Sarah Boden; 2/10/25 When his father died from COVID-19 in 2020, James Gerraughty didn’t have to choose between working and grieving. That’s because his employer provides three days of paid bereavement for the death of a parent. This gave Gerraughty enough time to drive from the Altoona area to Buffalo, New York, to collect his dad’s remains. ... Not everyone is so lucky. Pennsylvania doesn’t have a universal bereavement leave policy. Employers offer it at their discretion, meaning many workers can experience the death of a loved one but not get time off. Other states have filled this gap in labor law, to varying degrees. California, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon and Washington all mandate some form of bereavement leave. ... It takes time to process a death. So not being able to take off work can threaten a person’s mental health and livelihood, said Nisha Bowman, a social worker in Pittsburgh for Monarch Hospice.[Click on the title's link to continue reading.] Editor's note: For national advocacy for bereavement care, examine Evermore.org.

Read More

Policy priorities for the first 100 days

01/24/25 at 03:00 AM

Policy priorities for the first 100 daysC-TAC press release; 1/20/25The first 100 days of the Trump Administration and 119th Congress offer a pivotal opportunity to enact bold policies that improve the quality of care for individuals with serious illness while reducing overall healthcare costs. By addressing key policy priorities, we can create a healthcare system that delivers better outcomes for patients and families. C-TAC calls on policymakers to act now to advance solutions in the following areas:

Read More

Medical schools report steep drop in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students after Supreme Court ruling

01/15/25 at 03:00 AM

Medical schools report steep drop in enrollment of Black and Hispanic students after Supreme Court ruling STAT; by Usha Lee McFarling; 1/9/25Enrollment of Black and Hispanic students in medical schools dropped precipitously last year after the Supreme Court banned the consideration of race in admissions, according to data released Thursday by the Association of American Medical Colleges. The number of Black enrollees fell by 11.6% compared to last year, while the number of Hispanic enrollees decreased 10.8%. The numbers were even starker for Indigenous students; the number of American Indian or Alaska Natives dropped by 22.1%, while students who were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders dropped by 4.3%. 

Read More

Hospice Insights Podcast - A year in review: Reflections and hopes for the future

01/10/25 at 02:30 AM

Hospice Insights Podcast [The Law and Beyond] - A year in review: Reflections and hopes for the future JD Supra; by Husch Blackwell LLP; 1/8/25 It’s our first podcast of 2025 and we wanted to start the year out with some reflections. Join Husch Blackwell’s Meg Pekarske and Bryan Nowicki as they each share their biggest surprises and victories of 2024 and what is on their wish list for 2025. 

Read More

The Alliance celebrates the Dole Act becoming law, expanding access to care and benefits for veterans

01/08/25 at 02:00 AM

The Alliance celebrates the Dole Act becoming law, protecting burial benefits for veteransNational Alliance for Care at Home, Alexandria, VA and Washington, DC; Press Release; 1/7/25 The National Alliance for Care at Home (the Alliance) issued the following statement in response to President Biden signing S. 141, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, into law on Thursday, January 2. This landmark legislation includes Section 301, Gerald’s Law, which addresses a critical gap in benefits for Veterans. Gerald’s Law ensures that families of terminally-ill Veterans receiving Veterans Affairs (VA)-furnished hospice care—whether at home, in a nursing home, or in another non-VA setting—retain access to their full VA burial allowance. “We are deeply grateful for the bipartisan support of Gerald’s Law and its inclusion in the Dole Act,” said Dr. Steve Landers, CEO for the Alliance. “This legislation ensures that Veterans and their families can choose hospice care in the setting that best meets their needs without risking the loss of crucial burial benefits. We thank Senators Moran, Tester, and Hassan, Representatives Ciscomani, Bost, Brownley, and Takano, and many others for their leadership, as well as President Biden for signing this important bill into law.”

Read More

Santa Maria investment advisor pleads guilty to federal wire fraud charge

01/06/25 at 03:00 AM

Santa Maria investment advisor pleads guilty to federal wire fraud chargeSannta Maria Times, Santa Maria, CA; by Dave Minsky; 1/2/25 A Santa Maria registered investment advisor pleaded guilty to a wire fraud charge after admitting to stealing $2.25 million from mostly elderly clients who put her in charge of their assets, according to a plea agreement filed in Los Angeles federal court earlier this month. ... Federal officials alleged that [Julie] Darrah’s scheme ran from November 2016 until about July 2023 and involved at least 11 victims who were mostly elderly, including some who were receiving end-of-life care. ... Prosecutors alleged Darrah would gain control of her clients’ assets in several ways, including making her the trustee of their trusts, having the victims executing standing letters of authorization that gave Darrah control of their accounts, making Darrah a signatory on their accounts and giving Darrah power of attorney over their property.

Read More

High-risk opioid prescribing and nurse practitioner independence

12/28/24 at 03:05 AM

High-risk opioid prescribing and nurse practitioner independenceJAMA Health Forum; Lucas D. Cusimano, BS; Nicole Maestas, MPP, PhD; 12/24In 2021, more than 1 in 5 opioid overdose deaths were attributed to prescription opioids in the US, and the rate of such deaths has increased 5-fold since 1999. Concerns around excessive opioid prescribing have been used to argue against the expansion of the scope of practice of nurse practitioners (NPs) ... In this difference-in-differences analysis of opioid prescribing in 16 states, there was no change in the rates of high-risk opioid prescribing in the 6 states that adopted nurse practitioner independence compared with 10 nonadopting neighboring states during the 24 months following adoption. The study found no association between legislation that granted independence to nurse practitioners and rates of risky opioid prescribing. 

Read More