Health Care Law Blog
While most of the media attention related to medical marihuana has been focused on employment issues and the location of marihuana dispensaries, a Michigan physician is also receiving some press because of criminal charges recently filed against her.
On April 15, 2011, as part of a Drug Enforcement Agency ("DEA") investigation into Dr. Ruth A. Buck's potential prescription drug crimes, the DEA also charged Dr. Buck criminally with aiding and abetting the distribution of marihuana.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") announced that it will no longer accepting applications for its Early Retiree Reinsurance Program. Based upon the applications that CMS has accepted and the rate at which the available $5 Billion is being disbursed, the government projects that it will use up the full allotted $5 Billion which has been set aside to fund this temporary program.
Applications were first accepted on June 29, 2010 and the government is cutting off any further applications May 5, 2011.
A recent decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals imposes a substantial obstacle to enforcing contracts that prohibit physicians from soliciting or servicing patients after leaving employment or separating from a practice. Steiner v Bonanni (decided April 7, 2011).
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' ("CMS") long-awaited proposed regulations for the Medicare Shared Savings Program ("Regulation") were released on March 31, 2011. The Regulation is set to be published in tomorrow's (April 7th's) Federal Register. The Regulation is part of a coordinated effort among CMS, the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, the Federal Trade Commission, United States Department of Justice, and Internal Revenue Service to address the various legal issues facing the Accountable Care Organizations ("ACOs") that will participate in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. CMS is requesting comments through June 6, 2011, while the other agencies will accept public comment on their respective documents only through May 31, 2011.
