The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Monday in a case concerning the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to regulate flavored e-cigarette products. The case, which pits the FDA against e-cigarette manufacturers Triton Distribution and Vapetasia, centers on whether the agency followed proper legal procedures under... Read More »
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal by major tobacco companies, including RJ Reynolds, challenging federal regulations requiring graphic health warnings on cigarette packaging and advertisements. The decision leaves in place a lower court ruling that upheld the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) mandate. The... Read More »
In a lawsuit filed against U.S. Behavioral Health Plan of California (OptumHealth Behavioral Solutions), Christine Dougherty alleges that her son’s death from a fentanyl overdose in 2021 was tied to the health plan's denial of continued addiction treatment. The complaint centers on whether Optum improperly cut short Matlock’s stay at... Read More »
The American Hospital Association (AHA), along with two other major healthcare groups, has called on a federal appeals court to block Idaho's near-total abortion ban in cases where doctors deem the procedure necessary to save a woman's life or prevent serious harm. The AHA, the Association of American Medical Colleges... Read More »
Acadia Healthcare Company Inc., a major operator of inpatient behavioral health facilities across the United States, has agreed to pay $16.6 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by improperly billing Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE for services that were not medically necessary or did not meet... Read More »
The Michigan Supreme Court denied college students' requests for refunds for disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, ruling Friday that students are not entitled to compensation for the shift to online classes or changes in campus housing. The decision comes after the court heard arguments nearly a year ago but... Read More »
The U.S. government unveiled substantial reductions in prescription drug prices under the first cycle of the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program on Thursday, marking a significant step in implementing the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program is a pivotal component of the IRA, a landmark piece... Read More »
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a controversial law on Friday that prohibits school districts from implementing policies requiring schools to inform parents if their child requests a change in gender identification. The Safety Act, or AB1955, aims to protect LGBTQ+ students from potential harm in unsupportive home environments by preventing... Read More »
The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a Tennessee statute that prohibits transgender individuals from changing the sex listed on their birth certificates. The ruling, delivered on Friday, dismissed constitutional challenges based on equal protection and due process grounds. A group of transgender women born in Tennessee brought the... Read More »
On Friday, Kansas' highest court permanently barred the state from enforcing a law that banned the most common second-trimester abortion procedure. The Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the ban violated the state constitution’s right to abortion, which the court had recognized in a 2019 decision. The 5-1 ruling by the... Read More »
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday to allow abortions to be performed in Idaho when pregnant women face medical emergencies. The decision came with a 6-3 vote, with three conservative justices dissenting. The Supreme Court’s decision effectively reinstates a lower court ruling that Idaho's near-total abortion ban must defer... Read More »
A bill that would allow doctor-assisted suicide in Delaware failed to pass the state Senate on Thursday after narrowly advancing through the House earlier this year. The legislation, which has been a contentious issue in the state, resulted in a 9-9 tie in the Democrat-led Senate. Three Democratic senators voiced... Read More »
U.S. District Judge David Joseph has blocked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) from enforcing a rule that would require two states and a group representing Catholic bishops to accommodate employees who undergo elective abortions. The decision, issued on Monday, restricts the application of a federal pregnancy accommodation law... Read More »
A federal judge has ruled that Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for minors is unconstitutional, delivering a significant blow to the state's efforts to restrict medical treatments for transgender youth. In a comprehensive 105-page order, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle found the law discriminatory and motivated by anti-transgender animus rather... Read More »
GSK (GSK.L) and several other pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer (PFE.N), Sanofi (SASY.PA), and Boehringer Ingelheim, are requesting permission from a Delaware court to appeal a ruling that allows over 70,000 lawsuits alleging that the heartburn drug Zantac causes cancer to proceed. The appeal, if granted by Judge Vivian Medinilla of... Read More »
