Lanton Law Blog — Lanton Law

Will Immunity Passports Lead to Future Genetic Discrimination?

There is no need to rehash the harsh societal effects that COVID-19 has had not only on our psychological and financial wellbeing, but also on the vulnerable population’s immune system. Those having to deal with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension have been especially at risk, including some young and healthy individuals. As we race to understand the rationale behind why such an erratic disease impacts some but not others, the question that frequently comes up is whether a person’s genes has something to do with becoming infected?

PBM U.S. Supreme Court Case Rescheduled for this Fall

We at Lanton Law along with many other pharmacy stakeholders have been closely monitoring the events surrounding the pending U.S. Supreme Court case of Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association.

The New Concerns of a Digital Workplace

We are honored to have worked with STACK for Pharmacy on a great and timely webinar titled “The New Concerns of a Digital Workplace. COVID-19 has changed the way that we work, communicate and transfer information and finances. We discuss the early trends of what we are seeing from a transitioning marketplace.

Lanton Law; Your Digital Lawyer & Lobbying Team

As organizational needs evolve right now, businesses are looking for innovative ways to become efficient and manage risks.

New Rule: Transition to BLA Pathway Is Complete

As of today, March 23, 2020, the life sciences industry completes “the transition.” New categories of biologics will now be licensed via the biologics approval pathway under the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). This transition occurs 10 years after the 2009 enactment of the BPCIA.

Election May Determine Pace of Biosimilar Legislation

We have a new article out with the Center for Biosimilars titled “Election May Determine Pace of Biosimilar Legislation.”

Legislation to Play Significant Role in Drug Pricing Across Specialty Pharmacy

Jennifer Nessel of Pharmacy Times has featured Lanton Law in an article titled “Legislation to Play Significant Role in Drug Pricing Across Specialty Pharmacy.”

Surprise Medical Billing: What is it and what’s being done to stop it?

Surprise medical billing is an issue that has been widespread for a while, but due to social media and more intense scrutiny, we are now seeing the effects of how common this problem is among patients accessing our healthcare system. According to a study by Kaiser “roughly 1 of every 6 emergency room visits and inpatient hospital stays in 2017, patients came home with at least one out-of-network medical bill.” The question is what is surprise medical billing?

Surprise medical bills generally have two components. The first component is the higher amount the patient owes under her health plan, reflecting the difference in cost-sharing levels between in-network and out-of-network services. The second component of surprise medical bills is an additional amount the physician or other provider may bill the patient directly, a practice known as “balance billing.”

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.

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

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