Legal and practical healthcare information.
On May 13, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a public Request for Information to “identify and eliminate outdated or unnecessary regulations.” The 60-day public comment period opened earlier this week and encourages stakeholders to submit their ideas for deregulatory actions. According …
Continue reading “Breaking: FDA, HHS Seek Public Input on Cutting Rules”
Previously published in Healthcare News and Healthcare Michigan Can you remember healthcare security 20+ years ago? It seems like a different world from now. Believe it or not, the HIPAA Security Rule has barely changed since it was first enacted in 2003[1]and has been long overdue for a significant remodel. Read on for highlights of the proposed new …
Continue reading “‘Security! Security!’ HHS Proposes Updates To HIPAA’s Security Rule”
As part of a three-part series. Read the first installment here and the second installment here. In 2024, the Arizona legislature passed five new Arizona laws directly affecting behavioral health care in Arizona. These laws run the gamut between refining definitions, requiring peer specialist trainings, new requirements for court-ordered evaluation and treatment, increased retention of …
Continue reading “Arizona’s New Behavioral Healthcare Laws – Part 3”
As part of a three-part series. Read the first installment here. In 2024, the Arizona legislature passed five new Arizona laws directly affecting behavioral health care in Arizona. These laws run the gamut between refining definitions, requiring peer specialist trainings, new requirements for court-ordered evaluation and treatment, increased retention of documentation, and expanding guardians’ rights. …
Continue reading “Arizona’s New Behavioral Healthcare Laws – Part 2”
As part of a three-part series In 2024, the Arizona legislature passed five new Arizona laws directly affecting behavioral health care in Arizona. These laws run the gamut between refining definitions, requiring peer specialist trainings, new requirements for court-ordered evaluation and treatment, increased retention of documentation, and expanding guardians’ rights. In this three-part series, you …
Continue reading “Arizona’s New Behavioral Healthcare Laws – Part 1”
One interstate compact you may not have heard of yet that could be very helpful for the behavioral health field is the Interstate Compact for Counselor Licensure. As of August 4, 2022, the Counselor Compact now has 17 members – Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia (the first state to enact the Counseling Compact), Kentucky, Louisiana, …
On June 22, 2022, via the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released its “Telehealth and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Era of COVID-19: Review and Recommendations” (Guidance). While this publication does not have the force of law, it is clear direction to legislators …
Continue reading “White House issues recommendations on telehealth and SUD services – Part II”
In June 2022, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), via the Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association, released its “Telehealth and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Era of COVID-19: Review and Recommendations” (the “SUD Recommendations”). Although this publication does not have the force of law, it provides clear directions to …
Continue reading “White House Issues Recommendations on Telehealth and SUD services”
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently released an unpublished memorandum decision in the landmark mental parity case of Wit v. United Behavioral Health. In this decision, the Ninth Circuit reversed the district court’s order requiring UBH to reprocess more than 60,000 claims that had initially been denied for not meeting …
Continue reading “Updates to Wit v. United Behavioral Health”
Erica Erman and Gregory Moore discussed some of the top developments in behavioral health during Dickinson Wright’s Health Law Summit. Below is a summary of what was discussed. Click here to view the full webinar. Table of Contents Development #1: New Trends in Parity Enforcement Recent Litigation, Including Wit v. United Behavioral Health Development #2: …