In an important recent development, the Michigan Supreme Court has taken steps to address the pressing issue of attorney mental health. The court has formally set up a commission focused on enhancing wellbeing in the legal profession. This action follows on the heels of a task force report released in August, which called on the…
In response to recent developments in legal guidance, health plans are advised to take several specific measures. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) has added an obligation for health plans to record their compliance with nonquantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). NQTLs are limits that are not…
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit suspended Circuit Judge Pauline Newman from her duties for one year due to her refusal to undergo medical evaluations. This refusal was seen as an issue, as there have been concerns over her ability to perform adequately as a judge. Earlier this year, Chief Judge Kimberly…
In a recent episode of the Bar Exam Toolbox podcast, mental health during bar study and in the wider legal field was the key discussion point. The episode featured insightful inputs from Ryan Zajic, a senior legal content developer at UWorld and a licensed attorney in Nebraska, and Dr. Janani Krishnaswami, a practicing physician with…
In a proactive stance towards environmental preservation, Minnesota has enacted a new set of legal provisions regarding the handling and sale of products containing Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The law, signed by Minnesota’s Governor on May 24, 2023, imposed a sweeping array of new standards for the state, putting into place bans on multiple…
In a wave of public response, over 40,000 teachers in South Korea are calling for legal protection against instances of bullying and abuse from parents. With recent rallies and major demonstrations, such as one on September 4, these educators are making their voices heard outside of the National Assembly in Seoul. The public action was…
The study and practice of law are notoriously stressful, with a high prevalence of anxiety amongst lawyers. Anxiety, unfortunately, isn’t a topic that is openly discussed in the legal industry’s meeting rooms or courtrooms. The sweat, the heart palpitations, the imposter syndrome – they are held close, undercover. Notably, Olga V. Mack, the VP at…
The necessity for intermittent extended leave, particularly related to stress and anxiety, is placing employers in a complex scenario. This issue has come to the fore during the COVID-19 pandemic, sparking a rise in inquiries from employers grappling with employees seeking accommodations, some requesting leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) due to…
Today’s legal professionals are all too acquainted with the complexities that accompany balancing personal and professional lives. In a candid contribution to the ongoing series on motherhood in the legal profession, in collaboration with MothersEsquire, attorney Claire E. Parsons recounts a deeply personal experience on solitude and belonging. Focusing on an unconventional, visible symbol –…
Troubling accounts on Tom Girardi’s mental health state came to light during Wednesday’s mental competency hearing. Five witnesses, including former Skadden Arps partner Richard Marmaro, described the 84-year-old former lawyer in terms that sparked concern for his well-being. They painted a picture of a man who wears the same burgundy sweater and khaki pants, sometimes…
The legal landscape surrounding psychedelic drugs is undergoing significant changes in the United States. Growth in interest and the promising potential of these substances in treating various health conditions are emerging as key forces driving this change. A webinar titled “Navigating the Mainstreaming of Psychedelic Drugs in the United States” is scheduled for October 3rd,…
Last week marked the official end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but the pandemic’s ripple effects continue, especially in the global work arena. As we are over three years from when countries began imposing lockdowns, it’s become challenging to recall the traditional office structure. The advent of video communication became a mainstream mode of…
The issue of the “Meaningful Benefit” requirement for Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) under the proposed regulations of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) is one every legal professional in the corporate and healthcare arena should familiarize themselves with. Prompted by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury, these…
The proposed rule by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to rollback Covid-19 era flexibilities for virtual prescribing of controlled substances is facing pushback from four major mental health companies. Talkiatry, Array Behavioral Care, Iris Telehealth, and Quartet Health took a cooperative stand and issued a letter to the DEA outlining their recommendations.MedCity News reported on…
In an unexpected turn of events, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw has announced her resignation. Outlaw, appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney in 2019, has been instrumental in leading the police department through the formidable challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She is set to leave the post by the end of this month, stepping into…
In a shift from usual campus activities, The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law conducted its final week of classes and exams remotely last spring. The college chose this course of action following allegations of potential threats made against the institution by one of its students. The details initially disclosed to students…
Labor Day, a universal symbol for rest and relaxation, often inspires thoughtful reflections on the current state of work-life integration, particularly in demanding professions like law. Over recent years, the legal realm has experienced a significant shift, driven by unprecedented changes in the work environment due to the pandemic, the ongoing labor strikes, and highly…
Last week, legal professional attention was drawn to the nuanced “no more restrictive” requirement and its application to non-quantitative treatment limitations (NQTLs) as outlined in the recently proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The description of these proposed regulations is accessible here. The newly proposed regulations principally concern NQTLs,…
The New Jersey Supreme Court has recently outlined new strategies aiming to ensure justice accessibility for people of color and other historically marginalized groups, including the advancement of wellness efforts for legal professionals along with the utilization of technology for improved notice of and access to court language facilities. The nine newly-unveiled initiatives are part…
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken note of the burgeoning interest in the potential use of psychedelic pharmaceuticals for the treatment of mental health disorders. In June, the FDA released its inaugural draft guidance aimed at developers of these psychedelic substances for medical use. This guidance zeroes in on what are…
The First Judicial District of the Appellate Court of Illinois has issued a ruling that the state’s Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (DFPR) is not immune from paying attorney fees and costs under the Mental Health and Development Disabilities Confidentiality Act, contrary to the Department’s assertions of sovereign immunity in such matters. The DFPR…
Recently, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Indiana-American Water Company, Inc. (IAWC) entered into a Consent Agreement and Final Order (CAFO) to address an alleged violation of the Clean Air Act regulations. This comes in compliance with Section 112(r)(7) of the Clean Air Act, according to the Docket No. CAA-05-2023-007. The CAFO highlights…
The wine industry, like any other, demands meticulous attention when it comes to the structuring of business agreements, an underlying fact that becomes increasingly apparent in the realm of distribution arrangements. As directly-to-consumer (DTC) sales avenues such as tasting rooms, clubs, and websites tend to have limited reach, the success of most wine brands typically…
In a landmark ruling, the Constitutional Court of Colombia has declared the conditional constitutionality of the literal (a) of article 6 of Law 2191 of 2022, which stated that public workers holding positions of trust and direction were exempted from enjoying the right to labor disconnection or “desconexión laboral”. This decision asserts the universal applicability…
The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has reissued its opinion for the second time in a lawsuit challenging United Behavioral Health’s (UBH) internal mental health coverage guidelines, according to a recent report on JD Supra. Last week, in its third opinion in the case, the court reversed a lower court’s decision that…