Did You Know? Summer 2002

Medicare Managed Care: Did you know that a proposed rule is pending that improves the Medicare+Choice (M+C) appeal and grievance procedures, including giving M+C enrollees advance

Assisted Suicide

A federal judge recently thwarted Attorney General John Ashcroft's efforts to stall Oregon's physician-assisted suicide law.

Alleged Discrimination Trumps Confidentiality of Peer Review

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, the federal appellate court with jurisdiction for Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North and South Carolina, has ruled, in Virmani v.

2002 Maryland Laws Update

Some of these new laws may affect procedures or forms and may require action to be taken. We have highlighted these laws by our Action Alerts.

Employer Obligations for Privacy of Employee Health Information:

All employer-sponsored health plans (except those that have fewer than 50 participants and are administered in-house) must comply with new privacy requirements imposed by the HIPAA

D.C. Employers Beware! Employee Handbooks May Create Unintended Contracts --

For years employment lawyers have repeated the warning that every employee handbook must have a conspicuous and clear disclaimer of contractual intent.

Ergonomics - Redux

On April 5, the Bush administration announced a "comprehensive plan designed to dramatically reduce ergonomic injuries through a combination of industry-targeted guidelines, tough enforcement measu

Physician-Shareholders Are Employees Under Employment Discrimination Laws

In Wells v. Clakamas Gastroenterology Associates, P.C., the U. S.

HIPAA Highlights Spring 2002

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) contains administrative simplification provision

Health Care Workers Called To Military Duty

Health care workers, as well as other workers, have been called to military service because of the September 11 tragedies.