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…
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has long been a guide for many employers in accommodating the needs of their employees with disabilities. However, some legal grey areas continue to present dilemmas and challenging situations, especially associated with disciplinary actions against employees with diagnosis of mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According…
In an unexpected development, the Ninth Circuit has once again revised its opinion in the Wit v. United Behavioral Health case. Affirming its prior ruling that denied motion to vacate and superseding its prior Wit Opinion, the federal appellate court has been persistent in its adaptations. This index case involves patients struggling with mental health…
NLBM, a popular legal coaching company, has alleged infringement of copyright against its competitor, 2-Hour Lifestyle Lawyer. The accusation is based on what NLBM claims is copied course content that was subsequently resold. NLBM’s complaints centered around generic coaching content, with areas such as estate planning and pricing being highlighted as topics being unceremoniously replicated….
In the challenging world of corporate law, executives and attorneys often face varying stages of job-related stress; some experience career fatigue, while others hit a metaphorical ceiling at their current roles, prompting them to seek a change. Chronic career burnout is often accompanied by stress induced symptoms, such as depleted energy, decreased motivation, as well…
In the latest release of their monthly benefits publication, Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL tackle the pressing issues surrounding mental health parity. The August edition, aptly titled “Benefits Monthly Minute – PART II: MHP REPORT TO CONGRESS – DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200!”, provides an in-depth analysis of the latest report submitted…
In an impactful shift in policy, regulatory agencies have proposed a rule that challenges the established status quo in regards to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). More specifically, the rule will enforce new requirements on group health plans and health insurance issuers, providing a novel framework for legal professionals operating in…
The proposed regulations under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) could introduce a complex landscape for compliance, especially concerning the ‘No More Restrictive’ requirement for Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs). As reported by law firm McDermott Will & Emery, the impending rules pose potential difficulties for group health plans and health insurance issuers…
In the midst of significant regulatory changes, legal professionals are grappling with the complexities of adherence to mental health parity requirements. In essence, these requirements mandate that if a group health plan provides mental health or substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits in any of six specified classifications, the plan must provide MH/SUD benefits in all…
The complexities of mental health law have increased exponentially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, accentuating the pertinence of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). MHPAEA, as you may be aware, mandates health care plans to offer mental health benefits, including coverage for substance use disorders (SUDs), in “parity” with medical…
As we approach the end of summer, Crowell & Moring’s chair, Philip Inglima, recently initiated a thoughtful dialogue within his firm, as well as in the larger realm of BigLaw, with a seemingly straightforward action: he went on vacation. His deliberate move, in a field where relaxation and time off have become novelties rather than…
In a significant move for those working in the insurance, healthcare and legal industries, the U.S. federal government introduced new regulations and guidance on July 25, 2023. These changes are aimed at improving adherence to regulations outlined in the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). The requirements of the MHPAEA mandate insurance companies…
A recent report reveals alarming levels of sexual assault of women and girls in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, following a signed peace agreement to end conflict. The investigating bodies, Physicians for Human Rights and the Organization for Justice and Accountability in the Horn of Africa, studied over 300 random medical records from Tigray health centers dedicated…