SCOTUS Case Hinges on ‘Weapon of Choice’ for Targeting Healthcare Fraud
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week on whether major pharmacies illegally overbilled Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs, a case that could weaken a key law the federal government uses to stamp out fraud. The case before the high court hinges on two whistleblower cases brought under the False Claims Act, a 19th-century […]
Supreme Court Extends Stay on Abortion Pill Ruling
The Supreme Court extended a hold on a lower-court ruling on mifepristone until Friday, meaning the drug will remain broadly available for now. On Wednesday afternoon, hours before the stay on the lower-court ruling was expected to be lifted, Justice Samuel Alito extended the pause through Friday evening. Had the Supreme Court not extended the […]
High Court Considers Case Involving Medicaid Recipients’ Right to Sue the Program
WASHINGTON — A Medicaid case now being considered by the Supreme Court has the potential to erode the authority of the program, but one legal observer said that doesn’t appear to be the most likely outcome, based on oral arguments earlier this week. “It seemed like the justices understood” the implications of ruling for the […]
Abortion Post-Dobbs: Longer Travel Times, More Need for Self-Managed Care
Nearly 6 months since the Supreme Court decision overturned the federal right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortion access has dwindled, sending patients outside the formal healthcare system for care. Currently, more than a dozen states have instituted total bans on the procedure, and clinics in 15 states have stopped offering […]
Opinion | ‘Pill Mill’ Docs, You May Be in for a Big Scare
Last week, in an otherwise unremarkable order list, the Supreme Court remanded a case involving a “pill mill” doctor to a lower court for further consideration, in a move that could impact previous precedent-setting decisions on prescribing liability. The ultimate decision in the case, Santos, Medardo Q. v. United States (Santos), will have important implications […]
Companies Could Face Hurdles Covering Abortion Travel Costs
After the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the federal right to an abortion that’s been in place for half a century, companies like Amazon, Disney, Apple and JP Morgan pledged to cover travel costs for employees who live in states where the procedure is now illegal so they can terminate pregnancies. But the companies gave scant […]
High Court Sides With Docs Accused of ‘Pill Mill’ Operations
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ruled unanimously in support of two doctors convicted of prescribing opioids without a “legitimate” medical purpose, arguing that there should be a higher standard of proof in prosecuting such cases. A provision of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) declares it a federal crime for a person to knowingly […]
Interactive Map: Abortion Bans and Penalties
Since last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe, MedPage Today has updated its interactive map to show where abortion bans have gone into effect. The map still details the penalties providers face in each state. Below are additional details on abortion bans that have gone into effect […]
What It Would Take For Abortion Rights To Be Codified Into U.S. Law
With the Supreme Court poised to roll the clock back half a century on abortion, codifying Roe v. Wade just became alarmingly urgent for those who believe a person has the right to terminate their pregnancy. The landmark Roe decision legalized abortion on a national scale when it was handed down in 1973, but there’s […]
Opinion | Can You Be Held Liable for Prescribing Opioids in Good Faith?
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will impact how doctors can treat patients where opioids are involved. The threshold question in Ruan v. United States, which came to the Supreme Court from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, is when the care a doctor provides […]