Insights

Washington – July 22, 2022:  Crowell & Moring is advising Amazon on health care and related matters in its acquisition of One Medical for approximately $3.9 billion. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Washington, D.C. – January 22, 2015: Crowell & Moring LLP's Antitrust Group has again been recognized as "highly recommended" in Global Competition Review's (GCR) 15th edition of the "GCR 100: The World's Leading Competition Practices," in both the Washington, D.C. and New York categories. GCR is the leading international journal of competition policy and regulation.

Washington, D.C. – April 8, 2014: Global Competition Review (GCR), considered to be the leading international journal of competition policy and regulation, selected two matters handled by Crowell & Moring LLP as finalists for the fourth annual "GCR Awards." Specifically the matters include, Aetna Inc.'s acquisition of Coventry Health Care, Inc., which was named as one of five finalists in the "Team Awards: Merger Control Matter of the Year – Americas" category. Crowell & Moring served as U.S. antitrust counsel to Coventry Health Care, Inc. in this deal. In addition, the Freight Fuel Surcharge Antitrust Litigation before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia was selected as one of six finalists in the "Team Awards: Litigation of the Year" category. Crowell & Moring serves as lead trial counsel to CSX Transportation, Inc. in this matter.

The proposed technical changes for the 2023 Medicare Advantage and Part D contract year (87 Fed. Reg. 1842 (January 12, 2022)) include revisions to the definition of the term “negotiated prices” that CMS previously contemplated but had held off implementing. The proposed change could reduce cost-sharing paid by beneficiaries at the point of service and reduce the amount of DIR that Part D plan sponsors report to CMS.

On Tuesday, December 8, the Supreme Court upheld Arkansas Act 900 (Act 900), which regulates the rates at which pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) reimburse pharmacies for prescription drugs. The 8-0 decision (Justice Amy Coney Barrett abstained), marks a boundary on the broad scope of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which preempts state laws that “relate to” employee benefit plans covered by the federal statute. 29 U.S.C. §1144(a).

Hospitals and providers across the country now have greater ability to leverage digital communications technology to provide telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) exercised emergency authorities to waive certain restrictions applicable to Medicare and Medicaid under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act. The new waivers issued over the last several days both expand telehealth benefits and allow greater flexibility in the manner telehealth is used by physicians and practitioners to address patient care needs.

Crowell & Moring’s work in Aetna’s $5.7 billion acquisition of Coventry Healthcare featured.

Chair of Crowell & Moring’s Health Care Group John T. Brennan Jr. and counsel Barbara Ryland are featured in BNA’s Medicare Report for their comments on the Part D, physician payment, and Medicare reimbursement for managed care plans debate.

We invite you to join us for a half-day of discussions regarding four significant topics affecting the long term care industry. Members of Crowell & Moring’s Government Affairs and Health Care groups, along with featured speakers from Capitol Hill, federal agencies and trade groups, will lead sessions providing important updates on:

The following topics will be addressed:

Click here to download the presentation slides [PDF]

Payers, Providers, and Patients – Oh My! Is Crowell & Moring’s biweekly health care podcast, discussing legal and regulatory issues that affect health care entities’ in-house counsel, executives, and investors. In this "deep dive" episode, hosts Payal Nanavati and Joe Records talk to Barbara Ryland about benefits under Medicare Part C.