In today’s complex healthcare landscape, whistleblower claims are a major source of regulatory and legal risk for organizations. Last year saw a record number of “qui tam” claims filed under the False Claims Act. While…
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/ Administrative Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Commercial Law & Contracts, Health
In April, a pharmaceutical manufacturer agreed to pay a $202 million settlement to resolve allegations of Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) violations. At the heart of the case were speaker programs, where physicians and prescribers…
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/ Health
Recent years have seen an unprecedented rollback of many hard-won civil rights for LGBTQ+ Iowans at the state and federal levels. There are several ways LGBTQ+ Iowans can protect and empower themselves and their loved ones…
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/ Civil Rights, Family Law, Wills, Trusts, & Estate Planning
The compliance officer is one of the most important positions within a healthcare organization, but also one of the most challenging. You’re expected to be a teacher, a coach, a project manager, a good listener, and a role…
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/ Business Organizations, Health, Labor & Employment Law
Navigating special needs planning can be a complex journey for people with disabilities and their families and caregivers. As individuals with disabilities reach adulthood, important decisions must be made to ensure their…
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/ Family Law, Health
The first session of the 91st General Assembly of Iowa adjourned sine die just after 6 a.m. on May 15 after a full night of caucuses and debate. Slated for 110 days, the legislature extended 13 days beyond May 2 after reaching…
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/ Elections & Politics, Energy & Utilities, Taxation
In a recent False Claims Act case, a long-term care pharmacy and consulting services provider was found liable for submitting false claims to the government, resulting in a jury verdict of over $135 million in damages. The…
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/ Administrative Law, Government Contracting, Health
Anatomy of a panic attack: When your ex plays custody hostage negotiator -
Sheer panic. That's what I see in the eyes of clients who first sit across from me after their spouse has filed for divorce, changed the locks on the…
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/ Family Law
Last week was the first week beyond the scheduled 110th day of the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session, and legislators made significant strides toward adjournment. On Thursday, the chambers released a joint budget agreement; with the…
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/ Civil Rights, Elections & Politics, Taxation
If your organization uses Electronic Health Records (EHRs), the recent updates to the SAFER Guidelines (Safety Assurance Factors for EHR Resilience) are essential for helping you assess the potential safety issues posed by your…
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/ Health, Privacy, Science, Computers, & Technology
When Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 513 into law (effective July 1, 2025), she fundamentally changed how divorced parents in Iowa handle college expenses. The new legislation eliminates Iowa courts' authority to…
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/ Education Law, Family Law, Real Estate - Commercial
Last week marked the scheduled 110th day of the 2025 Iowa Legislative Session, the last scheduled day. Legislators must now work to pass an annual budget, but disagreements between the chambers on major policy items as well as…
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/ Elections & Politics, Energy & Utilities, Taxation
Cash-based practices, or providers who neither participate with nor bill insurers, are becoming increasingly common, especially in certain specialties such as primary care, women’s health, and mental health. While providers may…
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/ Health, Insurance
It was a quieter week at the Iowa State Capitol as we reach the final stretch of the 2025 legislative session. As the first year of a general assembly, session is scheduled for 110 days, and this year, that day falls on Friday,…
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/ Elections & Politics, Energy & Utilities, Taxation
Effective May 1, 2025, the Section 1557 regulations require covered healthcare providers to take reasonable steps by May 1, 2025, to identify and mitigate the risk of discrimination when they use AI and other emergency…
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/ Civil Rights, Health, Science, Computers, & Technology
