Digital Health & Technology

  • October 15, 2024

    Law Firms Diverge As Anti-ESG Pushback Continues

    A continuing onslaught of legislation and litigation opposing corporate environmental, social and governance actions has created a fork in the road for law firms, with some choosing to scale back efforts and others pushing ahead with their internal ESG and diversity, equity and inclusion goals.

  • October 09, 2024

    Judge OKs $9M Data Hack Deal, Asks How Public Views Fees

    A Washington federal judge on Wednesday approved an $8.8 million settlement that ended a consolidated data breach class action against a Hearst Health unit, but not before pondering how the public might perceive the deal, in which one-third of the money is going toward legal costs.

  • October 09, 2024

    Philips Preserves Lanham Act Counterclaim In CPAP Cleaner MDL

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has trimmed some counterclaims by Koninklijke Philips NV and its American affiliates against SoClean Inc., whose cleaning products they say are responsible for damage to Philips' CPAP machines.

  • October 08, 2024

    Apple Loses Bid For Jury Trial In Masimo Trade Secrets Fight

    A California federal judge on Monday granted Masimo's request for a bench trial to address its trade secrets claims against Apple, noting that bench trials are almost always granted in situations where the plaintiff is seeking only equitable relief, and Apple hasn't convinced the court to deviate from that norm.

  • October 08, 2024

    Abridge GC Talks AI's Future In Healthcare Industry

    Interfacing with artificial intelligence at your doctor's office is going to eventually feel as natural as turning on a tap to get running water. Tim Hwang, general counsel at generative AI company Abridge, shares his thoughts on the technology's future in healthcare.

  • October 07, 2024

    Mednax Gets Final OK For $6M Data Breach Settlement

    A Florida federal judge on Friday gave the green light to Mednax's $6 million settlement putting to rest a proposed class action accusing the medical provider of failing to adequately protect patients' personal information from a 2020 phishing attack, calling the deal "fair, reasonable and adequate."

  • October 03, 2024

    Dental Laser Co. Can Tap $5M DIP For Swift Ch. 11 Sale Plans

    Biolase Inc., which makes laser systems used by dentists, received a Delaware bankruptcy judge's approval Thursday to access $1.4 million of an up to $5 million debtor-in-possession package as it plans for a quick sale in Chapter 11.

  • October 02, 2024

    Colo. Judge Sees No Injuries In Health Data Breach Class Suit

    A Colorado federal judge has dismissed a proposed class action alleging a software company waited nearly three months to tell data breach victims about hackers accessing personal and medical information for more than 250,000 people, concluding the plaintiffs' allegations weren't enough to give them standing.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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. 

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Expert Analysis

  • How Contractors Can Avoid Cybersecurity FCA Violations

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    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.

  • EU Regulation Highlights AI Issues For Digital Health Cos.

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    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.

  • What DOJ Enforcement Shift Means For Life Sciences Cos.

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    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.

  • Ransomware Payment Lessons Amid DOJ Recovery Success

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    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.

  • What's Next For DOJ's COVID Enforcement In Health Care

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    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.

  • How To Minimize Risk When Launching Smart Medical Devices

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    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.

  • Health Issues To Watch In Inflation Act, Other Policy Initiatives

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    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.

  • DOJ Filing Reawakens Fraud-On-The-FDA Theory Of Liability

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    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.

  • Digital Health Cos. Should Expect More Scrutiny Amid Growth

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    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.

  • Anti-Kickback Circuit Split Holds Implications For Defendants

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    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.

  • Post-Dobbs HHS Guidance Brings Privacy Considerations

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    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, and ensuing guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will create new privacy compliance issues for health care providers and other companies collecting personal information concerning the use of reproductive health services, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • HHS Fraud Alert Is A Major Warning To Telehealth Industry

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    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently issued a rare fraud alert, indicating potential changes in telemedicine enforcement, and suggesting that digital health entities are likely to face subpoenas, civil investigative demands and other inquiries, say attorneys at Hooper Lundy.

  • FDA Medical Device Cyber Guidance Protects Patients, Cos.

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    By carefully following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations on cybersecurity for medical devices — including its latest guidance on premarket submissions — and anticipating, tracking and fixing vulnerabilities, manufacturers can reduce risks to patients, as well as their own risks of product liability and data breach claims, say attorneys at Dechert.