Health Law Strategists, LLC

Each week, HLS Founding Partner Jennifer Whitton and Associate Neena Molavi aggregate the weeks' most relevant healthcare industry news and updates to bring you the HLS #weeklywrap. Highlights from this week in healthcare include: + Reports emerge that Walgreens Boots Alliance is in talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners ?https://lnkd.in/eaY6aveh + Biotech company Nuvig Therapeutics Inc. Therapeutics raises $161 million Series B financing; aims to develop inflammatory and autoimmune disease therapeutics without immunosuppression https://lnkd.in/gxhqHG_v + Biotech venture firm Dimension raises $500 million fund to support companies working at “the interfaces of lice science and technology” https://lnkd.in/ePpSvsrN + Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System partners with Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, PBC Company https://lnkd.in/eU-9gGHa + Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy promulgates rule requiring out-of-state pharmacies to obtain nonresident drug store pharmacy license; pharmacies dispensing or shipping drugs into Massachusetts without this license after May 1, 2025 will be subject to prosecution and penalties https://lnkd.in/eGd5Pifx and https://lnkd.in/gd8XgCFC + Mount Nittany Health may pay $1.8 million to settle claims in online tracking technology suit if settlement is approved; claims allege Mount Nittany shared data with companies such as Google, Facebook and LinkedIn https://lnkd.in/eRFrhr7k + District Court judge blocks rule that allowed DACA recipients to obtain ACA health insurance; rule still in effect in all states besides the 19 that filed suit: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia https://lnkd.in/enNwgJGN + Senators introduce the Patients Before Monopolies Act, which would require healthcare companies that own health insurers or PBMs to sell pharmacy assets within three years https://lnkd.in/e4D3uiF9

That's a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + The shooting and death of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, rocks the healthcare world this week. Our thoughts go out to Brian’s family, friends and the United Healthcare family in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy. + Kaiser’s Risant Health acquires second nonprofit health system this year in deal with Cone Health https://lnkd.in/gutcCkht + CMS enters into agreements with manufacturers of sickle cell therapies Lyfgenia and Casgevy to participate in Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model https://lnkd.in/euB8pHeY + Roche enters definitive merger agreement with cell therapy developer Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. Therapeutics for $1 billion https://lnkd.in/ec5UsW-R + Boston Scientific to acquire medical device company Intera Oncology Inc. https://lnkd.in/ghCGpST8 + Amazon and digital musculoskeletal care company Hinge Health announce partnership https://lnkd.in/gyk-xvrf + UnitedHealthcare continues to exploit emergencies it created, as Optum scoops up distressed physician practices going under as a result of the Change Healthcare attack.?Editorial piece highlighting this phenomenon with Optum’s acquisition of Oregon medical practice here: https://lnkd.in/gdKxYC6a + Podiatrist and patient recruiter sentenced to 45 and 60 months, respectively, in prison and ordered to pay $7 million for fraudulently billing TRICARE for medically unnecessary prescriptions, kickbacks and bribes https://lnkd.in/gxb_jSEK + 4 defendants sentenced in $54.3 million Medicare fraud conspiracy; paid kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine providers to order medically unnecessary prescriptions https://lnkd.in/gZskMaKU + FDA issues guidance discussing plans to regulate AI medical devices; will allow for post-authorization changes using pre-determined change control plans (PCCPs) https://lnkd.in/dTwEhv_B

That's a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + The shooting and death of UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, rocks the healthcare world this week. Our thoughts go out to Brian’s family, friends and the United Healthcare family in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy. + Kaiser’s Risant Health acquires second nonprofit health system this year in deal with Cone Health https://lnkd.in/gutcCkht + CMS enters into agreements with manufacturers of sickle cell therapies Lyfgenia and Casgevy to participate in Cell and Gene Therapy Access Model https://lnkd.in/euB8pHeY + Roche enters definitive merger agreement with cell therapy developer Poseida Therapeutics, Inc. Therapeutics for $1 billion https://lnkd.in/ec5UsW-R + Boston Scientific to acquire medical device company Intera Oncology Inc. https://lnkd.in/ghCGpST8 + Amazon and digital musculoskeletal care company Hinge Health announce partnership https://lnkd.in/gyk-xvrf + UnitedHealthcare continues to exploit emergencies it created, as Optum scoops up distressed physician practices going under as a result of the Change Healthcare attack.?Editorial piece highlighting this phenomenon with Optum’s acquisition of Oregon medical practice here: https://lnkd.in/gdKxYC6a + Podiatrist and patient recruiter sentenced to 45 and 60 months, respectively, in prison and ordered to pay $7 million for fraudulently billing TRICARE for medically unnecessary prescriptions, kickbacks and bribes https://lnkd.in/gxb_jSEK + 4 defendants sentenced in $54.3 million Medicare fraud conspiracy; paid kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine providers to order medically unnecessary prescriptions https://lnkd.in/gZskMaKU + FDA issues guidance discussing plans to regulate AI medical devices; will allow for post-authorization changes using pre-determined change control plans (PCCPs) https://lnkd.in/dTwEhv_B

That’s a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + Following the nomination by President-elect Trump of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new federal Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), on Wednesday, Musk and Ramaswamy issued “The DOGE Plan to Reform Government” in a lengthy op-ed, spelling out how the duo plan to slash government spending. The pair said that rolling back a range of "illicit" regulations would create economic prosperity in the country. And they wrote that the move would be a major step in remedying what they deem to be "executive overreach."?The Plan, if implemented as envisioned, would almost certainly have a drastic impact on federal healthcare agencies and programs. Read here: https://lnkd.in/dvFAUeyz + In statement on Tuesday, Trump nominates cardiothoracic surgeon and TV personality Dr. Oz to oversee Medicare, Medicaid as CMS head. + Astrana Health signs definitive agreement to acquire Prospect Health System for $745 million https://lnkd.in/gTXzSwwJ + Cencora to acquire MSO Retina Consultants of America from Webster Equity Partners for $4.6 billion https://lnkd.in/gjS5ti6t + General Catalyst’s HATCo signed definitive agreement to acquire Ohio health system Summa Health for $485 million https://lnkd.in/ebtfyRKz + Tempus AI to acquire genetic testing company Ambry Genetics for $375 million in cash and $225 million in shares https://lnkd.in/gAh9Ju9b + Primary care player Forward is abruptly shutting down its operations, including closing its locations and shuttering its mobile app. The tech-enabled direct primary care business had raised more than $400 million from prominent investors. https://goforward.com/ + The Justice Department and three U.S. states filed a lawsuit on Tuesday to block UnitedHealth Group’s $3.3 billion purchase of Amedisys Inc over concern the deal would harm competition in the market for home health services.” https://lnkd.in/gj2eW54i

That’s a wrap on another week in #healthcare.?Here are some highlights: + Healthcare Dive provides an overview of initial healthcare industry reactions to the election results: https://lnkd.in/gyW5sMRa + Novant Health acquires UCI Medical Affiliates, includes 70+ urgent care and physical therapy clinics https://lnkd.in/eRMcyvim + Francisco Partners to acquire cloud-based medical office software provider AdvancedMD https://lnkd.in/d-tyvMV9 + Cleveland Clinic partners with AI-enabled chronic digestive disease care platform Ayble Health https://lnkd.in/gxHN4QHE + AdventHealth and Walmart open hybrid primary care clinic in Kentucky https://lnkd.in/eEYPxZWG + Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Medicare DSH payment calculation case; Justices appear split https://lnkd.in/eKQKvih2 + Telehealth company Cerebral settles allegations of unauthorized distribution of controlled substances for over $3.6 million https://lnkd.in/gxWChSiT + Medical center settles alleged Medicare and Stark Law violations for $14.2 million https://lnkd.in/ea-My7Jv + Georgia to receive more than $55 million to expand opioid treatment access as part of Kroger settlement; other states receiving similar amounts for a total of $1.37 billion https://lnkd.in/efTv2Ddk + CMS releases CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule https://lnkd.in/emTP-kNS + CMS releases CY 2025 OPPS and ASC Final Rule https://lnkd.in/ddDEBZc2 + AHA releases statement opposing two senators’ plan to impose site-neutral payments on hospitals https://lnkd.in/eDkuEC_s

Rachel King and Dr. Anjali Deshmukh (Georgia State University College of Law) covering the Supreme Court’s recent rulings overturning Chevron deference and the impact on healthcare in Georgia and nationally at the State Bar of Georgia Advanced Health Law seminar.

That’s a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Check out our highlights from the week below! + General Catalyst announces $8 billion in fundraising to be invested in healthcare startups https://lnkd.in/eYq-g9tq + Greenway Health partners with Red Cliff Community Health Center to meet tribal health center needs https://lnkd.in/emPXxvgs + Happy Health and EnsoData partner to offer at-home sleep monitoring and testing and access to sleep doctors https://lnkd.in/eNx7v3ck + Pennsylvania AG sues Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. for mismanagement and neglect of Crozer Health System; alleges broken Asset Purchase Agreement https://lnkd.in/eQcD3pA6 + Billing Company Owner pleads guilty to fraudulent billing practices, faces up to 20 years in prison https://lnkd.in/ekqWUGC9 + Texas doctor sentenced to 10 years in prison and ordered to pay over $34 million for prescribing DME and genetic tests without interacting with or treating patients. https://lnkd.in/eYJvBGVk + Massachusetts court rejects wiretap claims involving hospital’s use of internet tracking software https://lnkd.in/eHkdSdf4

That’s a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + Providence and Compassus to form joint home care venture https://lnkd.in/exmn4jva + Cleveland Clinic to collaborate with Amazon One Medical to open first primary care office in 2025 https://lnkd.in/edsf9Y5P ? + Amazon One Medical launches AI tool aimed at improving primary care https://lnkd.in/engeWNBd + Blue Shield of California and Salesforce partner to automate prior authorization solution https://lnkd.in/gXrKTum7 + Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System ink affiliation agreement; combination will serve over 425,000 members https://lnkd.in/eywcjvYW + Centene Corporation and Humana sue federal government over 2025 star ratings https://lnkd.in/es2zpijK; https://lnkd.in/e5vyUkqt + New York doctor charged with allegedly receiving kickbacks for medically unnecessary brain scans https://lnkd.in/e-dRWnJY + Senate report criticizes MA insurers for using AI to increase claims denials https://lnkd.in/em9UuK3H + OIG reports Medicare Part D paid millions for drugs eligible for Part A coverage https://lnkd.in/ef4JCDut + Coalition for Health AI releases framework for certifying independent assurance labs and standardizing Health AI testing https://lnkd.in/dPCCNBfh

That's a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + Maven Clinic raises $125 million in series F funding; now valued at $1.7 billion https://lnkd.in/eNiiMVeT + Henry Ford Health launches population heath non-profit https://lnkd.in/eNRrjK7q + Teva Pharmaceuticals to pay $450 million to settle alleged Anti-Kickback Statute and False Claims Act violations https://lnkd.in/esG-36B2 + Eight defendants charged with defrauding Medicaid of $68 million in adult day care and home health care scheme https://lnkd.in/eSy6Vn_J + GSK settles 80,000 Zantac product liability cases for up to $2.2 billion https://lnkd.in/ek9qFiUp + Charlotte, NC physician assistant receives six year prison sentence and ordered to pay $3.6 million for fraudulent prescriptions for genetic testing https://lnkd.in/efBzp_ip + California AG sues medical center for failing to continue services and maintain certifications https://lnkd.in/e9gUWfeK + UHC sues CMS for downgrading Medicare Advantage star ratings https://lnkd.in/ef_tDamu + CMS releases proposed rule that would increase oversight on exchange brokers https://lnkd.in/eP3_qeYV + CMS releases list of prescriptions to be included in new Medicare $2 Drug List Model https://lnkd.in/ed9NPdVa + GLP-1 drug tirzepatide shortage marked “resolved” by FDA https://lnkd.in/erxn6Swa + AHA opposes portions of HHS interoperability rule https://lnkd.in/eGvn9n9N

That's a wrap on another week in #healthcare. Highlights from the week include: + Gavin Newsom vetoes transaction review law that would have required California AG consent for certain health care transactions https://lnkd.in/esP2Hn6P + TPG Capital to take majority stake in Surescripts https://lnkd.in/es6t7n8q + Tenet Healthcare sells 70% ownership interest in Alabama hospitals to Orlando Health https://lnkd.in/egwGJ_Et + District Court finds False Claims Act qui tam provision unconstitutional https://lnkd.in/epPDdYd2 + Precision Toxicology d/b/a Precision Diagnostics agrees to $27 million settlement to resolve unnecessary drug testing and illegal remunerations allegations https://lnkd.in/dgkwP3is + Texas AI health tech company settles allegations of false and misleading statements about product accuracy and safety https://lnkd.in/ebwYfKgm + Senators urge FTC to investigate PBM “co-manufacturing” agreements https://lnkd.in/eTTu9eKu + Johnson & Johnson abandons planned 340B rebate change https://lnkd.in/eQ-sZj4z #healthcare #healthregulation #healthinnovation #340B #pharmacy