On March 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) had initiated four investigations into unnamed medical schools and hospitals over allegations that the schools and hospitals “discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, or sex” by continuing to implement “DEI” programs.

This blog post explains what HHS OCR is investigating, what laws are at issue, and what those operating medical schools and hospitals with DEI programs should consider, given this and other federal attention to DEI.

blog series tag - Navigating Life Sciences Transactions

This post is the third in our five-part series, Navigating Life Sciences Transactions, where our team of attorneys provides essential strategies and insights for successful life sciences transactions.

With the SXSW Health and MedTech conference in full swing, it’s a good time to reflect on some fundamental Intellectual Property (IP) strategies that can help safeguard your Life Sciences and MedTech business and maximize its value now and into the future.

IP is often one of the most valuable assets a company can own. Whether you’re preparing to sell a business, enter into a joint venture, or acquire another company, understanding the scope of your IP portfolio is essential. For in-house counsel, founders, corporate executives, and other legal professionals, navigating the complexities of IP ownership and licensing can make or break a deal.

blog series tag - Navigating Life Sciences Transactions

This post is the second in our five-part series, Navigating Life Sciences Transactions, where our team of attorneys provides essential strategies and insights for successful life sciences transactions.

What Investors Look for in Early and Late-Stage Funding Rounds and How Regulatory Compliance Impacts Valuation

For early-stage life sciences and health tech companies, raising capital is about more than demonstrating scientific promise. Investors are increasingly focused on regulatory preparedness, reimbursement strategy, and risk allocation—factors that can significantly impact valuation and long-term viability.

blog series tag - Navigating Life Sciences Transactions

This post is the first in our five-part series, Navigating Life Sciences Transactions, where our team of attorneys provides essential strategies and insights for successful life sciences transactions.

AI, Medical Devices, Digital Health, and the Future of Healthcare Transactions

Innovation in life sciences isn’t just about scientific breakthroughs—it’s about making the right business decisions.

blog series tag - Navigating Life Sciences Transactions

The life sciences industry is built on breakthroughs and partnerships. From early-stage biotech startups to established medtech and pharma companies, success often depends on navigating complex business transactions, securing funding, protecting intellectual property, and aligning with regulatory requirements.

At Husch Blackwell, we’ve worked alongside drug manufacturers, device companies, digital health innovators, academic medical centers, CROs…

Sign at the United States Department of Justice in Washington, DC

On February 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a False Claims Act (FCA) complaint against an Idaho home health agency and its owner, alleging that a series of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan applications were fraudulent because the home health agency did not disclose in the applications that the home health agency was making improper claims to Idaho Medicaid at the time it applied for the loans.

Judge's gavel on table in office

On January 17, 2025, the ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claiming that the 2024 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) Final Rule oversteps legal bounds, breaches the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), improperly delegates the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and Treasury’s (Departments) executive power to private entities, and violates the Due Process Clause. ERIC argues that under the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996, the plan was not obligated to assess any disparate impact that a term, applicable to both medical/surgical (M/S) and mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits, might have had on access to MH/SUD benefits. The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) similarly maintained the disparate treatment standard of liability, rather than the disparate impact standard. Moreover, the Departments acknowledged in the 2013 regulations that “disparate results alone” did not constitute a parity violation.

Last fall, private equity and hedge fund investors were given a reprieve from the prospect of increased oversight of healthcare transactions when California Governor Gavin Newsom unexpectedly vetoed Assembly Bill 3129 (AB 3129). That bill would have required review and approval by the California Attorney General of certain healthcare transactions involving private equity groups and hedge funds and imposed limitations on contractual relationships between investors and healthcare providers. On February 12, 2025, Senator Christopher Cabaldon (D-Sacramento) introduced Senate Bill 351 (SB 351), which revives aspects of AB 3129 relating to relationships between private equity groups and hedge funds and physician and dental practices, reinforcing California’s existing corporate practice of medicine and corporate practice of dentistry bars.

Healthcare-Data-HIPAA

On December 27, 2024, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued proposed changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security Rule (the Proposed Rule) to strengthen the cybersecurity protections that HIPAA-regulated entities are required to maintain for electronic protected health information (ePHI).

Indictment concept

On January 8, 2025, a federal grand jury in Virginia returned an indictment against a hospital. This rare criminal event in healthcare alleges that Chesapeake Regional Medical Center conspired to defraud the United States and committed healthcare fraud. Hospitals are almost never criminally charged, as federal investigations into hospitals are nearly always civil proceedings under the False Claims Act. This post explains how this hospital’s alleged actions rose to the level that merited criminal indictment.