Taking the Pulse, A Health Care and Life Sciences Video Podcast | Episode 244: The Future of Independent Physician Practices with Ray Waldrup of The Leaders Rheum
PODCAST: Williams Mullen's Benefits Companion - Cost, Care and Captives: A Mid-Size Employer’s Guide to Benefit Trends
Taking the Pulse: A Health Care & Life Sciences Video Podcast | Episode 239: Understanding the 340B Pricing Program with Chuck Melendi of Disruptive Dialogue
Understanding Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The PBM Landscape Explained
EpiPen RICO Ruling Opens Door for Private AKS Enforcement
Part Two: The MFN Drug Pricing Rule and the Rebate Rule: Where Do We Go From Here?
Part One: Two new Medicare Drug Pricing Rules in One Day: What are the MFN and the Rebate Drug Pricing Rules?
Drug Pricing Initiatives During the Trump Presidency
The healthcare mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market remained active in Q2 2025, with several sectors including physician practice management (PPM), clinical research, and digital health experiencing continued investment and...more
Two long weeks until August recess - This is the last week with both chambers in session until September, and things are relatively slow as lawmakers count down the days to the month-long August recess. With reconciliation...more
Heather Hoopes-Matthews and Matthew Roberts welcome Chuck Melendi, a seasoned healthcare consultant and former executive with decades of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices. Chuck joins us to examine...more
In a first-of-its-kind move, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has enacted legislation prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers ("PBMs") from owning or operating pharmacies within the state. The law—Act 624—takes effect...more
On May 6, 2025, Indiana Governor Mike Braun signed Indiana HB 1666 into law. This new law grants Indiana’s attorney general authority to investigate market concentration of health care entities, modifies existing requirements...more
Welcome to the fifth issue of Health Headlines, a newsletter created by lawyers in our Healthcare practice....more
On April 16, 2025, Arkansas House Bill 1150 (the “Bill”) was signed by Governor Huckabee Sanders. The Bill will have substantial implications for pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) and pharmacies across the country....more
Below is Alston & Bird’s Health Care Week in Review, which provides a synopsis of the latest news in health care regulations, notices, and guidance; federal legislation and congressional committee action; reports, studies,...more
The Georgia House of Representatives achieved the trifecta on Thursday, combining three favorite legislative traditions in one moment on the floor: recognition of a local novelty with an invite resolution, the appearance of a...more
On December 11, 2024, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that, if enacted, would have substantial implications for pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”) and pharmacies across the country. Titled the...more
Each week while Congress is in session, our Policy team delivers a key update to highlight a topical benefits, health, or retirement news item from the Hill, such as a newly introduced bill, a summary of a committee hearing,...more
Congress Votes on CR, Health-Related Legislation. After reaching a deal over the weekend, both chambers passed a CR to avoid a government shutdown and fund the federal government through December 20, 2024. This tees up a push...more
House Education & the Workforce Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Holds Hearing on ERISA’s 50th Anniversary. Members and witnesses assessed how the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)...more
Congress is back from a long August recess. However, it is only back for a few weeks. During this window, there is only one major thing Congress must do: extend government funding past the September 30 deadline through a...more
On August 15, 2024, CMS announced the results of the first round of the negotiated prices between CMS and participating drug manufacturers for the 10 selected drugs under the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Medicare Drug...more
Six months into the fiscal year, Congress has finally passed FY2024 appropriations. It was a painstaking process, which many expected to include policy victories that both sides could celebrate. Instead, the spring work...more
IT’S SHUTDOWN WEEK . . . AGAIN - Stop us if you’ve heard this one before. Congress returns to session this week, with precious little time to avert a looming partial government shutdown at midnight on Friday. After...more
The Lower Costs More Transparency Act of 2023, passed by the House 320-71 on Monday, December 11, 2023, would institute new transparency and pricing rules on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and hospitals. The bill would...more
Limited Time Before the End of the Year and January 19 First, welcome back from what was hopefully a wonderful and restful Thanksgiving break. Although this year will not entail a year-end government funding package, we are...more
After steadying during Q2, it appears the overall volume of deals in the healthcare industry declined in Q3 compared with Q2, and year-to-date 2023 is still down from last year. A slumping economy has no doubt played a large...more
CONGRESS - Senate Finance Committee Holds Markup on Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act. The bipartisan package includes Medicare and Medicaid extenders, provisions to expand the mental health...more
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) take note! Under Florida’s new Prescription Drug Reform Act, PBMs must be licensed as an insurance administrator (also known as a third-party administrator, or TPA). Under this new law, any...more
August 31, 2023 – When it comes to prescription drug costs, policymakers have set their focus on the consumer: “Let’s lower drug prices for the consumer.” “Let’s give consumers more options in paying their out-of-pocket...more
On June 27, 2023, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act 23-171“An Act Protecting Patients and Prohibiting Unnecessary Health Care Costs” (Act), which includes changes to the state’s implementation of the...more
This issue of McDermott’s Healthcare Regulatory Check-Up highlights significant regulatory activity for May 2023. We discuss several criminal and civil enforcement actions that involve violations of the False Claims Act (FCA)...more