Keep the End in Sight: Expiration of the COVID-19 Declared Emergencies

Originally published in Healthcare Michigan, Volume 40, No.  3 As the year 2020 began, it would have been difficult for most Americans to imagine how life, as we knew it at that time, would change in the coming months and years. You likely recall generally, if not specifically, that on January 31, 2020, the Secretary of …

DOJ TARGETS COVID RELATED FRAUD

On March 10, 2022, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) appointed a Director for COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement.[1] As a part of this announcement, DOJ announced some of its priorities in Health Care Fraud enforcement. The priorities focus on kickbacks, utilizing the relaxed rules to bill for medically unnecessary or never performed services, vaccine-related fraud, and fraud …

Wait, Wait…Don’t Sell Me! FDA and Other Pre-Market Considerations for Commercial Products

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a consumer protection agency that ensures the safety and efficacy of certain products in the US, such as medical devices, drugs, and prescriptions, tobacco products, cosmetics, food, including animal food, and electronic products that emit radiation. Canada’s equivalent is Health Canada (HC) and focuses on helping Canadians maintain …

Temporary Relaxation of Supervision and Credential Requirements for Healthcare Providers

On March 29, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-30 temporarily suspending a number of supervision and credential requirements applicable to healthcare providers.  These changes are intended to remain in effect during the public health emergency resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and apply only to healthcare providers currently in possession of a license in …