Lanton Law Blog — Lanton Law

Psychedelic mushrooms take a policy step forward

In what has surprised many cannabis stakeholders it seems as though the November 2020 elections is bringing a new therapeutic item into the mainstream healthcare policy conversation: psychedelic mushrooms via ballot box initiatives.

cannabis, CBD, healthcare, medical marijuana, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, psychedelic mushroomsRon LantonNovember 7, 2020psychedelic mushrooms, ballot initiative, District of Columbia, Measure 110, Measure 109, Initiative 81, Oregon

Lanton Law & Private Equity

With increasing mergers and acquisitions in both the technology and healthcare sectors, investment opportunities abound for funds and interested stakeholders. In order for these stakeholders to be successful it is essential to know the limits and opportunities within a complex regulatory landscape.

Lanton Law Opens Cannabis Practice

Lanton Law believes that the cannabis market will continue to evolve and expand. Notwithstanding this market potential is the fact that medical and adult-use cannabis operations are confronted with a complex patchwork of state and federal laws and regulations that we assist a variety of businesses with.

cannabis, CBD, FDA, FTC, healthcare, banking, medical marijuana, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, USDARon LantonOctober 9, 2020cannabis, CBD, marijuana, medical marijuana, regulation, dispensary, recreational marijuana, adult-use marijuana

Lanton Law Follow Up Interview with Law360

Lanton Law had a follow up interview with Law360 regarding the Rutledge v. PCMA Supreme Court oral arguments on October 6, 2020.

healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonOctober 7, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law Quoted in Law360 Article on Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law was quoted in Law360’s article titled “High Court to Weight States’ Ability to Rein in Drug Middlemen,” which was written in response to current developments around the Rutledge v. PCMA case.

U.S. Supreme Court, healthcare, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, insuranceRon LantonOctober 6, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA

Where Do Biden & Trump Stand On The Issues?

With election season underway many are wondering where the two Presidential candidates stand on the issues of importance to voters.

Reuters did a great summary found here that explains the major differences from the economy, trade, healthcare, etc.

New York Comptroller finds $605 million in unnecessary costs to the Medicaid program

The New York Comptroller recently released the results of an audit titled “Medicaid Program-Cost of Pharmacy Services Under Managed Care.” The audit covered the period January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019.

healthcare, legislation, Long term care pharmacy, LTC, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, insuranceRon LantonSeptember 24, 2020New York Medicaid, New York Comptroller, Medicaid, MCO, drug formulary, carve out

Lanton Law to Attend 9/14-9/18 2020 NASP Annual Meeting & Expo Virtual Experience

Ron Lanton; Principal of Lanton Law addresses the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy on emerging specialty issues.

biologics, biotechnology, healthcare, home infusion, insurance, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacyRon LantonSeptember 12, 2020pharmacy, specia

Long Term Care Pharmacy (LTC) Legislation Introduced Aimed at Defining LTC Pharmacy

The Long-Term Care Pharmacy Definition Act of 2020 has been introduced by U.S. Senator Scott (R-SC) and co-sponsored by Senator Warner (D-VA). The bill has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Mullin (R-OK) and Congressman Schrader (D-OR). The bill seeks to establish a clear statutory definition of long term care pharmacy.

LTC, Long term care pharmacy, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, government affairs, Congress, legislationRon LantonJuly 29, 2020LTC, Long term care pharmacy

Lanton Law Speaks with Pharmacy Times about U.S. Supreme Court Case Rutledge v. PCMA & Its Implication on Pharmacy Policy

Lanton Law was interviewed by Pharmacy Times on the implications of the October 6, 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case of Rutledge v. PCMA.

healthcare, government affairs, Medicare Part D, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costs, reimbursement, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonJuly 27, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA, U.S. Supreme Court, Kentucky Pharmacy Law, Georgia Pharmacy Law, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, reimbursement

New Executive Order Aimed at Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

The White House has released an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen.”

reimbursement, prescription drug costs, pharmacy benefit manager, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, Medicare Part D, insurance, HHS, life sciences, healthcareRon LantonJuly 27, 2020Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, safe harbor, Medicare D, Medicaid, HHS

White House Issues Executive Order Advocating for Importation

The White House has issued an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Increasing Drug Importation to Lower Prices for American Patients,” which seeks to advocate for having supply chain entities proceed with importation.

drug price, HHS, importation, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, reimbursementRon LantonJuly 27, 2020drug price, Executive Order on Increasing Drug Importation to Lower Prices for American Patients, importation, Canada, HHS

The Administration Releases Executive Order Targeting Insulin and Injectable Epinephrine via 340B

The White House has announced a few Executive Orders targeting healthcare. One Executive Order titled Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-saving Medications targets insulin and injectable epinephrine by requiring federally qualified community health centers to pass through 340B program discounts to patients using insulin and epinephrine auto-injectors.

HHS, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, reimbursement, hospitals, drug priceRon LantonJuly 27, 2020340B, insulin, epinephrine, HHS, FQHC, insurance, Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-Saving Medications

This Week in Washington D.C.

It is widely anticipated this week that negotiation on another stimulus bill will begin on Capitol Hill. The backdrop of these negotiations are that we are starting to see an alarming increase in the number of COVID-19 infections nationwide, along with the fact that enhanced unemployment benefits that were approved in March 2020 will expire this week for many states without Congressional action to extend these benefits. The question is will we see another COVID-19 relief package that is similar to the CARES Act?

finance, healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, CongressRon LantonJuly 20, 2020economy, economic relief, COVID-19, CARES Act, Heroes Act, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate

New Telehealth Legislation Introduced In the U.S. House of Representatives

Lanton Law has been monitoring the state and federal policy developments with telehealth/telemedicine. We have noticed a newly introduced Congressional bill that is on point.

CMS, HHS, telemedicine, telehealth, pharmacy, Medicare, HealthITRon LantonJuly 17, 2020Medicare, Telehealth, Telemedicine, CMS, COVID-19, Protecting Access to Post-Covid-19 Telehealth Act

Update on Closely the Watched U.S. Supreme Court Case of Rutledge v. PCMA

We have been providing occasion updates through our blog on the U.S. Supreme Court case of Rutledge v. PCMA, whose outcome could have wide ranging policy and legal ramifications on pharmacy and pharmacy benefit managers.

CMS, healthcare, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit managerRon LantonJuly 16, 2020Pharmacy Benefit Manager, pharmacy, Rutledge v. PCMA, U.S. Supreme Court

New Lanton Law Specialty Drug Blogcast with Ken Kaitin of Tufts University

We are excited to interview Kenneth Kaitin; Professor and Director for the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.

biologics, Biosimilars, healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, CMS, FDA, fintechRon LantonJune 2, 2020orphan drugs, oncology, value based care, innovative payment models, R&D, Boston, Tufts University, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development

Pharmacy Times Interviews Lanton Law On How COVID-19 May Lead to the Expansion of Practice Laws for Pharmacists Across the Country

Alana Hippensteele; Editor, MA of Pharmacy Times interviewed Ron Lanton to discuss how COVID-19 may lead to expansion of practice laws for pharmacists across the country.

Online Political Advertising Legislation to be Introduced

U.S. Congressman Cicilline (D-RI) has announced his intent to introduce legislation “that tightly restricts the use of personal, online consumer data that is often used to ‘microtarget’ voters with misleading ads.”

Congress, data privacy, healthcare, HealthIT, life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, tech, technology, government affairsRon LantonMay 25, 2020ads, political ads, Cicilline, microtargeting, Protecting Democracy from Disinformation Act, lobbying

Lanton Law Interviews the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association on DIR & Provider Status

We are excited to have Lindsay De Santis; Executive Vice President of the Massachusetts Pharmacists Association (MPhA) do a blogcast with us. Our conversation covers pharmacy DIR (direct and indirect remuneration) fees, pharmacy provider status and COVID-19.

life sciences, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, reimbursement, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part DRon LantonMay 19, 2020DIR fee, DIR, direct and indirect remuneration fees, pharmacy provider status, provider status, COVID-19, Massachusetts, Massachusetts Pharmacists Association