Newsletters

11.13.13

Final Mental Health Parity Rules Clarify Requirements Regarding Treatment Limitations

On November 8, 2013, over three years after issuing interim final regulations, the Obama administration released final rules implementing the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA), which is designed to ensure parity between mental health and ...


11.13.13

Consent Too Varied to Certify TCPA Class, Court Rules

Hilton Worldwide Inc. scored a victory in California federal court when a judge declined to certify a class of millions of consumers in a TCPA suit.


11.12.13

CMS Creates Clarity and Confusion on Application of Fraud and Abuse Laws to Qualified Health Plans

On October 30, 2013, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sent a letter to U.S. Representative Jim McDermott stating that HHS does not consider qualified health plans (QHPs) sold through the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA’s) insurance exchanges to ...


11.07.13

FDIC Cautions Financial Institutions About D&O Insurance

Noting a rise in the use of exclusions in insurance policies for executives at financial institutions, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation urged banks to review existing policies and consider the appropriate level of coverage.


11.07.13

Prevailing Wage Update: New Law Limits Charter City Exemption

Charter cities were pleased with the California Supreme Court decision in State Building and Construction Trades Council of California AFL-CIO v. City of Vista, which permitted charter cities to avoid the requirement for the payment of prevailing wage rates on public works projects.


11.06.13

FTC Settles Over “Made in the U.S.A.” Claims

Back in business after the government shutdown, the Federal Trade Commission recently announced a settlement involving products falsely advertised as “Made in the U.S.A.”


11.06.13

California Employers Face New Laws On January 1, 2014

Employers in California should ring in the New Year by updating their policies and training to reflect the new laws, particularly the major changes under San Francisco's new ordinance.


11.01.13

OBA Releases First-Ever Compliance Warning

Issuing its first-ever Compliance Warning, the Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program, part of the industry Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), cautioned Web site operators that they must provide real-time, enhanced notice to consumers when third parties collect information for ...


11.01.13

New York State Department Of Environmental Conservation Initiates Audit And Penalty Waiver Policy

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ("DEC") has issued a new Environmental Audit Incentive Policy (Commissioner Policy No. 59) that is intended to encourage regulated entities to audit their practices and operations and to remedy any environmental protection ...


10.28.13

Mapping The New Fraud And Abuse Landscape

In an age of increased government scrutiny and enforcement, providers, payers, pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers, along with their business partners, must be mindful of the fraud and abuse laws regulating their business operations.