Lanton Law Blog — Lanton Law

HHS Delays Rebate Rule to 2023 Due to a Court Order

Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced that the Trump administration’s directive that would have implemented the drug rebate rule against pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

healthcare, HHS, pharmaceuticals, physician, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costsRon LantonMarch 18, 2021Drug Rebate Rule, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Health and Human Services, HHS, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia

Biosimilar Legislation Passes Senate

S. 164 titled the Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021 sponsored by Senator Hassan (D-NH) has passed the Senate on March 3, 2021. The proposed bill seeks to educate health care providers and the public on biosimilar biological products.

Biosimilars, biotech, biotechnology, healthcare, life sciencesRon LantonMarch 15, 2021biosimilars, Advancing Education on Biosimilars Act of 2021, biologics, Congress

New Congressional Cannabis/Marijuana Bill Introduced

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) have introduced the Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act.

adult use marijuana, CBD, cannabis, government affairs, healthcare, legislature, lobbyist, marijuana, medical marijuana, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonMarch 12, 2021Cannabis, Cannabidiol and Marijuana Research Expansion Act, marijuana, Congress, medical research, FDA

New Psychedelic ETF About To Hit the Market

There is a new March 5, 2021 U.S. Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) filing that will allow investors to gain exposure to the psychedelic and cannabis industries.

Virginia Votes to Legalize the Sales & Recreational Use of Marijuana

Virginia has taken one step closer to becoming the first southern state to legalize marijuana. If enacted Virginia would follow Washington D.C. along with fifteen other states to do so. The proposed legislation would allow the possession of up to one ounce of marijuanato become legal starting January 1, 2024. This would be at the same time as sales and a regulatory scheme overseeing the new marijuana marketplace would take off. The bill is awaiting Governor Northam’s signature who is expected to sign the measure into law.

adult use marijuana, cannabis, CBD, healthcare, legislation, marijuana, medical marijuana, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, recreational marijuanaRon LantonMarch 2, 2021Virginia, marijuana, recreational marijuana, Governor Northam, cannabis, CBD

PBM Lobby Has 8th Circuit Win Vacated & Remanded

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a February 22, 2021 decision against the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA); the Washington D.C. based trade group that represents pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

healthcare, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, LTC, Long term care pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, U.S. Supreme Court, specialty pharmacyRon LantonFebruary 24, 2021U.S. Supreme Court, Rutledge v. PCMA, Wilke v. PCMA, pharmacy, ERISA, North Dakota

New York Privacy Act Introduced into the New York State Legislature

A680 titled the New York Privacy Act has been introduced into the New York State Assembly. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywoman Rosenthal (D-District 67).

New York Governor Cuomo Announces 30-Day Amendments to Legislation Establishing Comprehensive Adult-Use Cannabis Program in New York

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced in a press release detailing “30-day amendments to the Governor's proposal to establish a comprehensive adult-use cannabis program in New York. Specifically, these amendments will detail how the $100 Million in Social Equity funding will be allocated, enable the use of delivery services, and refine which criminal charges will be enforced as it relates to the improper sale of cannabis to further reduce the impact on communities hit hardest by the war on drugs.”

cannabis, healthcare, marijuana, medical marijuana, recreational marijuanaRon LantonFebruary 16, 2021cannabis, New York, recreational marijuana, adult-use marijuana

Virginia on Track to Become Second Second State to Pass Data Privacy Laws

Lanton Law’s privacy practice has been closely monitoring the various state conversations around data privacy. We previously wrote a blog post titled California’s Consumer Privacy Act Could Be Coming to a State Near You, where we traced how California took the first step to create a consumer privacy law in the wake of Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation.

Senator Klobuchar Introduces Sweeping Omnibus Antitrust Reform Legislation

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, recently introduced sweeping proposed legislation targeting antitrust reform.

Cannabis Reform Legislation Anticipated in 117th Congress

We at Lanton Law have been closely monitoring cannabis policy developments as we fully anticipate federal action on this issue in 2021. How much activity remains to be seen.

cannabis, CBD, healthcare, legislature, legislation, lobbyist, marijuana, medical marijuana, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonFebruary 6, 2021cannabis, medical cannabis, medical marijuana

New York Proposing Its Own Biometric Law

The New York State legislature has introduced Assembly Bill 27, which seeks to make New York the fourth state to enact a biometric privacy law. If successful it will be the second state that will allow consumers a private right of action to see companies for improper data handling.

biometric, facial recognition, biotechnology, digital health, healthcare, HealthIT, mobile health, regulation, tech, technologyRon LantonFebruary 6, 2021New York Biometric Privacy Act, New York, Assembly Bill 27, Facial Recognition, Governor Cuomo, New York Legislature, A6787-D/S5140-B, Illinois Information Privacy Act

Surprise Medical Billing Law Takes Effect January 1, 2022

The No Surprises Act was quietly a part of the omnibus spending bill that was signed into law on December 27, 2020 has caught several people by surprise (no pun intended). The law was created with the goal of shielding patients from receiving surprise medical bills after an emergency room or provider visit. Any disputes would now be left to their plan and provider to resolve via arbitration.

New York State of the State 2021 Calls for Proposal to Safeguard Data Security Rights

Last month as part of the State of the State 2021, Governor Cuomo announced a comprehensive law around personal data and privacy protections for New York state residents.

communications, data, data privacy, healthcare, mobile health, privacy, regulation, technologyRon LantonFebruary 3, 2021data privacy, personal data, New York, New York State of the State, biometric, health data, location data, digital marketplace, regulatory, California Privacy Rights and Enforcement Act

Jazz Pharmaceuticals Purchases GW Pharmaceuticals for $7.2 billion

Jazz Pharmaceuticals has announced that it will “acquire GW for $220.00 per American Depositary Share (ADS), in the form of $200.00 in cash and $20.00 in Jazz ordinary shares, for a total consideration of $7.2 billion, or $6.7 billion net of GW cash. The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.”

healthcare, life sciencesRon LantonFebruary 3, 2021Jazz Pharmaceuticals, GW Pharmaceuticals, Epidiolex, cannabis, regulatory

Lanton Strategies: D.C. Based Lobbying Firm with No State Boundaries

COVID-19 has changed the way that we interact in a variety of ways. One of them being the way that businesses large and small interact with the government. Gone are the days where we can meet people in person without having to worry about travel restrictions and COVID-19 protocol. What remains is that businesses still need to get their voices heard. This is where Lanton Strategies has a strategic advantage.