Digital Health & Technology
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October 02, 2024
Dental Laser Maker Biolase Hits Ch. 11 With $33M In Debt
Biolase, a manufacturer of lasers used in dental procedures, is seeking bankruptcy protection in Delaware, and has disclosed roughly $33 million in debt and a $14 million stalking horse offer for its assets, citing financial challenges that it said stemmed from slow market adoption of new technology and economic headwinds.
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October 02, 2024
ExecuPharm Agrees To Pay Ransomware Victims $10K Each
U.S. pharmaceutical giant ExecuPharm will pay victims of a data breach up to $10,000 in reimbursements, compensation for lost time, three years of credit monitoring, and $675,000 in attorney fees after a Pennsylvania federal judge gave his final approval to a class action settlement.
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October 01, 2024
Jefferson Health Can't Ditch Suit Over Meta Data Sharing
A Pennsylvania federal judge has refused to toss a proposed class action accusing Jefferson Health of unlawfully sharing patients' confidential health information with Meta Platforms Inc., finding that the plaintiffs had cured prior deficiencies to adequately support their wiretap and privacy claims.
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October 01, 2024
NC Hospital Hit With More Class Claims Over Data Breach
Columbus Regional Healthcare System's legal woes have worsened with more privacy breach claims filed against it by patients whose personal information was exposed by a May 2023 cyberattack on the healthcare provider's network.
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October 01, 2024
FDA Offers Road Map For Remote Trials, But Questions Linger
New federal guidance may encourage drug and medical device companies to carry out more of their research in decentralized, remote clinical trials, allowing them to enroll a more diverse set of participants but generating new legal questions.
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September 27, 2024
9th Circ. Says Stem Cell Treatment Not Exempt From FDA Rule
Two California clinics' experimental stem cell treatments are "drugs" subject to Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act regulations, the Ninth Circuit ruled Friday, reviving the federal government's bid to stop the clinic from marketing the products as cures for certain diseases without U.S. Food and Drug Administration review.
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September 26, 2024
HHS Flags Ransomware Rise In New Deal With Wash. Provider
A Washington state-based healthcare provider has agreed to pay $250,000 and boost its data security to resolve the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service's enforcement action over a 2017 ransomware attack, amid what the agency said has been a steep rise in reports of such cyberattacks over the past six years.
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September 26, 2024
Senate Bill Calls For Stronger Healthcare Cyber Standards
Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation Thursday aiming to better protect patient health information and avoid cyberattacks by strengthening cybersecurity standards, months after a highly publicized data breach earlier this year of a UnitedHealth unit that lacked basic security measures like two-factor authentication.
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September 25, 2024
UpHealth Wins Most Of $115M Award In Glocal Merger Dispute
Bankrupt digital health services company UpHealth can enforce a large part of a $115 million arbitral award against the Indian healthcare services platform Glocal in their feud over an ill-fated merger, an Illinois federal judge has ruled.
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September 25, 2024
Buffalo-Based Cyber Law Pro Joins Pierson Ferdinand
Fast-growing virtual law firm Pierson Ferdinand LLP announced that an experienced cybersecurity attorney with a focus on the healthcare industry joined as a partner based in Buffalo, New York.
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September 24, 2024
Google Can't Ditch Privacy Suit Over Period App Data Sharing
A California federal judge has refused to release Google from a proposed class action alleging the company used a data analytics tool to wrongfully retrieve data from menstruation tracking app Flo, rejecting the tech giant's arguments that the plaintiffs lacked standing and had consented to the disclosures.
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September 24, 2024
Philips Must Face Investor Suit Over FDA Compliance Issues
Health technology company Koninklijke Philips and its former CEO cannot escape a suit accusing them of misleading investors about the safety and compliance of its subsidiary's sleep and respiratory care products, which were recalled in 2021, but its chief financial officer and a former CEO of a Philips subsidiary were allowed to exit the case for good.
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September 24, 2024
Healthcare's AI Integration Is In Limbo As Laws Lag Behind
As healthcare organizations look to incorporate artificial intelligence into their systems, they're coming across a unique problem: They're ahead of the rules.
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September 24, 2024
2nd Circ. Partly Revives Suit Over $18.5B Telehealth Deal
The Second Circuit on Tuesday partially revived a suit against telehealth company Teladoc Health Inc. brought by investors who claim they were misled about the status of its integration with Livongo following their $18.5 billion merger.
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September 23, 2024
Medical Records Co. Accused Of Blocking Data Access
A company that helps insurance providers access patient data on Monday accused medical records company Epic Systems Corp. of violating antitrust law by using its monopoly over electronic health records to squash an emerging competitor.
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September 20, 2024
Fla. Judge Trims Health Co. Data Breach MDL
The Florida federal judge overseeing the multidistrict litigation of a health benefits administration company impacted by a data breach dismissed several state consumer law claims but said those who brought lawsuits can sue, saying they've plausibly alleged injuries after their personal information was allegedly stolen by a cybercriminal group.
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September 19, 2024
Outcome Exec Who Flipped Gets 7 Months For $1B Fraud Role
A former Outcome Health sales chief who was charged with helping to carry out a $1 billion fraud, but cooperated early and testified against his co-defendants, received seven months in prison Thursday for his role in the scheme.
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September 17, 2024
HIMSS Legal Chief Reflects On Balancing AI, Legal Risk
As artificial intelligence finds itself taking up a large role in the healthcare industry, experts say they're watching closely to see how potential regulations are set to shape the industry, especially as the technology is expected to outpace legal frameworks.
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September 13, 2024
The 2024 Regional Powerhouses
The law firms on Law360's list of 2024 Regional Powerhouses reflected the local peculiarities of their states while often representing clients in deals and cases that captured national attention.
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September 13, 2024
23andMe Inks $30M Data Breach Deal With 6.4M Users In MDL
Personal genomics company 23andMe has reached a $30 million settlement to resolve multidistrict class action litigation on behalf of more than 6 million customers whose personal data was stolen and in some cases leaked onto the dark web, according to a California federal court filing Thursday.
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September 11, 2024
Health Co. Owes $65M For Breach Of Medical Data, Nude Pics
Pennsylvania-based healthcare company Lehigh Valley Health Network will pay $65 million to individuals who had their private information, including cancer patients' nude images, exposed in a data breach, the plaintiffs' lawyers announced Wednesday.
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September 10, 2024
Amazon Must Trim 'Halo' TM For EU Market
Amazon Technologies could not convince the EU's intellectual property office to let it register trademarks for "halo" unscathed, with the office backing a Californian health technology company's bid to trim key protections for medical monitoring devices and health assessment services.
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September 10, 2024
Nelson Mullins Adds Baker Donelson Health Pro In Houston
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP has continued expanding a Houston shop that opened months ago by bringing on a healthcare attorney from Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz PC whose wide-ranging practice has included representing hospitals and other providers on cybersecurity and related issues.
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September 09, 2024
House OKs Bill To Bar Contracts With Chinese Biotech Cos.
Driven by concerns about U.S. genetic data being shared with the Chinese government, House lawmakers passed a bill on Monday to bar federal agencies from buying certain biotechnology linked to the Chinese government or from contracting with firms that use those products.
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September 06, 2024
Glioblastoma Org. Wants End To Rival's Use Of 'GBM'
The Glioblastoma Foundation has hit a competing nonprofit with a suit alleging that the group's use of the initials "GBM" in its name has ripped off its trademark and sown confusion among donors who can't tell the two organizations apart.
Expert Analysis
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Unpacking FDA's Final Clinical Decision Support Guidance
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's latest guidance on clinical decision support software introduces new concepts, questions and ambiguities, and may be challenging to implement in practice, say attorneys at Covington.
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How Cos. Can Adapt To Global AI Regulation Trends
Companies can prepare for the future of artificial intelligence regulation by monitoring proposed and existing regulations both in the U.S. and abroad, tailoring their internal compliance architecture for AI-specific risks, and looking for opportunities to lead on governance issues, says Nicholas Diamond at Jackson Walker.
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4 Strategies For Drafting Effective Consumer Breach Notices
Businesses should consider key strategies when drafting consumer breach notification letters, such as knowing their audience and what is on their mind, and prioritizing user-friendliness and tone, say attorneys at Troutman Pepper.
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How Contractors Can Avoid Cybersecurity FCA Violations
Recent U.S. Department of Justice settlements and remarks underscore heightened focus on cybersecurity liability under the False Claims Act, so government contractors should consider compliance measures such as conducting periodic risk assessments, being responsive to employee concerns, and more, say attorneys at WilmerHale.
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EU Regulation Highlights AI Issues For Digital Health Cos.
As the regulation of artificial intelligence is high on the agenda for EU and U.K. policymakers and regulators, and likely imminent in the U.S., now is the time for providers in the digital health space to consider how compliance may need to change, and safeguard their position in the market, say Chris Eastham and Olivia Morgan at Fieldfisher.
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What DOJ Enforcement Shift Means For Life Sciences Cos.
Though monitoring life science company compliance has historically been the domain of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, recent trends suggest that the U.S. Department of Justice may be assuming a primary role going forward, raising interesting questions for the industry, say attorneys at Skadden.
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Ransomware Payment Lessons Amid DOJ Recovery Success
The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent successes clawing back ransom payments made to hacking groups provide companies an additional factor to consider when deciding whether to engage with law enforcement after experiencing a breach, whether to pay a ransom demand, and whether to try to recover the payment, says Tyler Bridegan at Wiley.
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What's Next For DOJ's COVID Enforcement In Health Care
As we enter the end of the third year of the pandemic, a few fraud-related trends and risks have emerged, necessitating important steps that health care and life sciences companies should take in light of continuing U.S. Department of Justice scrutiny, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.
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How To Minimize Risk When Launching Smart Medical Devices
Prior to launching a smart medical device, there are several critical steps that companies can take in order to protect their intellectual property, get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and ensure the safety of their data, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.
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Health Issues To Watch In Inflation Act, Other Policy Initiatives
The newly signed Inflation Reduction Act includes a number of significant drug pricing reforms, and the future holds a wider array of health issues that may be addressed in pending legislation when Congress returns in September, says Miranda Franco at Holland & Knight.
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DOJ Filing Reawakens Fraud-On-The-FDA Theory Of Liability
The U.S. Department of Justice’s recent statement of interest in U.S. ex rel. Crocano v. Trividia Health before a Florida federal court represents a substantial attempt to revive a False Claims Act liability theory involving misstatements to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of medical products, say attorneys at Duane Morris.
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Digital Health Cos. Should Expect More Scrutiny Amid Growth
As the digital health market continues to flourish, the privacy and security of patient data has become a focus of legislative, regulatory and interest group action, and developers should be motivated to reassure both regulators and consumers that users' data is adequately protected, say attorneys at Kirkland.
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Anti-Kickback Circuit Split Holds Implications For Defendants
The Eighth Circuit's recent decision in U.S. v. D.S. Medical represents a significant step toward holding plaintiffs to more exacting burdens of proof in Anti-Kickback Statute False Claims Act suits, and the outcome of the resulting circuit split could decrease estimated damages for defendants, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.