On December 31, 2025, the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) extended current regulatory flexibilities related to tele-prescribing of controlled substances for another year. The DEA issued a fourth temporary extension (2026 Extension) of its pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities, which are now scheduled to end on December 31, 2026. The DEA explained that another extension
Legislation
Update on Processing of Telehealth Claims Impacted During the Government Shutdown
The recent government shutdown caused multiple Medicare statutory payment provisions to lapse on October 1, 2025, due to the absence of Congressional action. With the passage of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 (Pub. L. 119-37), (discussed here), Congress has retroactively restored many of these…
Telehealth Survives Again: What the Most Recent Flexibility Extension Means for Providers
This post is co-authored with Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.
On November 12, 2025, President Trump signed H.R. 5371 the “Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs and Extensions Act, 2026” (the Act). The Act ended the federal government shutdown by providing necessary funding…
Telehealth Services on the Brink Again – Is a 7-Week Stopgap the Only Fix?
This post is co-authored with Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.
Healthcare providers are again confronted with the potential termination of telehealth services unless Congress acts to extend the Medicare flexibilities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. If no legislative action is taken before September 30, 2025, those providers…
Appeals Dropped of Decision Vacating HIPAA Reproductive Health Privacy Rule, Confirming Apparent End of the Rule and Attestation Requirement
On September 10, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit dismissed an appeal of the federal court ruling vacating key provisions of the HIPAA reproductive health care regulations, which appears to signal the end of the Purl case (previously discussed here) and to confirm the end of provisions of the HIPAA…
CMS Proposes Several Changes Affecting Telehealth Services in the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
This post is co-authored with Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.
On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the calendar year (CY) 2026 physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rule, which in pertinent part proposes several changes affecting the delivery and reimbursement…
HRSA Publishes 340B Rebate Pilot Program FAQs
As previously discussed in our prior blog post, on August 1, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a Notice announcing a much-anticipated 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (Pilot Program). Subsequently, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which administers the 340B program, issued a set of FAQs providing additional guidance…
HHS Publishes 340B Guidance Proposing Rebate Pilot Program
This post was co-authored by Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.
On July 31, 2025, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a much-anticipated 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program (Pilot Program) via guidance (Guidance) that will be formally published on August 1, 2025. The Pilot Program…
Connecticut Budget Bill Reinforces EMTALA and Emergency Medical Services Obligations for State Hospitals
This post was co-authored with Paul Palma, legal intern at Robinson+Cole. Paul is not admitted to practice law.
On June 30, 2025, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed into law Public Act No. 25-168 (PA 25-168) (the Act), Connecticut’s Budget Bill for the period between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2027. The Act includes two…
Connecticut Budget Bill Includes Notable Changes to CON Laws
On June 30, 2025 Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill implementing the state budget through June 30, 2027, Public Act No. 25-168 (PA-168). PA-168, among other things, contains changes to the state’s Certificate of Need (CON) program.
Termination of Services – Effective from Passage
In Connecticut, hospitals generally must obtain CON approval…