HHS Suspends Penalties to Encourage Sharing of COVID-19 Data by Business Associates
- On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that, effective immediately, it will be halting enforcement of certain HIPAA provisions in order to enable state and federal public health authorities and emergency operations... ›
- - United States, FDA, Medical Devices + Diagnostics, COVID-19, Product Liability + Class Action, Healthcare
FDA Inspires Modifications and Quick Authorizations for Ventilators
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
As the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. grows, the potential shortage of ventilators has become an increasing concern. This week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took two important steps to keep medical facilities equipped with life-saving ventilators. Read our Class... › Federal Antitrust Agencies Encourage Appropriate Competitor Collaboration to Address the COVID-19 Crisis
The U.S. antitrust agencies – the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – have recognized a need for “unprecedented cooperation between federal, state, and local governments and among private businesses to protect Americans’ health and safety” during the... ›FDA and FTC Send Warning Letters to Companies Marketing Products to Treat Coronavirus (COVID-19); State Attorneys General Follow Suit
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
The rapid spread of coronavirus has spawned prolific marketing claims that any number of products can treat or prevent coronavirus. It comes as no surprise then that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued their first round of... ›FDA’s New Guidance on Use and Distribution of COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests by Laboratories and Commercial Manufacturers
On March 16, 2020, FDA issued its Policy for Diagnostic Tests for Coronavirus Disease-2019 during the Public Health Emergency (the “Guidance”). The purpose of the Guidance is to expedite the availability of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostic tests in view of the current public health... ›OCR Bulletin on HIPAA Privacy and Coronavirus (COVID-19)
By: Melissa M. Crespo
In response to the recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV or COVID-19) and associated preparation and response, the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released a bulletin (the “Bulletin”) outlining how entities subject to HIPAA may share... ›U.S. government announces new federal funding opportunities related to COVID-19
By: Tina D. Reynolds
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority ( BARDA ), part of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, has modified an existing broad agency announcement (BAA) through which it will award government funding... ›February FDA Updates
As we move into 2020, we’re starting a regular blog series highlighting noteworthy FDA updates regarding regulatory compliance, fraud and abuse cases, and product development issues every month. Our February recap is below. 1. Two Owners of Telemedicine Companies Charged for Roles in $56... ›FDA Working to Address 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Diagnosis & Treatment (Part III)
FDA has been working intensely, mostly behind the scenes both in the United States and abroad, to address a number of important public health issues, including product safety, monitoring supply chain disruptions, and supporting emergency efforts to diagnose and treat the disease. In addition,... ›FDA Working to Address 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): Supply Chain (Part II)
FDA has been working intensely, mostly behind the scenes both in the United States and abroad, to address a number of important public health issues, including product safety, monitoring supply chain disruptions, and supporting emergency efforts to diagnose and treat the disease. In addition,... ›