Lanton Law Blog — Lanton Law

Bi-Partisan Political Controversy Surrounding Cashless Stores

On January 30th, the U.S. House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing titled “Is Cash Still King? Reviewing the Rise of Mobile Payments.” The Committee headed by Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) held this hearing to determine whether businesses should be allowed or prohibited from refusing cash payments in stores. The policy rationale behind the debate is whether cashless stores would have the unintended consequences of harming marketplace access for low-income Americans who do not have a bank account.

Lanton Law Presents at New York Bar Association's 2020 Annual Meeting

Lanton Law made a presentation on biosimilars at the New York Bar Association’s 2020 Annual Meeting in NYC.

healthcare, life sciences, biologics, BiosimilarsRon LantonFebruary 3, 2020biosimilars, biologics, New York Bar Association

Litigation Involving the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act May Hold the Key to Future Biometric Policy

The Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act enacted in 2008 was an important first step in developing policy on biometrics. According to the law, a private entity possessing biometric information accessible to the public must have a retention schedule and policy for permanently destroying biometric information. Additionally, there are restrictions on how a private entity may collect, capture, purchase, receive through trade, or otherwise obtain a person's or a customer's biometric identifier or biometric information. Most importantly, this law requires obtaining written consent prior to collecting biometric information as the law provides a private right of action for anyone injured under the Act.

Amazon’s Hand Scanning Points to the Need for Biometrics Policy

Recently, we have learned of Amazon’s new hand scanning idea to revolutionize consumer interactions via fintech. The idea would involve creating a payment system that would biometrically scan a user’s hand to transfer payment from the user to Amazon, instead of via a credit card, phone application or cash. New point of sale terminals equipped with this technology would be placed in brick and mortar stores so that customers can “travel lighter” by not having to worry about carrying physical payment forms.

Will California’s Bold Proposal to Manufacture its Own Generic Drugs Be the Answer to Lower Prescription Drug Costs?

California’s Governor Newsom (D-CA) has made a bold budgetary proposal to become the first state in the Union to manufacture its own generic prescription drug label. The purpose behind this is to make affordable medications accessible to the state’s 40 million residents.

Seattle's New Campaign Finance Law Could Be a Sign of Things to Come

As new political alliances emerge and populism continues to push political parties to make faster adjustments, companies need to take a fresh look at how they engage with the political system in order to convey company priorities and goals. Political trends happen in small doses before they spread quickly, which is what St. Petersburg, Florida and now Seattle, Washington may be demonstrating.

Lanton Law Quoted in Pharmacy Times Article on Rutledge v. PCMA

We were quoted in the recent Pharmacy Times article titled “Supreme Court to Rule on States’ Right to Regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers.”

healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonJanuary 13, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA

Can Rhode Island Serve As A Model for Digital Currency in Today’s Worldwide Changing Marketplace?

This year Rhode Island has shown why it is one of the early adopter states of acknowledging and strategizing for a blockchain future.

Georgia Supreme Court Sets Data Breach Precedent

In 2016, the Athens Orthopedic Clinic in Georgia was hacked by an anonymous hacking group called the “Dark Overlord.” The group’s action caused a major data breach and affected approximately 200,000 patients. The information obtained involved social security numbers, health insurance information, birth dates, and addresses.

healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, technology, fintechRon LantonDecember 27, 2019data privacy, privacy

Pharmacy Times Recaps Lanton Law's NASP Presentation on the FDA Biosimilars Action Plan

During the 2019 National Association of Specialty Pharmacy Annual Meeting and Expo, Ron Lanton III, Esq, reviewed the FDA Biosimilars Action Plan, its implications for the biosimilar marketplace, recent legislation set to influence the biosimilar pathway and drug accessibility, and the future of the biosimilar market.

Federal Privacy Laws Are Currently in the Making

In preparation for 2020, Lanton Law is forecasting that it is more likely than not that some form of federal privacy legislation will become law in 2020. One proposed legislative candidate for privacy in 2020 is the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act (COPRA).

Conflicting CBD Activity Calls for Increased Compliance and Business Planning

Lanton Law gave a December 2019 webinar with the American College of Apothecaries ACA on CBD. Since then we have seen two significant developments.

healthcare, home infusion, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonDecember 26, 2019CBD, hemp, New York, FDA

Texas v. United States (An ACA Ruling)

On December 18, 2019 the industry witnessed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issue its ruling, which found that while the individual mandate is unconstitutional, the federal district court must decide on whether the remaining portion of the ACA could remain intact.

New Draft Importation Rule Released

A new pilot program that allows states to import from Canada and allow manufacturers to voluntarily import has been announced via a draft rule through HHS and the FDA. The program would give states and nonfederal government entities the ability to import from Canada by applying to the FDA. Higher priced drugs such as biologics are not included in the draft rule.

healthcare, importation, home infusion, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, biologicsRon LantonDecember 23, 2019importation, Canada

U.S. Solicitor General Advocates for writ of certiorari to be granted in Rutledge v. PCMA

One case that pharmacy stakeholders have been closely monitoring is Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

Not knowing what’s in your contracts can stop your business expansion

No matter if you are a hospital, physician, pharmacist, manufacturer, SAAS or Health IT provider, the lifeblood of your business is in your contracts. As an attorney what amazes me time after time is how contracts are often overlooked by businesses.

healthcare, HealthIT, home infusion, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, technologyRon LantonDecember 15, 2019contracts

Lanton Law Quoted in New Medscape Article On Biosimilar Insulin

A new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy may help get novel biosimilar insulins to market more quickly, but it will be no guarantee that the products will be significantly less expensive than branded insulins, say analysts.

healthcare, CMS, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, home infusionRon LantonDecember 11, 2019insulin, FDA, Congress, insurance, biosimilars, biologics

CMS Star Ratings: Will Biosimilars Benefit?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings system was created in 2007 for insurance plans operating under both the Medicare Advantage and Part D. This 1 to 5 system (with 5 being the highest rating) is a way for CMS to measure the value of a plan and determine whether to continue to allow it to be part of the program. However, it’s more than just the plan, since the plan’s providers play a key role in how CMS evaluates each plan.

Congress, CMS, healthcare, home infusion, life sciences, pharmacy, pharmaceuticalsRon LantonDecember 5, 2019CMS, Star Ratings, Congress

Lanton Law December 2019 Newsletter Now Available

We are out with our December 2019 newsletter. This edition covers data oversight, a Medicaid white paper and upcoming webinars.

healthcare, home infusion, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, technologyRon LantonDecember 2, 2019newsletter

Don’t Ignore the Steady Drumbeat of Drug Importation Part 2

Back in April 2019 we published an article through Specialty Pharmacy Times titled “Don’t Ignore the Steady Drumbeat of Drug Importation?” Click here to read the article

However; we have been noticing lately that there is a lot more chatter on importation, especially from the Administration.

healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonDecember 1, 2019importation, prescription drugs, FDA